Dear Secret Santa (2013 TV Movie) User Reviews

If "The Lake House" had a Christmas sequel.......

[story_by_corey · 5/10 · 27 December 2013]

If you've seen "The Lake House", then you have seen this movie. In it, Jennifer (Tatyana Ali) carries on a time-bending relationship with a dead boyfriend from the past via letters sent through a mailbox in front of his old house. She decides to try and change history in order to save him and if you've seen "The Lake House", you can predict know how its going to end.

If you haven't seen "The Lake House", you will like "Dear Secret Santa". If you liked "The Lake House" and wish they had made a sequel or are obsessed with time travel, you will probably like this movie. If you don't fall into any of those categories, you might want to skip this one and watch "Santa Clause Conquers the Martians".

Nice Film

[Christmas-Reviewer · 7/10 · 14 May 2017]

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . I HAVE REVIEWED 400 FILMS WITH NO AGENDA!

Now I did not see "The Lake House" and I never will. I saw this film because I am a sucker for a "Christmas Film" and just like Santa this film delivers. I went into this film not knowing what is was about. After I was done I saw people said this is a rip-off of "The Lake House" (and it could well be) however this film it least has a cast that can act. (The Lake House Not SO Much)

In this film a young woman returns home because her father lives alone and just took a tumble putting up Christmas lights. The woman who is single makes a "Christmas Wish" to find true love a Christmas and she does.

To tell you much more would be a crime. However a bigger crime would be for Hallmark Channel to bypass Tatiana Ali when they make their new round of Christmas movies! She is a delight! She carried the film with ease! I look forward to see what she does next.

Not to stay secret

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 16 December 2021]

The basic synopsis may sound quite formulaic and not much new, but when hearing and reading about the film, 'Dear Secret Santa' actually did sound like it was trying to do something different with a premise that may come over as typical to some. Tatyana Ali has been watchable and more in everything seen of hers so far (more to say) and was interested in seeing 'American Idol' winner Jordin Sparks in an acting role to see how a good singer would fare as an actress.

'Dear Secret Santa' turned out to me as a winner. While not one of my all time favourite Christmas films, it is one of the better faring made for television Christmas films from 2013 and one of the better ones seen recently. Have been on a Christmas film completest quest for a couple of years now and of a hit and miss but intriguing experience 'Dear Secret Santa' compares favourably. Those who like Ali won't be disappointed in her performance here.

It's not a masterpiece by all means. Despite it seeming like it was going to do things differently with something typical, there is not much that is original (as has been noted there are too many similarities with 'The Lake House' and it could have done with more imagination.

Some of the dialogue seemed on the ropey and awkward side and it is a little bit of a slow starter.

A lot works though. Ali is immensely engaging and full of charm in the lead role, while Ernie Hudson does sympathetic and dignified so well. Sparks is certainly much better than Kellie Pickler, another 'American Idol' contestant who has done some work for Hallmark and has not fared well in any of it), when it comes to the acting stakes. And Della Reese is a blast. The chemistry came over as genuine and at ease and the characters didn't bore or irritate.

Furthermore, it looks quite good, especially in the slick photography and beautiful locations. The music has varied in quality in all the recently seen Christmas films, 'Dear Secret Santa' fares better than most here. The soulfully uplifting and moving quality gave the film depth. Enough of the script flowed naturally and didn't come over as excessively cheesy, so it was easy to take things seriously, or too schmaltzy that it felt like overdosing on sugar. The story is not exceptional, but it did have charm and warmth and did appreciate that it did cover some mature themes and handled them with honesty and heart.

Bottom line, nice film. 7/10.

Who copied whom?

[HallmarkMovieBuff · 8 January 2017]

Much has been made in previous reviews (from 5 users and 1 critic) of this film being a rip-off or a sequel of "The Lake House" (2006) (which I haven't seen).

If that's the case, I would submit then so is "The Edge of the Garden," a TV Movie from 2011.

On the other hand, however, I would further suggest that "The Lake House" and the others could all be copies of sorts of "The Love Letter," a TV movie from 1998, or who knows what before that?

In any event, I liked it, especially that it employed several actors who are familiar to me.

Where has the wonder and magic of Christmas gone?

[peggysue422 · 3/10 · 9 January 2020]

Hopefully time warping and worm holes really do exist, so I can get back the 2 hrs. I wasted, watching this one. If ya really want to see the best, check out Three Wishes! Now THAT is how a classic movie ends!!!

Terrific Christmas movie!

[jameslavin12 · 10/10 · 3 December 2013]

As fan of Tatyana Ali from the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" days, I recently watched "Dear Secret Santa" on Lifetime. I was not disappointed. This is one of the best Christmas TV movies I've ever seen. Tatyana Ali plays a business woman who has to go home to take care of her dad during the holidays. Jordin Sparks from American Idol plays her best friend, a real estate agent, who she asks to help sell her father's house. While visiting, our heroine starts getting cards from a secret admirer. Before all is done, we've explored grief, faith, magic, wormholes, and time travel. Della Reese is a hoot as a science expert! My wife couldn't get through this movie without crying. Definitely check this one out.

Ugh!!!

[steelermke · 1/10 · 27 December 2014]

As a fan of Christmas movies and I have watched 90 of them this year I can honestly say this is the worst one I have seen. The acting is horrible. The attempt at comedy is lame at best. It is sad the writer could not come up with an original thought. As I sat and watched this movie I was hoping to find at least one good thing to say. It did not happen. Putting up a few lights and sticking antlers on a dog does not portray the meaning or the spirit of Christmas. The movie does not belong in the classification of a Christmas movie. If there was a way to give it a negative star rating I would have done it without hesitating. Time is too precious to waste on this bomb.

Beautiful story <3

[sineadesmae · 10/10 · 14 October 2019]

Absolutely love this film, such a lovely story. Not your typical boy meets girl or girl/boy has a massive promotion coming up and they put they're life on hold. This is a beautiful story about life and death but without it being too sad. But yes I did shed a year 😂

Just horrible

[beachgirl-86960 · 1/10 · 14 December 2022]

The parts that made this movie terrible ruin the whole movie!! There is so much wrong with this movie that the good parts don't even make up for the bad things! The time warp etc and the unrealistic part of that doesn't even make the movie bad compared to all the other parts of this movie!!! This was NOT a CHRISTmas movie! It was a slap in the face to an actual Christmas movie it was very, very sad if you think about it, just truly sad. It does not represent those who hold the true meaning and value of Christmas in their hearts at all. It is not how we truly celebrate Christmas! If the description of the movie had more to it I would have never watched the whole movie!

Worst Christman Themed Movie!!!

[ThatMonkey · 1/10 · 8 December 2023]

Let's be honest T Ali is not top billed material, but I like her and dug her TV show, so figured I would come out and support. When I saw Bill Cobbs, E Hudson and Larmorne, I figured it would be entertaining to say the least.

This movie was dry, humorless and ended up being a weak attempt to siphon from The Lake House.

This movie was a major waste of talent and example of why more Afrocentric material isn't produced. Anyone attached to this movie should be embarrassed and I'll never understand how a script like this gets green-lit and a director continued to work.

1 star is generous, this is doo doo to the 12th degree.