Netflix continues to expand its festive catalog every year, and 2025 has already delivered a surprisingly strong lineup of holiday originals. With A Merry Little Ex-Mas, Champagne Problems, and Jingle Bell Heist performing above expectations, the streaming giant has clearly understood that audiences crave warm, cozy, feel-good holiday escapism. Among these releases, Jingle Bell Heist stands as the top pick so far. But the big question remains: Can Netflix’s latest Christmas comedy, My Secret Santa, take the crown this festive season?
Directed by Mike Rohl—best known for The Princess Switch trilogy—and produced by Howard Braunstein, My Secret Santa arrives with a promising creative team. Co-writers Ron Oliver (Falling for Christmas) and Carley Smale (Snowed-Inn Christmas) attempt to craft a heartfelt holiday rom-com filled with warmth, humor, and a little seasonal magic. And yet, what unfolds on-screen is a wild blend of sweetness, absurdity, and outright illogical choices that make the movie feel like a Christmas-themed fever dream.
In this detailed review, we break down the plot, the performances, the strengths, the weaknesses, and whether My Secret Santa is worth adding to your holiday binge list.
My Secret Santa Plot Summary: A Chaotic, Charming, and Totally Unreal Christmas Setup
The film revolves around Taylor Jacobsen, played by Virgin River star Alexandra Breckenridge, a hardworking single mother whose life is turned upside down when she loses her job at a Christmas cookie factory. The reason? A dramatic decline in society’s interest in store-bought holiday cookies. As a result, Taylor immediately falls behind on rent and struggles to afford tuition for her daughter, who has secretly been accepted into a prestigious snowboarding academy.
Determined to make things work, Taylor discovers that she can get a 50% tuition discount if she takes up a job at the resort hosting the academy. But the only available job is—wait for it—Santa Claus, with an unbelievable salary of $2,000 a week. Desperate for income, Taylor teams up with her costume-designer brother to create a full prosthetic Santa look.
It’s a setup that requires a suspension of disbelief bordering on Olympic-level flexibility.
With a fake identity—but her real Social Security Number, hilariously enough—Taylor manages to land the job. And magically, the discount works out just fine despite her assumed name not matching her daughter’s records.
But complications soon arise when she meets Matthew (played by New Amsterdam star Ryan Eggold), a charming musician and the son of the resort owner. He recognizes her from her former band, is instantly smitten, and pursues her romantically—unaware that she’s also his resort’s Santa. What follows is a balancing act between her double life, mounting chaos at the resort, and the emotional needs of her daughter.
A Christmas Movie World That Defies Logic—And Sometimes Gravity
Netflix holiday movies notoriously play fast and loose with reality, but My Secret Santa pushes the boundaries much further. The first 30–40 minutes feel like a series of loosely connected holiday tropes stitched together without concern for plausibility:
- A high-paying Santa gig? ✔️
- Secret tuition discounts tied to non-matching identities? ✔️
- A full prosthetic beard worn for days at a time? ✔️
- A romantic subplot involving a wandering musician with a trust-fund past? ✔️
The movie embraces the “anything can happen at Christmas” energy so strongly that it often slips into unintentional comedy. Much of that comes from Taylor’s Santa voice, which sounds distractingly similar to Amanda Bynes in She’s the Man—ironically, a movie Alexandra Breckenridge briefly appeared in.
And yet, once the storyline settles into its emotional core, My Secret Santa finds moments of genuine heart. Taylor becomes a meaningful, almost therapeutic Santa figure for children and adults alike. She helps her daughter’s bully open up, encourages vulnerable conversations, and slowly transforms from a struggling mom into a symbol of comfort for the entire resort community.
Attempts at Mrs. Doubtfire Magic—With Mixed Results
The film’s most ambitious move is its homage to the iconic Mrs. Doubtfire restaurant scene. While no Christmas rom-com can match the brilliance of Robin Williams, My Secret Santa tries to recreate that comedy of identities moment with a chaotic bathroom sequence involving Santa boots, painted toenails, and questionable sound effects.
For many viewers, it will be funny. For fans of the original, it might feel like a near-miss—well intentioned, but not quite the classic it hopes to echo.
Performances: Who Shines and Who Struggles?
Alexandra Breckenridge as Taylor / Santa
Breckenridge puts in tremendous effort, especially considering the hours spent in prosthetics and heavy costumes. She brings emotional depth to the role and succeeds in grounding many of the film’s more bizarre scenes. However, the exaggerated voice and extreme premise occasionally overshadow her performance.
Ryan Eggold as Matthew
Eggold is arguably the film’s standout. With his warm, comforting presence and easy charm, he brings a genuine rom-com energy to the movie. Even though he doesn’t convincingly play a reckless “trust-fund playboy,” his heartfelt performance makes him enjoyable to watch. His smile alone could win over half the Christmas audience.
What Works Well in My Secret Santa?
✔ Warm Christmas atmosphere
✔ Strong chemistry between the leads
✔ Genuine emotional moments between Taylor and her daughter
✔ Uplifting messages about community, compassion, and resilience
✔ Family-friendly themes suitable for a holiday viewing
What Falls Flat?
✘ The script’s logic is paper-thin
✘ The Santa voice is unintentionally distracting
✘ Comedy occasionally feels forced
✘ The plot relies heavily on unrealistic coincidences
✘ Attempts at Mrs. Doubtfire comparisons don’t fully land
Final Verdict: My Secret Santa Movie Review (2025)
Rating: 2.0/5 — Average
My Secret Santa is one of those Christmas movies that exists solely because holiday films get a special pass on logic, structure, and reality. With a chaotic plot, amusingly absurd choices, and a sprinkling of heartfelt moments, the film has charm—but it also has enough wild decisions to make you question how it ever got produced.
It’s not the worst Netflix Christmas movie, and it’s certainly not the best. But for viewers who love festive chaos, prosthetic beards, romantic snowbound meet-cutes, and family-friendly holiday stories, this film might still deliver a cozy evening watch.
Watch My Secret Santa If You Liked:
- Falling for Christmas
- The Princess Switch Trilogy
- Virgin River
- New Amsterdam
- Lighthearted Christmas comedies
- Disguise-driven holiday rom-coms
About Virgin River on Netflix (Quick Guide)
- Season 6 – Added December 19, 2024
- Season 5 Part 2 – Added November 30, 2023
- Season 5 Part 1 – Added September 7, 2023
- Season 4 – Added July 20, 2022
- Season 3 – Added July 9, 2021
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Rating: TV-14
Cast: Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Benjamin Hollingsworth
Final Thoughts
While My Secret Santa may not be the next Jingle Jangle or Christmas Chronicles, it still offers holiday sentimentality wrapped in humor, romance, and a touch of madness. If you’re a fan of Netflix Christmas movies, you’ll likely find something to enjoy—even if it’s just the cozy winter vibes.
If you prefer more grounded holiday storytelling, this may not top your list. But for fans of festive rom-com chaos? This might become a guilty-pleasure Christmas favorite.
