Christina Moore
Lisa
Overview
Lisa thinks she's finally met the man of her dreams until she finds out he still believes in Santa Claus.
Cast
6 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Santa Clause We Didn’t Ask For (But Maybe Needed)
I’ll admit it: I went into I Believe in Santa expecting a lump of coal. Not because holiday rom-coms are inherently bad—some of them, like The Holiday or Love Actually (flaws and all), have a way of burrowing into the seasonal mood—but because this one seemed to arrive with all the fanfare of a forgotten ornament at the back of the attic. No theatrical release, no critical fanfare, just a quiet drop onto streaming shelves, as if the film itself were a little embarrassed to be there.
And yet, here’s the thing about forgotten ornaments: sometimes, when you pull them out and dust them off, they catch the light in a way you didn’t expect.
The premise is simple enough to fit on a Hallmark card: Lisa (Christina Moore) thinks she’s found the perfect man, only to discover he still believes in Santa Claus. That’s it. That’s the conflict.
No amnesia, no secret billionaire past, no meddling exes—just a grown man who, in the year 2022, still writes letters to the North Pole and leaves out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve. It’s the kind of premise that could go one of two ways: a whimsical fable about the magic of belief, or a cringe-inducing exercise in forced quirkiness. I Believe in Santa lands somewhere in the middle, like a snowball that’s half slush, half ice.
Director Alex Ranarivelo is an interesting choice for this material. His filmography reads like a resume for a different kind of movie—Born to Race, Dirt, titles that suggest revving engines and dusty tracks, not mistletoe and eggnog. This pivot to holiday romance feels less like a natural evolution and more like a detour, as if someone handed him a script and said, “Here, make this.” There’s a workmanlike quality to the filmmaking, a sense that Ranarivelo is going through the motions of the genre without ever quite finding its heartbeat.
The camera lingers on Christmas lights and snow-dusted streets, but the shots feel more like checklist items than moments of genuine warmth. It’s the visual equivalent of a store-bought fruitcake: technically festive, but lacking the homemade charm that makes the holidays feel special.
That’s not to say the film doesn’t try. There’s a scene early on where Lisa’s daughter, played by Violet McGraw, asks her mother why adults stop believing in Santa. It’s a question that could open the door to something poignant—about the loss of innocence, the way cynicism creeps in, or the quiet grief of growing up.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 3.2/10
"A poorly received Christmas comedy that struggles with weak writing and unconvincing performances."
Viewers found the movie lacking in originality and humor, with many describing it as one of the worst Christmas films they’ve seen. The plot and character development were criticized for feeling forced and underdeveloped, while the acting failed to elevate the material. latestnetflix.com's read is that Some acknowledged its lighthearted intent but felt it fell far short of being enjoyable or memorable.
What viewers praise
- Lighthearted premise A few appreciated the movie’s attempt at a cheerful, festive atmosphere, even if it didn’t fully deliver.
- Family-friendly tone The film’s lack of offensive content was noted as a plus for those looking for a harmless holiday watch.
Common complaints
- Weak writing The script was widely panned for being predictable, unfunny, and lacking in creativity.
- Unconvincing performances The cast’s acting was criticized for feeling flat and unengaging, failing to bring the characters to life.
- Poor pacing Many found the movie slow and dull, with little momentum to keep viewers invested.
- Unoriginal plot The story was dismissed as a rehash of tired Christmas movie tropes without any fresh twists.
Recommended for
Desperate holiday movie fans Those seeking harmless background noise Viewers who enjoy bad movies ironically
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of I Believe in Santa: Netflix’s Polarizing Holiday Rom-Com
Netflix’s I Believe in Santa (2022) arrived as a festive rom-com with a twist—literally. Directed by Alex Ranarivelo, the film stars Christina Moore and John Ducey as a couple navigating love, holiday chaos, and a very adult belief in Santa Claus. But behind its cheerful trailer, the movie sparked mixed reactions, from brutal comparisons to cult flops to praise for its cozy charm. latestnetflix.com's read is that here’s what we know about its creation and reception.
A Director’s Holiday Niche
Alex Ranarivelo, the French-Malagasy filmmaker behind I Believe in Santa, has carved out a niche in inspirational sports dramas and family-friendly holiday stories 
. His previous work includes The Ride (2018) and Puppy Star Christmas (2018), suggesting a knack for heartwarming, if formulaic, tales. I Believe in Santa fits neatly into this wheelhouse—a comedy-romance designed to wrap audiences in holiday cheer, even if critics weren’t entirely sold.
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Ranarivelo’s background (he’s of Malagasy and Spanish descent) doesn’t directly influence the film’s plot, but his reputation for uplifting narratives likely shaped the movie’s tone. The trailer teases a lighthearted romp, with Moore’s character, Lisa, discovering her boyfriend’s (Ducey) secret Santa obsession—and the chaos that ensues .
Cast Chemistry and Collaboration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp2RxtO3WTE
Christina Moore, known for her roles in Jessie and 90210, headlines the film alongside John Ducey (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody). In a behind-the-scenes interview, Moore praised the collaborative process, calling the shoot a "joyful" experience . While she didn’t dive into specifics, her enthusiasm hints at a cast that embraced the film’s whimsical premise.
Violet McGraw (Black Widow, Doctor Sleep) plays the couple’s daughter, adding a family-friendly dynamic to the story. Sachin Bhatt, Lateefah Holder, and Matthew Glave round out the supporting cast, though details about their roles remain scarce. The lack of buzz around their performances suggests the film’s focus stayed squarely on Moore and Ducey’s romantic misadventures.
Reception: Love It or Leave It
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I Believe in Santa didn’t just divide audiences—it sparked outright vitriol from some critics. A YouTube review compared it to The Room, the infamous "best worst movie" of all time, calling it "so bad it’s almost good" . Others were kinder, framing it as a harmless, if forgettable, holiday flick .
The film’s rating on SensCritique (4.2/10 from 104 votes) reflects its polarizing reception . Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score (not visible in the snippet) likely mirrors this divide, though the lack of a critic score suggests it flew under the radar for professional reviewers . Netflix’s decision to release it in December 2022 aligns with its strategy of flooding the holiday market with original content, but I Believe in Santa didn’t achieve the same cultural footprint as, say, The Christmas Chronicles.
Why the Hate?
The film’s premise—a grown man’s unshakable belief in Santa—might have been its undoing. For some, it crossed into cringe territory, while others saw it as a sweet, if silly, holiday fantasy. The trailer’s over-the-top reactions (Moore’s character gasping at Ducey’s Santa shrine) set expectations for camp, but whether the movie delivered on that promise remains debated .
One thing’s clear: I Believe in Santa wasn’t aiming for prestige. It’s a Netflix original in the purest sense—designed to be binged, forgotten, or memed, depending on your tolerance for holiday schmaltz.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.