Dashing Through The Snow (2023) – Movie Review/Summary

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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General Information

Director(s)	Tim Story
Screenplay By	Scott Rosenberg
Based On	N/A
Date Released	November 17, 2023
Released Via	Disney Plus
Genre(s)	Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Holiday
Film Length	1 Hour 30 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated PG
Noted Characters and Cast
Eddie	Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges
Nick	Lil Rel Howery
Allison	Teyonah Parris
Charlotte	Madison Skye Validum

Film Summary

When Eddie was 8 years old, his parents were on the verge of divorce so when he saw Santa at the mall, he told them what his dad would want and he hoped his mom would get credit and they would be happy. Eddie told Santa where he lived, and on Christmas night, Eddie’s dad was home for the holidays, a rare occasion, and he ended up fighting Santa who robbed their house. That night, Eddie’s parents decided it was time to get divorced.

Fast forward 30 years and Eddie is now a father, who works too much like his dad, and also is in a place where he may end up divorced. But then he meets Nick and being that Eddie is a social worker who works with the cops, he thinks Nick is just a little touched and wants to help him. But, as he learns Nick accidentally learned about a corrupt politician, Eddie finds himself torn between letting this go and helping Nick, even if Nick’s insistence that he is Santa rubs Eddie the wrong way.

Content Rating Explanation

• Dialog: Nothing notable
• Violence: Nothing notable
• Sexual Content: N/A
• Miscellaneous: Nothing notable

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member.

Eddie

38-year-old Eddie has been anti-Christmas since he accidentally led a robber to his house, and was potentially the straw that broke his parents marriage. Now, even with an 8-year-old daughter who loves the holiday, at best he treats it like a floating holiday though, according to his wife Allison, he doesn’t consistently take it off, even for the sake of family time or his daughter.

• The actor is also known for their role in “John Henry (2020).”

Nick

Nick is 1462 years old, was born in modern Turkey, sweats glitter, has farts like cinnamon and is rather used to recent technological updates to how he delivers presents on Christmas.

• The actor is also known for their role in “The Carmichael Show: Seasons 1 & 2.”

Charlotte

Charlotte is Eddie’s 8 to 9-year-old daughter with Allison, who LOVES Christmas.

Alison

Alison is Eddie’s wife who he worries may file for divorce as it seems going to couples therapy isn’t moving things in the direction for them to properly reconcile.

• The actor is also known for their role in “They Cloned Tyrone (2023).”

Discussion Items

Let us know your thoughts in the comments:

1. What are some Christmas movie staples you like and some you wish got left behind?

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Highlights

You Warm Up To It

“Dashing Through The Snow” isn’t a instant, “I gotta watch this” type of movie. While you appreciate it establishing why Eddie hates Christmas, it then throws in his marriage being on the rocks, Charlotte, his daughter, being in the same position he was as a kid, and her trying to be the sun in Eddie’s semi-cloudy sky. Then, just to show Eddie isn’t a Scrouge, they make him a good social worker who truly cares about people and then throws in Lil Rel’s Nick, who is a ball of energy and giddiness.

It’s a lot and I’d say, especially when you hear a DMX song play, and not his version of “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer” it feels like it doesn’t fit the general vibe of Disney Plus. But, after it establishes its expansive foundation, and starts to build, you get into it. No, you may not get much of Eddie and Allison to want to root for them, and Charlotte, while a cute kid, may not have adorable moments with her father.

However, watching Eddie heal his wounds through being around and trying to help Nick can get you emotional, and as Nick helps people feel seen by talking about gifts they want or have received, you eventually come to like what “Dashing Through The Snow” offers.

On The Fence

Not Fully Understanding How Eddie Became The Husband He Did

With his parents ending up divorced, it will lead you to wonder what happened to Eddie’s relationship? It is noted him working as much as he does, including on holidays, is an issue. However, is that it? What problems come up during couples therapy and if Eddie is truly worried Allison might move on, what moves is he making?

It’s clear that Eddie’s marriage matters to him, but beyond not wanting to see a Black family potentially get complicated due to divorce, there isn’t much given for you to want to invest in Eddie’s marital issues.

The Congressman And His Stooges

If there is one thing holiday movies know how to do, is do the most. Would it have been enough for Eddie to heal his childhood trauma, reconnect with his wife, and bond with his daughter, as Nick struggled to get back on schedule? Yes. But, then the film throws in the congressman and his hench people, and they are truly eyeroll inducing.

Granted, they connect with Eddie’s story of being a social worker, since they want to shut down a place he sends people to, and allow Nick to be more than a catalyst for Eddie’s growth, but they are expendable in the worst way.

Who Is This For?

People who like holiday movies, and those who want to see a holiday movie starring Black people, without the stuff OWN and BET usually add in for drama.

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

1. Holiday Rush

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

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