Help for the Holidays (2012): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2012, Help for the Holidays is a fantasy, family and tv movie film directed by Bradford May, running about 84 minutes. “because elves, after all, deserve happiness, too” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Although she loves Christmas, Santa’s elf Christine (Summer Glau) wonders if there could be more to life than making toys in the North Pole. When Santa receives an emergency wish from a little boy in Los Angeles, he puts Christine on a special assignment, sending her to L.A. to give the VanCamp family—mom Sara (Eva La Rue), dad Scott (Dan Gauthier), and their two kids Ally (Izabela Vidovic) and Will (Mason Cook)—a holiday wake-up call. Will Christine fail her assignment and be sent back to the North Pole for good, or will the VanCamps come to their senses about the meaning of Christmas?

Who’s in it. Help for the Holidays stars Summer Glau as Christine Prancer, Dan Gauthier as Scott Vancamp, Eva LaRue as Sara Vancamp and Izabela Vidovic as Ally Vancamp, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Help for the Holidays has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel and UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel . See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Help for the Holidays page.

If you liked it. Fans of Help for the Holidays tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.