Directed by Tim Story and written by Scott Rosenberg, this comedy-drama Christmas film stars Lil Rel Howery as Nick, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges as Eddie Garrick, along with Madison Skye Validum, Teyonah Parris, Oscar Nuñez, Ravi Patel, Gina Brillon, and others. The film has a runtime of 92 minutes, with music by Christopher Lennertz and cinematography by Christopher Duskin.
Plot
Eddie Garrick has lost his belief in the beauty and wonder of Christmas. However, when he spends Christmas Eve with his nine-year-old daughter Charlotte, he comes across a mysterious man in a red suit named Nick, who might just be able to change his mind about the magic behind Christmas!
– The Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Dashing Through the Snow Review
It’s November, and we have been getting a barrage of Christmas movies already. Dashing Through the Snow is Disney’s attempt at joining the festive spirit, and this family entertainer portrays the beauty of the season of giving and receiving in a heartwarming way. Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges is Eddie Garrick in this rather sweet film about accepting your past and enjoying time with your family. There’s also a bit of adventure and a corrupt politician in the mix to keep things moving.
This isn’t a very cerebral film – it’s marketed for kids and for families to enjoy together so it’s a simple and enjoyable film that’s not boring and has the grumpy protagonist whose heart starts to warm up after the adventures of the night with Santa, who teaches him that it’s ok to believe in magic and open up your heart. The movie delivers its simple message effectively, and Eddie’s character arc will give you hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.
That being said, Dashing Through the Snow isn’t anything new and the moment Nick is introduced, you know where this is going. If you’re going into it with the thought that this is a kid’s movie, you’re gonna be fine and even have a good time. However, as mentioned previously, this isn’t one that will make you think in any way – you watch it for a good time and then forget about it. Fortunately, it will definitely be a good time for the kids with you.
I was also a little confused about Eddie’s motivation behind following this random person around. Throughout the runtime, the only question I asked was why he didn’t just call the cops and insisted on taking this unknown person around with him and his own kid. I mean, I get that that’s the plot device, and Eddie and Nick need to be together for him to get over and accept his past, but even in that scenario, this seems a bit forced and unnecessary. I am sure there are other ways for two people, one being Santa Claus, to spend the night together!
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Either way, Ludacris’s generally annoyed demeanour is quite relatable and sometimes even funny, but he does little else. The film’s light-hearted vibe is nice to watch and keeps things simple and adventurous enough not to bore you. The simplicity might become a bit much for audiences who want something more from their films, but hey, you chose a Christmas film to watch about a Santa who accidentally ran off with an iPad – this is entirely on you. Lil Rel Howery looks the part of Santa and is delightful. Oscar Nuñez is a corrupt congressman, but we don’t see enough of him. Unfortunately, I think with the right lines, he would’ve been the delightful villain with the dry humour.
I think the final fight sequence with the wonky CGi reindeer is both horrifying and extremely funny, and I don’t know what to say about it exactly. But, sometimes, I guess that’s okay.
Final Thoughts
Dashing Through the Snow is a strictly family movie that you will enjoy with your loved ones over a cup of hot cocoa. Audiences shouldn’t try to go too deep into this silly but warm film to have fun. It’s a sweet adventure that is okay to forget after the 90 minutes are up.
The film is streaming on Disney+.
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