Merry Christmas in July! Did you know that there is a sharky Christmas movie involving a Santa hat wearing great white shark? Because there is. And it's actually kind of great.
I had exceedingly low expectations for this movie. The opening scene really did not do it any favors. I almost turned it off. But I stuck with it, and I was rewarded with a genuinely good Christmas movie that doubled as a fun Baby's First Horror Movie.
You get your standard "I hate my family and wish they were gone!" Christmas movie angst. Only instead of them accidentally leaving you behind while they fly to Paris, you use your magic pen to inadvertently bring your comic book to life. The comic book, naturally, is about a super-intelligent shark named Santa Jaws.
I didn't have high hopes for the characters. They were immediately set up to be incredibly shallow stereotypes: Jerk Jock Brother, Rich Uncle, Blonde Ditzy Too Young Girlfriend, Angsty Artist... you get the picture. So imagine my surprise when there was actually some depth here. Not a ton. But there's still some. Just enough to be able to have the Christmas-y message to not write people off based on stereotypes.
There is a pleasant amount of practical effects as well. I'm fairly certain that every sighting of the fin in the way was practical. The CGI was rather strong too, all things considered. I loved the eyes that glowed like Rudolph's nose and the creative use of candy cane later on.
While the plot was predictable, especially the ending, there was something comforting about it. It felt like something that I could put on while I wrap presents or decorate my Christmas tree without completely scandalizing my family.
I do have to warn you: prepare for puns. So, so, so many puns. An obscene number. None of them are very good. Most of them aren't even groan-worthy. If I was younger, then I might have enjoyed them more.
Okay, probably not. But you might!
My only real critique of the movie is that the plot was far less focused on the shark than I had hoped. Everything involving the comic book shop owner was creepy. I don't know why someone like that was hanging around two, young teenage boys so much. In a movie where almost every other character had something redeemable about them, he did not. He wasn't even that funny either.
Random Thoughts
Bonus points for showing handwriting that actually looks like it could have come from a teenage boy.
I loved the Christmas themed weapons.
While never stated outright, the movie was filmed in Louisiana so I'm assuming that the story itself is set there as well.
I forget just how quickly slang can change. Santa Jaws came out in 2018 and already sounds dated in parts.
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An Honest Fangirl loves video games, horror movies, and superheroes, and occasionally watches far too many shark movies.
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