Parents' Guide to

Get Santa

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

British Christmas comedy has rude humor, some mature themes.

Movie PG 2014 102 minutes
Get Santa Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 8+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Christian J.
Christian J. Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
March 30, 2023
age 4+

A Christmas Classic

It's a U certificate. It's clear from the start that Santa is real so no worries there. The humour is funny, slapstick at times (farting reindeer), and naughty. Exactly what kids love. There are jokes for the mums and dads that go over kids heads, but that's what makes this film a real surprise.
Dale Dietrich
Dale Dietrich Parent of 6 and 8-year-old
December 13, 2020
age 5+

Both Kids (6 & 8) Enjoyed It

My biggest concern with Xmas movies with kids my age is whether or not they will spoil the whole 'does santa exist' question. There is a bit of this in this movie (but nothing like others such as the Polar Express). Thankfully, its VERY CLEAR from the beginning that SANTA IS REAL and that adults are the one's who have it mixed up if they 'don't believe' anymore. I don't understand other parents fears here. Yes, there are chase scenes and breaking out of prison etc. but its ALL IN FUN. And its VERY CLEAR that the 'naughty' things that are being done are being done for the greater good of 'SAVING CHRISTMAS'! I have a son who has questioned the existence of Santa several times in the past. This movie didn't trigger him or get him to ask or question Santa. That to me is the litmus test. There is also enough action to keep a 6 (almost 7) and 8 year old entertained. There were some slow parts (with more adult-oriented discussion) that lost my kids interest here and there, but more or less they quite enjoyed it - especially the farting reindeer! Of course. So for kids I recommend this movie. And it was reasonably entertaining for adults too. Nothing like It's a Wonderful Life for sure, but an entertiaining and fun movie for everyone. Certainly better than I was expecting based on the other reveiws here.
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What's the Story?

Steve (Rafe Spall) is just out of jail and determined to stay out. But when his young son Tom calls him up, insisting the real Santa (Jim Broadbent) has crashed his sled and is hiding in their garage, Steve wants to help. When Santa finds himself behind bars, it seems Steve is the only person who believes in him and knows how to get him out, but how can he and Tom pull it off without sending him directly back to prison?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

GET SANTA has an entertaining enough premise. The real Santa shows up in town to deliver presents to children around the world, but instead he crashes his sleigh, lands up in jail, and has to win the loyalty of his fellow prisoners while he plans an exit strategy. That strategy is, oddly enough, recruiting the just-out-of-prison father of a young son, who desperately wants to avoid repeating his mistakes. What follows is nothing but opportunities to break the law, all to prove to his son that he's a stand-up guy and Santa is real. A certain age of kid likely will find reindeer who communicate by farting a real gas, and there's a grittiness here that has fun with typical Christmas comedies without pushing it too far out of the family realm. Plus, there are some valiant attempts to soften and reframe the harsh stereotype of prisoner into an unfortunate adult who also was once a kid -- and maybe one who got a bum deal at that.

But there's no real consequences for any of the broken rules and damaged property in the quest to save Santa, and some of the heavier themes here -- divorce, imprisonment, the recidivism rate -- make this more suitable for youngsters able to grasp why dads sometimes go to prison.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about when breaking the rules makes sense. Have you ever had to break a rule to do the right thing? What was it? What happened?

  • How do you think you would know if you met the real Santa?

  • How does the movie show life in jail? Do you think it's realistic? Why, or why not?

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