2018’s The Least of These: A Christmas Story is a more faith-based film with a novel twist, exploring that conundrum about teaching kids they won’t get any gifts from Santa if they’re naughty. But what do you tell a child who’s been good but won’t get anything because their parents are poor? It’s a heartbreaking concept from writer/director Mark Nicolosi. Unfortunately, it’s also a dull, predictable story, full of plot holes that are likely the result of some overzealous editing. Despite this, the film still feels overly long and contrived.
This is the story of homeless, single mom Rose (Tayla Lynn) and her seven-year-old daughter Katie (Emma Faith) who are living in a car and washing themselves in the diner where Rose works. After the intervention of a kindly Salvation Army Santa (G. Michael Nicolosi), the girls find a way to get back on their feet and learn the true meaning of Christmas etc. This is all set to a cloying soundtrack of mega cheesy festive country music. Urgh.
Tayla Lynn, not afraid to let herself appear unkempt and ugly for most of the film, convinces as a woman who’s had tough times and had to fight tooth and nail to care for her kid. However, I do feel like questions need to be asked of any restaurant manager who would knowingly let someone who washes in his bathroom sink actually serve customers - you get the impression Rose is a bit pongy…
After charity Santa Charley strikes up a casual conversation with Katie, giving her the ‘naughty/nice’ chat, this sweet little kid explains how she tries hard but still got bugger all last Christmas and now lives in a car. This throws Charley for a loop and he’s left questioning his whole belief system.
Some boring stuff happens before, in an incredibly distressing scene, Rose wakes up at night to find the kid missing. After a horrible few moments where we don’t know if Katie’s been abducted or murdered or what, she’s discovered unconscious outside after sleepwalking or something. This is where a big chunk of the film seems to be missing as we jump to the hospital where Rose is in a patient gown (was she sick too?) and Charley is there in his Santa suit for some reason. Why is this guy they only just briefly met now in the hospital with them? Did he save them? What happened?
All of a sudden Charley’s inviting the girls to come live with him and his good Christian wife has absolutely no issue with this whatsoever. I can imagine what my wife would say. Anyway, he helps the girls have a nice warm, wonderful season. I should mention that Charley-as-Santa never, ever takes off his black cap or make any attempts to dye his dark beard white. He looks rubbish.
He then somehow, via his awesome Santa connections I guess, manages to hook aspiring artist Rose up with a creepy, wealthy art dealer guy who miraculously turns out to be the answer to her prayers. This guy just gives her a house and offers to pay all her bills for a year whether he works for her or not. Are her paintings really that good? There’s also a few scenes with Rose and her co-worker pal being hideously rude to customers and getting away with it because that’s apparently hilarious and very Christian.
Sure, Rose and Katie’s lives have been tough but this rags-to–riches story rings totally false. There’s no question this family deserves some joy but this is pie-in-the-sky nonsense, with everything falling in Rose’s lap. The message is pretty muddled - they’re sort of saying that it’s sometimes not enough just to be nice but if you believe in miracles, someday you might just get one? If you’re really lucky? I don’t know. I’m bored stiff long before this one ends.
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