User Reviews

6/10 - started off really cheesy, but got significantly more heartfelt and memorable when Anna Kendrick was given a script worthy of her talents during the final act

I was excited for Noelle despite the reviews, and after watching, I still don't understand all the ridiculously critical reviews. This is a Disney Christmas movie targeted for kids for goodness sake. The plot to me is a mix between Elf, and The Santa Clause, and it honestly is better than MOST of the Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel. It is a light-hearted fun movie and I love what the movie conveys even though most of the negative reviews are based around the fact that its "too feminist". The movie is showing young girls that their capabilities are endless, and that being a girl shouldn't hold them back from being whatever they want. The fact that so many people take issue with that is sad and ridiculous.

I thought it was decent for a Disney Christmas movie. It has some pretty good humor. It also has originality. I saw it on Disney+ on Nov. 13, 2019 a day after they just launched it for streaming and good graphics. I enjoyed it, but it's not on my list of favorites for holiday movies. I would recommend watching it once for sure. I gave it a solid 7 because of the humor. It made me laugh and laughing is therapeutic for me.

Everyone else who purchased Disney streaming has watched Noelle or will watch for the upcoming Holiday season. I really had no expectations of loving this Christmas movie but it turned out to be a cute and fun retelling of a story we all know. Great Movie for families. Anna Kendrick was just right for this role, she was a joy to watch and was so cheerful..

In Noelle, Bill Hader and Anna Kendrick play Santa Claus's children, Nick and Noelle. When they're father dies, Nick reluctantly takes the family job of Santa, and yet ...

If you don't know where this movie is going in the first 10 minutes then you've never watched a movie before. The whole thing is a predictable mash-up of previous Christmas movies, taking elements of Elf's fish-out-of-water concept and mixing it in with a standard "save Christmas" plot.

So yeah, it's easy to criticize. And honestly, when a friend recommended it I only watched it begrudgingly. But it's actually tremendously fun.

Kendrick is adorable as the wide-eyed innocent, Hader is excellent as the freaked-out son, and there's a hilarious bit about the problems of using predictive analytics to determine whether children are naughty or nice.

The main issue with the movie is a certain laziness, with plot points thrown in and then ignored and with Shirley MacLaine's character never quite coming to life. It's a shame, because with a somewhat tighter, more thoughtful script this could have been every bit as good as Elf.

Anyway, ignore the haters, this is a solid Xmas movie.

Noëlle is the first "live-action"original movie launched on Disney+. True to the Walt Disney Company's considerably successful formula for delivering quality entertainment (such as The Mandalorian), Noëlle delivers all of the familiar Disney ingredients: It's family friendly, wholesome, and features a very recognizable cast including Anna Kendrick as Noëlle Kringle, Julie Haggerty as Mrs. Kringle, Bill Hader as Nick Kringle, Billy Eichner as Gabriel Kringle, and Shirley MacLaine as Elf Polly. Plus, who on planet Earth could resist falling immediately in love with Noëlle's little flying reindeer pal, "Snow Cone?" (I hate to admit it but, Yeah, OK, he's almost as adorable as The Mandalorian's Baby Yoda!)

It's often quite easy for kids and adults alike to get stuck in the weeds with the complex "hows and whys" that typically accompany a film about the world's most beloved legendary character. He has many names: Pere Noel, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Babbo Natale, Swiety Mikotaj, Ded Moroz, Weihnachtsmann, Noel Baba, Papa Noel, Saint Nicholas and Kris Kringle. But in the Western world, he's known simply as the "chubby and plump, right jolly old elf," Santa Claus.

The writing skillfully invites you to kick back, enjoy the ride, and don't sweat the details. I would characterize Noëlle as the kind of movie you can easily watch without having to think too much. It isn't pretentious in that it appears very comfortable entertaining audiences of all ages with the subtle theme of how certain holiday traditions evolve and change. Indeed, it's the kind of charming film where even the most bitter and cynical Scrooge-type of viewer will invariably crack a smile or two long before the third act. When a movie "works" it can resonate on several levels, and that's the brilliance of Noëlle. You're "fully on board" whether you like it or not - Noëlle takes no prisoners.

No spoilers here as usual but I will reveal that many of Noëlle's crisp exterior scenes were beautifully filmed in the Desert Ridge Marketplace, located in Scottsdale, Arizona. (NOTE TO SELF: Santa hangs out there from late November through December).

I'm not one to write reviews often. Disney has captured a cute and enjoyable amount of Christmas spirit with this movie that was helped along way by Anna Kendrick. A Christmas movie should do one simple thing ... give you the feels ... The feels are delivered here.

I actually really enjoyed this movie. Anna Kendrick is charming as always and Bill Hader is just awesome! The movie reminded me a little of Elf (which is my favorite Christmas movie). I'm sure I'll be watching Noelle every Christmas now.

I love this movie! I can't believe that it is already two years old, which means this is my third time watching it before Christmas, lol. This was the first movie I ever watched on Disney +, and even after all this time, it's honestly still one of the best movies on the steaming sight. Also, I think it is a (mostly) perfect Christmas movie. The film follows Noelle Kringle (Anna Kendrick), who is Santa's daughter. Noelle finds herself in an awkward place when her father dies and her brother (nick), who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet and runs away. After her brother runs away, Noelle has to go after him, and along the way, she discovers she is more like her dad than people might think. I won't spoil anything, but it pretty much goes how you would expect it to. And that's okay. The only thing I didn't enjoy was Billy Eichner's storyline as Cousin Gabe. The idea of wanting to replace Santa with drones was too dumb for me (You can skip his parts after the first time you watch it). But overall, this movie is fantastic. It is both funny and heartwarming. There are so many great one-liners that I still laugh watching it. Anna Kendrick is simply perfect as Noelle. She is funny, charming, and simply beautiful in every scene. This movie also reminded me a lot of Pitch Perfect in that it is a good girl power movie that doesn't have to punch down on men to do it. And let's be honest, Anna Kendrick is the perfect person to play Santa Claus. She can come down my chimney anytime ;). Noelle is a must-watch every Christmas Season, and honestly, you could watch it any time of the year. It's that good.

This is a feel good family film about the Santa Claus family. It mostly is for children and teens.

I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. A tad cheesy, but most Christmas movies are. It was adorable, sweet and had lovable characters.

Noelle is like "Elf Light." It's the same basic fish-out-of-water premise, but it's not as clever of a story. Plus, Anna Kendrick doesn't quite have the same childlike innocence & energy of Will Ferrell. The heart of this movie is more successful than its humor. It hits the emotional notes well, even when the jokes are landing flat. However, it tends to get heavy-handed at times and seems to make up rules as it goes. It kept me entertained, but I'm not going to re-watch this movie each Christmas.

If it wasn't for having stars like Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader in this, it for sure would have been an Disney Channel movie. It is very cheesy and very predictable. And the CGI, while not the worst thing I have ever witnessed, is clear they didnt have a big budget. And if those Disney Channel type of movies are your jam, then sure I think you'll like this. But there was too many times for me where I was cringing over the dialogue (lots of christmas related puns) or over things happening in the plot. I think the actors did the best they could with what they were given and there were certain little moments here and there that I liked but overall....not the best film. But I suppose if you are looking for something "safe" to watch this Christmas with your family, then its fine.

The fact that so many people can't handle a female Santa is honestly embarassing. It's a movie - they have the creative freedom to do as they want. Nobody said Santa needed to be a man. And no, straight white men are not being attacked. As a white guy I quite enjoyed this movie.

Below average Christmas movie. Just watched it because of Anna Kendrick. Great actress and very funny. Some actors are really bad in this movie. And Bill hader is not given anything to do. What a waste. Story is very standard and offers nothing new to the Christmas movie world. IT Has the Christmas vibe big it alsof feels like a money grab. Everything rests on the talent of Kendrick.

I gave it a 9 because people are going to HATE on this movie...oh, no, not another Christmas movie, does EVERYONE have to have their own Christmas movie? This movie was fun..and emotional..and it had a great message. Anna Kendrick was, as always, watchable as hell. Bill Hader was fun, of course, and, damn, but it was nice to see Shirley MacLaine again...who looked like she was having a great time. You'll like it, kids will love it.

Hmm. I like Anna Kendrick, but I had to turn this off partway. It just felt very cliché in a lot of ways and I wasn't really laughing for a movie that's supposed to be a comedy. I think that kids would like this more than adults. I obviously wasn't the target market.

Disney has officially released its long-awaited streaming service, Disney+. While many viewers are excited to rewatch their classic favourites and new upcoming Star Wars and Marvel series, it also seems that they will be creating their own original films every so often as well. One of their first at launch was that of Noelle. Just in time for the Christmas season, Disney+ released this Christmas film to warm the hearts of families around the world. Sadly, I feel that the execution of this movie is a mixed bag. Do I think Disney+ is worth purchasing? Yes, very much so. Do I think this is the movie that you should watch before anything else? Probably not.

After the passing of their father, siblings Noelle (Anna Kendrick) and Nick (Bill Hader) find themselves having to take over the family business. With their father having been Santa Claus and them having lived in the North Pole all their lives, they know nothing else. Nick is next in line to become Santa but ultimately flees the scene when nerves kick in. Noelle ventures to find him and hijinks ensue. Noelle is a film that works as a sweet, yet super corny little Holiday flick, but the third act of the film sort of took away from the rest of it for me.

Without giving anything away for those who wish to watch, the third act of this movie really begins to hit you over the head with the messages it's trying to send. While I have no problems with these messages, it's almost like the filmmakers thought viewers didn't see these messages slowly presenting themselves throughout the entire movie. I liked the conclusion for what it was, but the way it was executed fell flat for me. There was a lot of emotion set-up throughout the movie that does have a payoff, but I felt disconnected from it all.

Anna Kendrick is as loveable and quirky as she has always been and Bill Hader (although having much less screen time) is quite good with the material he is given as well. Where this movie fell apart was easily in the screenplay. I didn't mind the direction here, in fact, I actually liked it, which was no surprise seeing as I enjoyed director Marc Lawrence's work on Music & Lyrics. With that said, he also wrote this screenplay and I found a few key elements were missing to make the finale of this movie truly work.

In the end, Noelle is a passable, at times very enjoyable Christmas movie, but ultimately collapses by the end for me. It's not that I despised where they went, it's just how it was done. For fans of Holiday films, no matter what they are about, this movie might appeal to you more. I personally love a great Holiday flick and I'm usually pretty forgiving of them, but this one didn't quite work. It's not a bad movie, but I was certainly hoping for better.

I enjoyed this a lot. It's a new take on a Christmas movie and tackles modern day issues in a funny way. It's disconcerting how many people are upset at the idea of a woman becoming Santa just because of tradition. It's a cute watch- cheesy and a good family film.

If you are desperate for Xmas films and don't require much more than something nice to look at (excepting the CG, which looks like it belongs in another world, along with the badly backlit characters through the entire film) then you will probably like this. It has costumes and some colourful scenery. If you require something more from your holiday fare then give it a pass. My main complaint is that the movie flatlined from start to finish; there were no moments of wonder or joy, no lead up to a fun conclusion, nothing. It feels like someone boring telling a story, talking to you in a monotone on and on. Its a shame because it could have been a decent little film. But it's not.

Noelle is the kind of film which you know isn't gonna be that good but it doesn't stop you from having a fun time. It maybe predictable and cheesy but it does have its sweet moments which work well. It works well for the kind of film it is with its plot and chacraters but that is also it's biggest issue. The CGI is really under average and doesn't even feel completed. It does take out you out of the film sometimes. The performances kind of saved this film. Anna Kendrick is really good here. As is Billy Eichner and especially Bill Hader. If it wasn't for them, the movie would feel like a Disney made for tv movie. Its enjoyable and fast paced and it's okay for what it is. It's just poorly written sometimes despite a rather obvious message. But it's a decent enough christmas movie to watch near Christmas time

This is being said with a heavy heart. Love Christmas, so this is not coming from a Scrooge or a Grinch. The concept was an interesting one and sounded like it had ideas that tried to do something different. The cast is a talented one, Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader are always watchable and have gotten a lot of enjoyment over-time out of Shirley MacLaine's early career work. So this is coming from someone that really wanted to like 'Noelle' and should have liked it.

Sadly, count me in as another person that didn't care for 'Noelle' and was very disappointed by it. The cast is one of the better things about it, but the script and story sink 'Noelle' badly. It is not one of the worst Christmas films out there, but there are far better too. Despite seeing it on Disney+, 'Noelle' did feel like an average or just below Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas film with sporadic attempts at doing things differently but mostly followed a typical formula but in a heavier manner than most.

'Noelle' has its good things. Generally it doesn't look too bad. It has a slick look to the photography and doesn't look drab or garish. The soundtrack has memorable and easy to listen to moments, not making the mistakes of being used too constantly or being over-scored.

Most of the cast do laudably with what was given to them, the material was beneath them but they did well. Kendrick is charming and Hader has nice amusing moments and likeability. MacLaine enjoys herself. There are sweet, cute moments that are sadly too far and between.

The one exception when it comes to the cast is to me Billy Eichner, who is too subdued and it didn't seem like his heart was in it. The direction does work against the actors, tending to be too routine and the character interaction could have done with more spark generally. Nor the character writing, too many of the characters are not likeable or interesting so it was hard to root for them or anything here. There is one exception when it comes to talking about the production values and that is including the CGI, which looks horribly fake and felt too out of place as well.

Like has been said above, it is the script and the storytelling that are the biggest drawbacks. 'Noelle' fails when it comes to entertainment, any attempts at humour fall flat and come over as lacking in wit or sophistication and instead come over as very cheesy and not always tasteful. The more dramatic moments are too sugary sweet, very dreary in momentum, very melodramatic and the sentimentality is hard to stomach. The story is both dull and contrived, and any attempts at diverting from typical festive formula come over as mean-spirited and heavy-handed to the point of being shoved down the throat.

Altogether, rather mediocre. Wanted to like it so much more but sorry it just didn't connect with me. 4/10

Truly a lovely family film! Good for any age group and the cast was perfect.

I started watching this with certain trepidation - one likes to see lighthearted and fun Christmas movies at this time of year, but they usually end up being so cheesy and bad that you stop watching them after ten minutes. Not this time: Noelle manages to be fun and entertaining all the way through and even the bad jokes fit the mood perfectly. Unfortunately, the movie is also riddled with advertisements and pointedly long shots at certain storefronts and their logos. Somehow, they have tried to mix an endearing message of Christmas love and helping those who are less fortunate with an exceeding amount of commercialism.