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I'll tell you what wasn't on my Christmas list for Santa this year: ironically enjoying (nay, loving) a Netflix holiday movie. I've seen a lot of bad ones in this job, but My secret Santa It is without a doubt the best of the cheesy genre.
In short, it is Mrs. Doubtfire if Robin Williams decided to be a Santa Claus drag king instead of a sassy Scottish pensioner. Instead of a man desperately trying to win back his ex-wife, single mother Taylor (Alexandra Breckenridge) needs quick money to send her daughter to an elite snowboarding center.
Of course, romance is also in the air. Matthew (Ryan Eggold) recognizes former singer Taylor at a record store, and it turns out he's the resort's new general manager; You can already guess how it will end just by reading this synopsis.
My Secret Santa consolidates Alexandra Breckenridge as the queen of Netflix
Look
If you're suggesting that I'm writing this review solely as an excuse to write a love letter to Breckenridge's work and further my cause to try to interview her in 2026, I don't know what you're talking about.
she carries My secret Santa squarely on his shoulders, and completely pulls off what is, rationally speaking, a completely implausible story. This is the kind of story he was born to play, and the film's carefree vibes, backed by more authentic real-world issues, suit his warm and engaging personality incredibly well.
In essence, I don't really care about Taylor's character arc or her antics while wearing Santa's baggy pants; I'm always buying what Breckenridge sells. It's impossible not to be fascinated by his time on screen, radiating a natural charm in everything he does. You want to be her, you want to be her best friend…even when she's pretending to be an old man.
As far as Christmas movies go, this one is pretty original.
The biggest compliment I can give My secret Santa It's that it feels current without trying too hard. There are no cringe-inducing TikTok jokes, no trends are exploited, and no one tries too hard to fit into a mold that isn't inherent to them. Yes, the ending is certainly embarrassing, but it's in keeping with the spirit of Christmas movies.
Tia Mowry isn't a natural fit as a villain, and there isn't much at stake other than Taylor's daughter being unable to snowboard. However, we are here to engage in romantic connection, not to sink into terror. Obviously it's all a bit tacky (lacking taste and style, for my non-Brits), but that comes with the territory.
I can't believe I'm writing this, but I'm already thinking about watching it. My secret Santa again (which is essentially the equivalent of pigs flying). I got so much joy, warmth, and good vibes from Netflix's latest holiday offering, and that's how you know it's a job well done.
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