Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Low-budget tale has worthy messages, lots of stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Small Town Santa
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Sheriff Rick Langston (Dean Cain) has plenty of reasons to be a grinch this Christmas: He has a bitter ex-wife and a daughter, Alana (Sophie Bolen), whom he never sees; and he's hoping to leave this small town where no crime ever happens. But when an intruder shows up in his house on Christmas Eve claiming to be Santa, he gets a chance to rethink his attitude and relationships for the better and starts to see the holidays for what they really are.
Is It Any Good?
SMALL TOWN SANTA is a low-budget affair, and it plays to a lot of small-town stereotypes to get the job done. It's not particularly well acted, though fans of Superman may enjoy seeing Dean Cain in the role of the sheriff. Young kids may not be quite ready for some of the post-divorce bickering or blasé attitude about Santa, who spends most of the film working his magic from a jail cell. But overall, there are some positive messages here about the serendipity of little miracles, letting go of grudges, and making the connections with others that are so difficult to do the rest of the year, with the added bonus of reinforcing the idea that this is the point of the holidays and that people should value these relationships over gifts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the holidays are really for. How does your family celebrate them?
Santa helps the characters get the relationships they want. If you could have relationships instead of gifts for Christmas, what would they be?
How does the film portray divorced parents? Do you think this is an accurate depiction or something you only see in the movies? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 14, 2014
- Cast : Dean Cain , Derek Brandon , Sophie Bolen , Christine Lakin
- Director : Joel Paul Reisig
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Screen Media
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Holidays
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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