Here’s a cute and fun little animated film that should have your youngsters wrapped up for some video time. It’s called The Naughty List and is now available on DVD. The story is just in time for the holidays and the animation colorful and enjoyable to watch. The adults shouldn’t mind watching the film with their youngest tots, especially since the comedy’s light and the message is good.
Winter and Snowflake are two elves that work for Santa at the North Pole. Being brothers they are always fooling around and getting into trouble. But the inventiveness of Winter has gone too far when he makes a snowball cannon for a snowball fight with Snowflake. When a shot goes off target and smashes into the official Christmas tree in the town square at Santa’s village, the two along with Sparkle an awkward reindeer are ordered to do the things they dread most, cleaning and fixing things up.
Unfortunately for Santa, his naughty list three create more havoc, this time accidentally causing food poisoning that puts Santa’s Christmas gifting trip in jeopardy. With Winter, Snowflake and Sparkle being the only ones who can help save Christmas, Santa has reservations that he may have to cancel this year.
The cute little animated film has a great story for the youngsters with a message of learning to get along with others and just doing the right thing by not putting your own happiness before the needy boys and girls of the world. Directors Jay Surridge and Gordon Crum keep the film light and full of fun. The animated characters are fun to watch and most of the trouble they get into is not Earth shaking. They make their film just short enough to keep within even the youngest child’s attention span. It’s also short enough to play over and over again keeping them occupied with a fun family film.
The voice cast members are recognizable more to adults and teens than children, but fit the characters perfectly. Drake Bell (“Ultimate Spider Man” cartoon TV series) and Sean Astin (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon TV Series) play the full of life Winter and Snowflake who find that their actions do have consequences. Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo) plays the robot Tinsel who assists Santa with his daily rounds and keeps an eye on the unruly elves. Naya Rivera (“Glee”) does a good job of creating the voice of Sparkle the clumsy reindeer that causes the sleigh flying group to crash and Kyle Chandler (“Friday Night Lights” TV Series) gives a good impression of the spirited Father Christmas.
The Naughty List has not been rated but has no offensive material except for some pranks. The film’s message showing lessons to be learned and family values are nicely entwined in the story.
Specifications and additional film information:
Cast: Drake Bell, Sean Astin, Matthew Lillard, Kyle Chandle, Naya Rivera
Director: Jay Surridge, Gordon Crum
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Christmas
Running Time: 46 min
Video Release Date: November 12, 2013
Language: English
Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 & 2.0
Video: Widescreen, 1.78:1
Subtitles: CC
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: ARC Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
