Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004)

TV. Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus gives Steve Guttenberg the acting chops he's so lacked since Short Circuit. He still mugs awkwardly but he passably fills the role of Nick Jr. (the son who must take over Santa's reins after Christmas Eve). Oh dear, his parents want him to get married by then -- in two weeks! What's he going to do? Not to worry, Armin Shimerman (Quark in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), who plays Santa's business manager, has narrowed down a neatly calligraphed list of candidates, all located in (naturally) southern California. Our would-be Romeo has his own path to find, though, and since this is a Hallmark movie, it lurches on quite predictably towards that end. Treacly is indeed the best word to describe this film confection; it only gets weird when Guttenberg begins ho-ho-ho-ing a bit too mawkishly. The ending is just what you'd expect, and it's a happy and sentimental one. Incidentally, this is a movie that Netflix lacks but Blockbuster has (though neither service stocks the 2005 sequel Meet the Santas). 3 stars.