The Santa Stakeout

Detectives Tanya Morris (Mowry-Housley) and Ryan Anderson (Campbell) disagree about everything. She is detail oriented and loves the holidays, while he follows gut instincts and avoids the holidays. A string of robberies a week before Christmas forces them to work together on a case. 

Their prime suspect, Francis Miller (Pantoliano), is a popular Santa who was working at all of the robbery locations. They rent the house next door and pose as newlyweds. To get close to Miller, they join his Christmas Committee. As they spend time together and with Miller they start to rethink everything. Could they be wrong about Miller and each other?

This is a Hallmark Christmas movie.

The Good:

The chemistry between Tamera Mowry-Housley and Hallmark regular Paul Campbell is good, as is their banter. Thr acting is good, especially for a Hallmark movie. The story embraces the Christmas spirit with a little mystery thrown in. Joe Pantoliano rides the line between suspicious and kind with ease.

The Bad:

The rest of the Christmas Committee is very one note. It's hard to remember their names and don't have distinct personalities. The story moves slow in places.

Other Comments:

-It's fine, but definitely not the best. A

Mowry-Housley, Campbell, and Pantoliano have all made better films.

The Santa Stakeout (2021) 84 minutes

Director: Peter Benson

Starring: Tamera Mowry-Housley as Detective Tanya Morris

Paul Campbell as Detective Ryan Anderson 

Joe Pantoliano as Francis Miller

Peter Bryant as Captain Fletcher

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

"Now give me that hat or else."

"Or else what?"

"Oh, well, don't bother me with details, give me that hat!"

The first snow of the season falls on Christmas Eve. Karen (Foray) and her friends build a snowman that they name Frosty. When magician Professor Hinkle's (De Wolfe) hat lands on his head, Frosty (Vernon) comes to life.

The kids and Frosty have fun until the temperatures start to rise. Karen decides to take him to the North Pole, the only place where he won't melt. Professor Hinkle wants his hat back and chases after them. Can they find a way to keep Karen warm and Frosty warm, while avoiding Professor Hinkle?

Based on the 1950s song "Frosty the Snowman ", written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson.

The Good:

The writer, Romeo Muller, adapted and expanded the song to fit into a TV special. Unlike previous Rankin-Bass specials, this embraces traditional 2D animation. They wanted it to look like a Christmas card, which works and brings heart to the story.

The characters are voiced by comedians. Jimmy Durante is a great choice as the Narrator. Jackie Vernon is warm and child-like as Frosty. Billy De Wolfe is ridiculous and pure mustache-twirling villain as Professor Hinkle.

The Bad:

It's a little short, which works for a TV special, but it could be longer. The kids that are not Karen are not necessary. They are cute, but don't have names are any memorable personalities. 

Other Comments:

-This was Durante's final film. It is also an iconic role that introduced his voice to a whole new audience. 

-Frosty was so popular that Rankin-Bass made two subsequent films with Frosty. Frosty's Winter Wonderland, the 1976 sequel brought back Vernon in the title role and Muller as the writer. Vernon again voiced the character in Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July in 1979.

Frosty the Snowman (1969) 25 minutes

Directors: Arthur Rankin Jr and Jules Bass 

Starring: Jimmy Durante as Narrator

Jackie Vernon as Frosty

Billy De Wolfe as Professor Hinkle

June Foray as Karen

Paul Frees as The Traffic Cop, The Ticket Taker, Hocus Pocus, and Santa Claus

Haunted Mansion (2023)

"I'm too old to die!"

Gabbie (Dawson), a former doctor, is looking for a fresh start with her son, Travis (Dillon). She buys an old mansion in New Orleans. She sees potential in the crumbling mansion, until she encounters the ghosts that haunt it.

She turns to Father Kent (Wilson) for an exorcism and former astrophysicist Ben Matthias (Stanfield) for photographic proof. Ben is a skeptic who is deep in grief, and only agrees to help for the paycheck. When they are all haunted and forced to live in the mansion, they bring in medium Harriet (Haddish) and college professor and historian Bruce (DeVito). Can they work together to get rid of the ghosts before anyone else dies in the mansion?

Based on the Disneyland and Disney World Haunted Mansion ride. The ride first premiered at the park in 1969.

The Good:

The people making this film (director Justin Simien, writer Katie Dippold, set design, etc) clearly enjoy the Haunted Mansion ride and made sure that the film included iconic moments.

The story has a darker tone than the other versions, but still tries to inject the story with some humor through Danny DeVito, and sarcasm through Owen Wilson. LaKeith Stanfield is a strong lead and proves that he is a talented actor. The film looks great.

The Bad:

It's too long. Did they need a big name for the Hatbox Ghost? I'm not a fan of Jared Leto, but he feels wasted here. Rosario Dawson doesn't have much to do, she's fine, but not memorable. 

Other Comments:

-Disney made 2 previous films about the ride: The Haunted Mansion in 2003 with Eddie Murphy and Muppets Haunted Mansion in 2021.

-I like Jamie Lee Curtis, but I don't love her as Madame Leota. 

-I enjoyed the film, but have no interest in ever seeing it again. Maybe if it was funnier or had less characters or less plot...

Haunted Mansion (2023) 123 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for some thematic elements and scary action.

Director: Justin Simien

Starring: LaKeith Stanfield as Ben Matthias

Tiffany Haddish as Harriet

Owen Wilson as Father Kent

Danny DeVito as Bruce Davis

Rosario Dawson as Gabbie

Chase W. Dillon as Travis

Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota

Jared Leto as Alistair Crump, The Hatbox Ghost