To be honest I like Santa Paws, and I was surprised to see some negative reviews on it here. Sure, it has some dark and sad moments here and there (e.g., Santa Claus almost dying and all the parts where Ms. Stout abuses the girls from the orphanage), especially for a Christmas movie, but the movie gets better as it goes on, and the good things I'll be mentioning make up for them. That's why I give it an 8/10. It could be worse.
I am one of many people who loves both Christmas and puppies. If you love both of those things like me, this is the movie for you, unless the not-so-great scenes I mentioned are too much for you to handle. Santa and Paws (renamed Santa Paws at the end) have a beautiful friendship. The idea of a magic crystal turning a stuffed dog into a real dog helps strengthen the magic of Christmas and makes the idea of a dog befriending Santa even better! I don't know how else to describe the premise. Paws made the closet and the girls' room at the orphanage look so festive thanks to the power of his crystal, much to Ms. Stout's chagrin, but he did a very good job regardless! Besides, the closet and bedroom looked bland and dull at first. The aforementioned scenes really get me in the holiday spirit, and so does the girls' song about the joy of the holiday season! Paws has really brought some cheer to the orphan girls and bonded with them, which is sweet to see. Unfortunately, the girls didn't have any friends (other than each other) or fun things in their lives before because of Ms. Stout's coldhearted demeanor and extremely strict guidelines. Thank goodness Santa survives and Ms. Stout gets fired at the end! That evil orphanage owner got her comeuppance for mistreating the girls!
The part where the Hucklebuckles adopt Quinn and Willamina (better known as Will) is sweet and emotional! The two girls start off as close friends and later become sisters. I'm well aware that close friends sometimes consider each other family, and family is more than just those who are biologically related, but that moment makes the meaning of family literal. I consider that the definition of friendship! The ending is my favorite part! Santa Claus and Santa Paws come to the Hucklebuckles' house, they find Quinn and Will sleeping on the couch together, they give Quinn her stolen angel ornament back, and she and her new mother hang the ornament on the tree together, just like she (Quinn) used to do with her deceased biological mother, much to her happiness. Right before Santa Claus and Santa Paws leave, Quinn and Will mention that the two of them becoming sisters was the best Christmas present they've ever received, and they give each other a hug, which warms my heart even more and makes me cry! This scene shows the healing power of love and kindness, that the little things are more important than material things, and one doesn't need to buy something from a store and wrap it in a box in order to give a present to someone. This movie is what gave me a better understanding of the meaning of Christmas!
Santa Paws is a sweet, cute, and entertaining movie! It's not the best Christmas movie out there, but it's far from being the worst. If you want to watch this with kids, it may be best to watch it with caution and warn them about the intense scenes I mentioned.
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