The next Youtube festive freebie on my list is 2009’s Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe. I have never seen Santa Baby part one, as it is not free on Youtube as far as I can tell. I’m also knackered after what feels like an eternity of unpacking boxes and decorating and have a feeling that watching part one would not be necessary. Turns out I’m kinda right.
I had a bit of a crush on Jenny McCarthy when I was a hormonal teenager and she was the wild, face-licking co-host of MTV’s Singled Out. I have, however, with maturity, realised that Ms McCarthy can actually be quite annoying and is not the best actress in the universe. Still, her presence does feel just right for this one, an ABC TV family original where she plays Santa (Paul Sorvino)’s mischievous daughter Mary. I had no idea there were so many films about Santa’s daughter!
I guess Mary had to step in and help daddy out and Save Christmas in part one, as they refer to her past exploits a lot here. Plus, that happens in pretty much every Christmas film that features Santa’s offspring. Yep, I’m definitely noticing myself becoming jaded with these films, getting fed up with all the instantly recognisable tropes that they keep falling back on. I’m just not getting the same enjoyment as one might get from watching a film like this maybe once a year at, y’know, the appropriate time. Our new neighbourhood has gone full-on Halloween with ghoulish decorations and I’m becoming very conscious that in about ten weeks all this will soon be over and I’m looking forward to not having to watch lesser-known, cruddy films like this anymore. Not that I really have to keep watching but, come on - I’m hardly going to quit now that I’m ten months deep into this thing.
So, this one has Mary back in her old life as one of those workaholic business types we know and love, toiling away in NYC, sharing her life with mailman boyfriend Luke (Dean McDermott). However, with another holiday season approaching, Mary stumbles across her father moonlighting as lead singer of a groovy jazz band instead of making toys. What gives? Turns out Daddy Claus is having a midlife crisis and wants Mary to take over. She’s not really into it, having had her fill of mystical gift–giving in part one. She becomes keener when she discovers Santa’s new assistant Teri (Kelly Stable) is trying to muscle in on the Santa gig for herself.
Watching this, I wonder why Sorvino seems like he’s doing a ‘Norm from Cheers’ impression. Turns out he replaced George Wendt who played Santa in part one. Hats off to Sorvino then, as his ‘Norm’ impression is impeccable and he does a capable job as Santa, conveying the appropriate level of jolliness and not being too cringey when he has to sing, act cool and ride a turbo-charged snowmobile. The Goodfellas days may be far behind but the guy’s a pro.
Not a whole lot actually happens, though there’s a fun subplot about Teri trying to pinch Luke for herself. Interestingly, for a while the film actually makes Teri seem like a far more compatible match for him than Mary, so it’s a relief when she turns out to be a deceitful baddie. Teri also unionises the elves which is a good laugh and raises some salient points - those guys really do work so hard for so little.
It’s nothing groundbreaking and the happy ending that allows the villain to be redeemed feels a bit false but then I remember it’s a holiday movie about Santa and elves and stuff, so I let them away with it. McCarthy does look delectable in her wintery Claus getup and reminds me that she does have some sturdy comic chops. Still, I’m glad to say that I no longer feel those lustful teenage feelings I once had. Sorry, Jen - I’ve moved on.
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