Starring: Steve Le Marquand, Darren Gilshenan, Hannah Joy, Aaron Glenane, Nicole Pastor
Distributor: Bonsai Films
Runtime: 99 mins. Reviewed in Dec 2023
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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A once famous actor is now a mall Santa Claus because of his alcohol addiction. After accidentally meeting his estranged daughter he seeks help for his recovery in order to win his daughter’s forgiveness.
The Christmas spirit manifests itself in many different ways. Most Christmas movies are cheerful shows, generally entertaining for the whole family. This film is a bit different as can be seen by the title, with audiences wondering what mess this Christmas will bring.
In fact, this is a seriously themed film, with some funny moments and a lot of heart. It looks at drug and alcohol addiction and rehab. Given this theme, it is inevitable that there will be some mess at Christmas.
This is a very Australian film in characters, tone and situations, the work of writer-director, Davis (this reviewer praising his previous films, Broke and Book Week). It was filmed at Campbelltown, just south of Sydney. Davis has worked before with Le Marquand and has invited him to portray Chris Flint, a middle-aged former television star (with a Silver Logie), who has been self-indulgent with drugs and alcohol for decades. Flint is now down and out, alienated from his daughter Noelle whom he hasn’t seen for 20 years. When we meet him, he has just dried out and is living in a halfway house, where most of the movie’s action takes place.
Chris meets Joy, in rehab, a singer with hopes for publicising her songs (Hannah Joy). Then he meets Nick, a genial Gilshenan, who works in a shelter but cares for and supports Chris and Joy in their quest for complete rehabilitation. The audience attend with Chris and Nick a very moving AA meeting. There are enjoyable moments at meals, watching TV, a photograph with Chris and his Santa clothes, and a rehearsal of how Chris might go to Noelle’s house and try to reconcile.
And, it’s Christmas, with Chris able to get a job at the local mall as a Santa, but he can’t bring enough acting skills to the role and it is all upended when his daughter and her son arrive for a photo opportunity.
There is talk about Christmas, the Gospel basis, the singing of the carols, and the hopes of good cheer among everyone. However, the people living in the street of the halfway house resent the newcomers lowering house values and prices and refuse to help Chris with the Christmas turkey which he is trying to prepare. After some negotiations and with help from Nick, Noelle decides she will come to Christmas lunch.
Just as we begin to think this will be an absolutely heart-warming Christmas gift movie tied with a bow, there is the reality of the temptation to relapse, the pressures of addiction over the years, the blows to self-confidence, the difficulties of relationships . . .
So, Christmas in a realistic setting, a mixture of joy and sadness, quite a quietly devastating moment of sadness when Nick explains to Chris why he has committed himself to supporting those in rehab.
But, hopeful, if rehabilitation can be once achieved, why not, even with deep struggle and pressure, again?
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