Outstanding how through a narrative of secular holiday folklore, it actually undoes the materialist mindset of shopping-mall Santas.

More like one long episode

A weak message about evil: It’s something thrust upon people, never really a villain to be defeated. 

The bizarre premise works so well.

This is not the typical feminist film Hollywood is used to.

It deftly avoids descending into a politically charged statement or a simplistic “us versus them”

The change in tone might disappoint fans of the book but is sure to entertain a fun-loving family crowd.