While The Grinch is the most famous example, from Hans Gruber to Willie Soke each year we return to stories of characters trying to steal Christmas. Amongst shopping busyness or ‘Closed for Christmas’ signs the season seems to be an ideal time to pull off a heist, or upfront robbery. So, this year’s Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar looks at a series of less-mentioned attempts at festive thefts.
Stealing Christmas is bookended with attempts at stealing Christmas. Jack Clayton (Tony Danza) is going through a routine heist when a security guard suspects his wrongdoing. After a hasty, multi-mile escape Jack finds himself, now disguised in a Santa costume, stumbling into a small town that’s both waiting for a Santa to appear at the local Christmas tree shop and has a convenient bank that could make for a big payday whilst the town is at the local church on Christmas Eve.
Whilst waiting for partner-in-crime Harry (David Parker) to arrive, Jack takes on the role of the expected Santa amongst the Christmas trees sold by Lea Thompson’s Sarah. His attitude is far from jolly, and could see him thrown out of town before both the previous heist has cooled down and, more importantly, the new one can even start to be planned. Thus, we see him getting slightly more into the spirit of the role with a push from both Sarah and other members of the local community who start to embrace the new-in-town stranger who they largely just know as Santa – with Jack seen more in the costume than his own clothing.
This is certainly the case for Betty White’s antique store owner who perhaps welcomes Jack in the most, especially with the fascination he shows to a train that she has on display. It’s White’s character who agrees that it would be a wonderful idea to have the church bells ring on Christmas Eve, not knowing it would disguise the sound of the bank being broken into. Yet, even at this point it seems as if Jack is having second thoughts, largely from the kindness and welcoming he’s experienced from the random town he’s stumbled into. One that, like with Trapped In Paradise a couple of days ago in this year’s Calendar, fully embraces the spirit of the festive season, and almost appears to all year long. Leading it to rub off on Jack, even if initially just through attraction to Sarah.
Stealing Christmas has somewhat found a mild place with reruns on American cable TV networks every now and then. With its Hallmark-adjacent leanings, although not entirely style, it ticks a number of festive boxes and makes for light, likable viewing that may provide just what you’re looking for from an amusing less-mainstream watch this year. Even if it does focus on two attempts at stealing Christmas.
Stealing Christmas can be watched in the following places:
YouTube
To see where else you can buy, rent or stream the film, including in various places around the world, JustWatch is always helpful to have a look at.
Just A Little Bit Random 