I saw this movie for the first time last year and just finished watching it this evening for the second time. It was a very nice film which combined serious real-life issues with the fabric of reality and the true spirit of Christmas. It's also very heart felt to watch for the young-at-heart. I am however in agreement with some other reviewers who pointed out that certain parts of it can be very emotional for children, especially those very young. Before you watch it for the first time whether alone or with others just keep in mind that the video box cover can be misleading and cause you to think it will be a family holiday comedy all or mostly from a child's point of view. This is not the case as the main characters include people of all ages, and not all of them are shown as caring, sensible or even humane. This can be seen as positive though since it can show viewers what society is like outside of the media. So I enjoyed it all the way through but as I'm an adult I can't insure that the same feeling will be felt by children. Then again every living thing has his or her own personality no matter the age. Basically my whole point in outlining this movie for those who have yet to see it is that adults will all likely be taken back to their childhood in some way, and kids will learn valuable lessons, and may or may not feel a powerful surge of magic depending on their own points of view and what their lives have consisted of so far. Merry Christmas to everyone and may the spirit of life in the universe profoundly enrich you!!

A prequel to Santa Buddies without any of the buddies. So I guess it's kind of a spin-off too. We start in the North Pole, and it looks as crummy as before, but as Santa walks in, we see it's a different actor. Hallelujah! However, he may give an incredible performance when compared to the previous actor, but he looks so creepy. His face just has something sinister about it. We begin our story on Santa's birthday, and it's all downhill from there. This film is so dark and mature to begin with. Santa's birthday is interrupted by the announcement that his good friend has died. We are then introduced to a couple that reveal they are unable to have children. And then we go to an orphanage where the kids are mistreated. Once Santa arrives in New York, he is immediately hit by a taxi, loses his memory, and has his magic crystal stolen, while Santa Paws gets lost in the mean streets. I admit the first one was sickly cute, but this movie is rubbing shoulders with Requiem for a Dream in the depressing department. Of course all these plot threads come together eventually, and minus some garish musical numbers, it's done in a respectful manner. It's easy to care for these characters, and so I found that the Christmas spirit was earned rather than forced upon me. With so much darkness, I think this would be a great film for families to snuggle up with, as you can explain to your kids how horrible life can be sometimes.

I loved the movie "The Search for Santa Paws." Tears were rolling down my face so fast. My favorite part of the film is when Santa Paws (voice of Mitchel Musso) and Santa (Richard Riehle) come to Quinn (Kaitlyn Mayer) and Will's (Madison Pettis) new home. They were adopted by the Hucklebuckles but Quinn had lost something important to her. Santa Paws gave Quinn her mother's ornament that had been taken from her. In the story, Santa Paws and Santa are best friends. They both have a special crystal to keep them alive but when in New York, Santa is hit by a taxi, he loses his memory and his crystal. It is taken by a homeless guy named Gus. Santa was heading off to find a new ambassador for New York because Mr. Hucklebuckle, who ran Hucklebuckle Toys, had died. Meanwhile, Hucklebuckle Toys was being run by his grandson, James Huckle (John Ducey) and wife, Kate (Bonnie Somerville). But you see not everything is what you see. James wants to sell the store, but his grandfather has one condition – he had to make a profit the first Christmas he ran it. So did he? Well, you'll have to buy The Search for Santa Paws today to find out. I recommend this film to everyone. It showed me the meaning of Christmas. It will make laugh, cry, and even smile. It is a heartwarming tale to watch on Christmas!!! You can give it as a gift, a movie to help your kids get in the spirit, or even a bedtime story. So stop reading this review right now and go buy "The Search for Santa Paws." The whole family will enjoy this film. I know --I loved it! Reviewed by Lauren Boxer, age 12, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

You would expect a seasonal family movie to bring the family together and have something for everyone. This movie fails to do anything but waist your time and your children's time. Poor acting, bad effects, and terrible casting...hands down it's just a stupid movie. Go grab something good like A Christmas Story or find another classic. It's a chore to even sit through this piece of junk. The only positive aspect about this intensive pile of rubbish is that it ends.The holiday movie mill churned out this piece of garbage and you are better off finding something else to see.