It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Dax the Ax (Mike "the Miz") has just foreclosed on the Hope Springs Youth Center in Santa Monica...perhaps a pun intended. In an act of irony, Dax the Ax gets the ax at work and must leave his house in an unrealistic time frame. In a subplot, Santa's Little Helper retires and he must fill the position. He wants to give the job to Dax the Ax, a "normie" (muggle already taken) who he believes has the qualities to do the job...deep down. He tasks Billy (AnnaLynne McCord) a round eared mutant elf to test his qualities for the position. Meanwhile Eleanor (Saraya-Jade Bevis/ Paige) believes she deserves the job because her father had the job. She is portrayed as being a mean person complete with a British accent. Her role is minimal.If you have ever seen a film before, you have a good idea how this ends up. The path is slightly less predictable. The film is for kids. There is a bar room fight, although no one really gets hurt, but fists and objects fly. Certainly not worse than a Three Stooges episode. There is the use of the word "freakin'" as a substitute for a cuss word. Otherwise very kid friendly. AnnaLynne McCord provides eye candy for dad, and The Miz takes off his shirt for mom.Not a bad film. Don't expect it to be an annual iconic classic.

Santa's Little Helper uncovers the seedier side of working at the North Pole. While it is expected to be a place of working together in love and harmony to bring joy to children around the world, this film shows what Santa doesn't want us to see. Paige as Eleanor gave us a clear look at how working at the North Pole has become competitive and political. And, in case you were thinking that's just the bad guys, this showed 'the good guys' (Santa and Mrs. Claus with their darling chosen misfit and the other elite staff), cheering Dax in fighting dirty as well, then kicked out Eleanor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Clearly, they only saw infractions to the rules when it suited them. Oh, and if you're looking for a family movie little kids can enjoy without supervision, what would it be without a wrestler lying around and welcoming people into his home wearing just his gonch? My mistake, he did have a robe covering his shoulders. Dax'es character arch didn't seem sufficient to me to get the job--he needed continued training before locking that in. However, he did show his selflessness in using magic to return a swindler wearing only Speedos to stand in front of a crowd of teens to be brought to justice and save the community centre.I was working my way through many Netflix Christmas romance movies trying to catch some Christmas spirit. Soon, I found I was looking for which movie would be the actual worst one on there. I almost went with anything with Haylie Duff in it, but then I came across two that topped her. Santa's Little Helper did not take the trophy, but came in as a close second. The winner was Small Town Santa starring Dean Cain. The highlight of that one was the decal on the back of his computer, "Real heroes don't wear capes." I'm sure there are others worse than this, but I lost my motivation to find it.

I would rather want a lump of coal; then watch this movie, again. At least, the lump of coal, would warm me up, a bit, this holiday season. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't say, the movie is horrible; it's far from that, but I wouldn't quote the Miz catchphrase, and say, this movie was awesome. It was a low-budget run-of-the-mill film, that doesn't hasn't much, replay value. The unfunny jokes really fall flat. The action scenes were generic as hell. Then, there is the story; it was too childish, clichés, predictable, somewhat confusing and bland for me; & I'm a huge pro-wrestling fan! These WWE Studios films, as of late, are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel, when it comes to frequently mix well-known actors and actresses in roles with WWE wrestlers. I wouldn't say, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin is a bad wrestler, but he's nowhere near the level of the superstardom that other WWE superstars turn movie actors, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Stone Cold Steve Austin or 'The Animal' Dave Bautista has. This is the 4th Direct to Video film that feature the Miz, as the main lead in 2nd years and barely anybody knows about it. It's getting really tiresome to see his stupid mug in these type of films. After all, these films are not doing him, any favors. The reason why, is because he's always playing a character, similar to his wrestling persona. Seeing him, play a slick, fast-talking action star businessman named Dax, here, isn't improving his acting chops. If anything, it's limiting him, from better roles. Directed by Gil Junger, this Christmas movie has Dax AKA the Miz being thrown into a rigorous elf competition to become Santa's next second-in-command; competing against another aspiring elf, Eleanor (Wrestler, Saraya-Jade Bevis AKA Paige) who is also hoping to become Santa's Little Helper. Like his wrestling persona, The Miz's character, is pretty unlikeable. The greedy, materialistic corporate hatchet-man is far too unpleasant to care for his character redemption arch. I would think, the movie would have, work, better if, he didn't start out of mean-spirit jerk. The reason why, is, because it's hard to believe that Santa Claus (Eric Keenleyside) would choose him, over any of the other elves, that into the Christmas season and willing to help. It really seem like Billie (AnnaLynn McCord) would makes a better Second in Command, than Dax. I really don't understand, why she wasn't given, the role by Santa. It's really make no sense! After all, she was pretty much, taking care of Santa Claus, before this competition. Anyways, AnnaLynn McCord, is by far, is the best thing, about this film. She's gives enough lovable innocent, and charm, that you wish, she was given more to do, than become the main lead, love interest and eye candy. One thing, I really couldn't believe, about the actress performance, is the chemistry with the Miz. Both, barely show any interest with each other. In my opinion, it seem forced. They have, nothing in common with each other. Another problem with the film is the villain. Eleanor doesn't seem, too bad. I really don't know, why everybody felt like she doesn't deserve the job. Yes, she's a bit mean, but it still doesn't make sense. After all, she's the most-train, she's has more of the Christmas spirited than Dax, and she's a real elf. If anything, I felt more pity for Eleanor, than the heroes, in this film. That's a really bad sign. Paige was alright for the most part, both in look and in character. One character, that I really have a problem with, is Santa Claus. Santa Claus in this film, looks and acts like a drunk Hobo dwarf than anything else. He always, walking about in ugly looking pajamas; looks confuse, and doesn't understand, his own rules. Not only is the character, horrible written, but Eric Keenleyside doesn't have any drive to deliver lines in a jolly-looking fashion in this film. In my opinion, not only, did he not pull the part off in looks, and comes across as the worst actor in this film, by not, even trying to act. His acting is really fake, like the movie low budget real-life locations sets. One of the worst locations, they use, is the Santa's workshop location. It looks like a Best Western in Los Angeles golf course, trying to past off, as the workshop at North Pole. It was unrealistic and distracting. It really took me out of the film, a bit. At least, this Christmas film better than the previous, WWE holiday film; 2013's Christmas Bounty. Now, that's a Miz film, that's a bit unwatchable. Overall: This film isn't close to being that. If anything, this movie isn't anything new or special. Just passable for the most watch, and that's alright for the general movie audience, but for me, it's way below average. It will be forgotten, before this year is out, and done.

Again, the WWE thinks they can write movies, and they think their wrestlers can act. Wrong! This story is a lot like A Christmas Carol meets It's A Wonderful Life. The Miz is not a horrible actor, but he is too full of himself to be taken seriously as an actor. Saraya-Jade Bevis (known as Paige in the credits and in the ring) is actually very good in this, and in my opinion, is the reason the movie is even watchable. Miz's real life wife Maryse also appears in this movie as Melody, the bartender. I said it before, but WWE needs to stop with movies and stick with wrestling (which they are barely passing muster as well). The movie is cute and the younger fans of Miz and Paige will enjoy it. This would be a good movie for the kids to watch while the grown ups are fixing the Holiday meals. Put this in their stocking, but older kids may think it's so-so, but give it a chance.