If not for the elves I would not rated this movie quite so high but I found them to be the best part of the movie. Funny as heck. Trying so hard to please and not understanding anything Mary really wanted done. Cookie, gingerbread, and cocoa breaks so often they seemed to be on break more than they worked. George Wendt plays Santa and does a good job. He has a heart attack and this causes his daughter, Mary, played OK by Jenny McCarthy to leave her high profile, high pay job to return to the North Pole to see him. She decides to replace her dad for Christmas as Santa over his objections of course. Her city boyfriend city shows up unannounced, comes up with a huge development idea for Santa's Village, and leaves in a huff when Mary almost kisses an old beau. He rushes to the city to pitch his idea to a board of directors on Christmas Eve no less. Mary and her new boyfriend jump in the sleigh and take off after him. They arrive a little late but too. He is pitching his idea and Mary comes in. She has put a coat on over Santa suit to look more professional I guess. Anyway old beau is making his pitch and she makes it look like he is over worked and under tremendous stress so he is delusional. The board leaves in disgust. As the board chairman is entering an elevator the sleeve of Mary's coat slides down a bit and reveals her white Santa cuff. He is one smart old man as he seems to recognize who Mary is now. He gives her an old wooden train engine that has been his for decades. It is broken and he asks if Mary can get it fixed so he can give it to his grandson. As it is handed over you see the initials S.C. on bottom, from times in the past when Santa made stuff by hand. I have left a lot of stuff out but if you watch this film I hope you enjoy as much I have. Merry Christmas all!!

Mary (Jenny McCarthy) is a high powered businesswoman who runs her own marketing and business advice company. However, her roots are at the North Pole...yes, she's Santa's daughter. When Santa has some health problems, Mrs. Claus calls Mary in to help get everything ready for the Big Day that is fast approaching. Mary obliges. But, can Mary's successful business techniques really work for the spirited but mentally infantile elves? We'll see. In the meantime, Mary has found her long lost love, Luke (Ivan Sergei), to be still employed as the area's mailman. And, he's still a doll, both in looks and demeanor. Is a repeat romance far away? This is a great movie, both for children and their parents. The elves are quite comical and should garner laughs from the little ones. Kids should also enjoy the enchanting village where Santa and his elves do their work. For grownups, McCarthy, Wendt, and company slyly draw forth mirth with their antics, as well. As for Sergei, this viewer would watch him recite a cereal box cover, a la Gigli, but, fortunately, this is not necessary. He brings charm, sweetness, and presence to his delightful character, Luke. What girl COULD resist? Kudos to the production company that brought this film to light. As a holiday gift to a family audience, it just does not get much better or more welcome than this.

This is not the first story about Santa planning to retire, and let a son/daughter take over the toy manufacturing and delivery business. The idea has been done before, often and better.Apparently, Santa's daughter Mary (Jenny McCarthy) was once as kind hearted and sweet as her folks and the elves that work for them. For whatever reason, she veered from her famous father's (George Wendt) path, and became a corporate junior exec with a big mouth and an attitude to match. When she discovers her dad is physically unable to perform his duties one season, she butts in, takes over, and embarks on a board room mentality approach to revamp the North Pole toyshop for greater "efficiency." The dialogue is needlessly negative, as she mocks generosity, Christmas cheer, elves, and her amiable father. Here's a typical line from the movie, as an example of the overall tone: "Here's a stocking....stuff it." Original and hilarious, isn't it?The acting rises above the script, and there's a sweet, sentimental romance in the later going of the film. It's a shame that the meanness early on may lead you to shut this thing off before it introduces this element. If you can make it through the first half of the film, you may find a dose of Christmas spirit from the movie near the end.

Wow is my only comment. McCarthy reveals so much depth and charisma in her acting abilities. I also found this story quite intriguing. Who is this daughter of Kringle?...This re-arranger of emotions who has held my heart captive for so long? I don't want to spoil any surprises for the possible late viewers BUT I will say it has a happy ending. Not in the massage parlor way either. My life is changed forever.I should also note that the annoying song that goes with this movie made me not want to watch it. I would recommend that any other viewer who fears this will taint the actual viewing should swallow this pill in a small show of sacrifice. While not as astoundingly good as that one with Dudley as a drunken elf--for which I can't remember the title--it does stand out as a heart-warming cup of holiday good-spirit-nog. My soul is tinseled with good will toward my fellow man. Just what Christmas is about. I'm a better person for having watched it.