Netflix’s latest Christmas offering is being compared to iconic nineties comedy Mrs Doubtfire
My Secret Santa is streaming now on Netflix(Image: Netflix )
Netflix’s latest festive romcom completely channels Robin Williams’ Mrs Doubtfire.
My Secret Santa premiered on the platform on December 3 and follows a gender-swapping narrative similar to the iconic nineties comedy.
This time its romcom veteran Alexandra Breckenridge, who goes undercover as Santa Claus, instead of Williams in his housekeeper get-up.
Breckenridge plays single mum Taylor, who loses her job in the lead up to Christmas. As she’s struggling to make ends meet, Taylor’s teen daughter Zoey lands a spot at an expensive snowboarding school.
This leaves the main character frantically searching for a job that can help her quickly raise tuition funds. That’s when she discovers that the school offers half-price admission to the resort employees’ children.
Alexandra Breckenridge (left) leads the cast as single mum Taylor(Image: Netflix )
However, the only job available at the resort is playing the role of the seasonal on-site Santa Claus. So, she decides to undergo a Father Christmas transformation.
Directed by Mike Rohl, the comedic identity-swapping story is underscored by Taylor’s blooming connection with the resort’s manager, Matthew (played by Ryan Eggold).
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After just a few hours on the streamer, My Secret Santa has received positive reviews from some viewers.
Screen Rant gave the romcom a middling 6/10 rating. “Though rooted in familiar territory, it lands on an unexpectedly resonant note, blending humour, heartache, and hard-won connection into a conclusion that works marginally better than its formula suggests,” their verdict states.
Fans have compared it to Mrs Doubtfire (Image: Netflix )
Meanwhile, Tech Radar awarded the comedy a three-star rating and wrote: “Giving a Netflix Christmas movie three stars is basically the equivalent of a normal film getting a five-star rating. My Secret Santa soars as high as a festive film can fly, but gosh does it tick all the boxes.”
The critic went on to praise: “I can’t believe I’m writing this, but I’m already contemplating watching My Secret Santa again (which is essentially the equivalent of pigs flying). I got so much joy, warmth and feel-good vibes from Netflix’s latest festive offering, and that’s how you know it’s a job done well.”
Most casual viewers have yet to share their verdicts online, but one early IMDb user raved: “If you love Mrs Doubtfire then you’ll get a kick out of this film.”
Although someone else was less than impressed by the festive flick, writing: “Was ok, nothing original & rather clichéd.”
My Secret Santa is available to stream now on Netflix
