- Noel Royce (GREGORY HINES), a onetime successful songwriter, becomes a sidewalk Santa in the hope of breaking his writer's block. With the help of a wisecracking Christmas partridge named Melody (PATTI LABELLE), his wife Alicia (VANESSA WILLIAMS), and a hep cat named Emerald (EARTHA KITT), Noel discovers the very soul of Christmas. By the story's end, an entire community is transformed and a struggling animal shelter gets a second chance.
- Songwriter Noel is struggling to write a hit song, and so he takes his frustrations out on his family. His daughter Dakota is granted one wish for doing a good deed and she wishes that her daddy will write a hit song. There is a sub-plot about kindness to animals that has almost nothing to do with the main story.—Randy H. Farb <rhfarb@yahoo.com>
- NOEL DAVIS [Gregory Hines] is a successful song composer with a bad case writer's block. Reduced to writing clunkers like Every Time I See a Santa My Heart Goes Pita Panta, he considers quitting music. Even worse, he's grown distant from his adoring eight year-old daughter DAKOTA [Kiana Underwood] and his lovely wife ALICIA [Vanessa Williams]. Not even Dakota's cat EMERALD [Eartha Kitt] can get through to him.
But when Dakota saves the life of MELODY SONGBIRD [Patti LaBelle], a magical Christmas partridge, she earns herself a wish. Dakota asks for a new hit song for her father. So, Melody flies into Noel's life and offers him a deal -- if he does everything she says, he'll find his lost inspiration. When Noel agrees, Melody waves her magic wing and transforms him into a volunteer sidewalk Santa.
This is NOT what Noel had in mind, especially when his wife Alicia recognizes him. She playfully serenades him with the song Santa Baby, and even Melody and Emerald join in.
Melody decides to put the reluctant Noel through a series of Santa Exercises - collecting clothing, sprucing up the playground and setting up a Christmas tree. As Noel toils away, people who were once strangers in the neighborhood spontaneously join in. It leads to a caroling competition in which three generations - a trio of Rapping Teens, the Newsstand Man, and Alicia - sing Hip-Hop, Soul and R&B versions of Jingle Bells.
Everyone is richer for the experience except Noel. All he wants is his hit song, and it still isn't happening. Disillusioned, Noel swears off the whole Santa gig. His timing couldn't be worse. His daughter Dakota is in a crisis. MR. SWEET [Tom Joyner], a disgruntled superintendent, has ruined the local Animal Shelter. Dakota begs Noel to help the homeless animals who plead their case in the song Pick Me! But Noel refuses and Dakota runs away crying, vowing never to love him again.
Noel blames Melody for his quandary, but the bird will have none of it. She reveals that Dakota selflessly gave him her only wish -- a wish that would come true if he would stop thinking about himself.
Chastened, Noel finds Dakota at the Animal Shelter and vows to rebuild it. When word spreads that the "Santa Guy" needs help, the community rallies to his side. Aware of the goodness around him, Noel composes a wonderful new composition called The Heart and Soul of Christmas.
Noel has his song hit, but, that's not all. Melody has a secret to reveal - Christmas is in trouble and only Noel can save it!
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