Santa season is in full swing. But with Dashing Through the Snow, audiences may relish the creative twists offered by stars Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (Fast X) and Lil Rel Howery (The Mill, Get Out). The performers elevate this seasonal comedy about a divorced social worker named Eddie (Ludacris) who has lost the Christmas spirit due to a traumatic childhood experience. Directed by Tim Story, who made a dent this year with The Blackening, the comedy is produced by Will Packer and written by Scott Rosenberg of TV’s High Fidelity, Cowboy Bebop, and From.

The heartwarming tale finds Eddie and his nine-year-old daughter Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum) meeting a mysterious fellow in a red suit named Nick (Howery). The guy thinks he’s Santa. Eddie wants to help. But there’s a twisted subplot here in the vein of Home Alone that sends the film soaring to comedic heights. Oscar Nuñez, Teyonah Parris, and Mary Lynn Rajskub are among the solid cast. Stars Ludacris, Lil Rel Howery, and producer Will Packer shared more about the magical adventure in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

Making the Funniest Santa Film Ever
Dashing Through the Snow Release Date November 17, 2023 Director Tim Story Cast Teyonah Parris, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Lil Rel Howery, Zulay Henao, Oscar Nunez, Kevin Connolly Rating PG Runtime 1hr 32min Main Genre Comedy
Lil Rel Howery turned in memorable performances in the films Get Out and Free Guy. He was recently seen in Vacation Friends 2, alongside John Cena, and earlier this year guest-starred in an excellent episode of the Peacock hit, Poker Face. Just last year, he headlined The Mill on Hulu (and is the only actor in 90% of the film), giving one of his greatest performances. So it’s been quite the year. When the opportunity came to play Santa, the multi-hyphenate actor, producer, and comedian jumped at the chance, noting:

“I wanted to be one of the funniest Santa Clauses you ever seen. What I loved about this particular Santa, outside of Santa having the magical powers and stuff, this Santa was a lot more vulnerable and a lot more human than we’ve seen. That’s why Santa was able to relate to Eddie, Ludacris’ character. This Santa was doing something differently, it wasn’t just about presents and all this other stuff. This Santa wanted to give the gift of healing. Eddie went through something traumatic and Santa’s whole goal was to make sure Eddie got through that, so he can function in the world even better.”

The chemistry between Howery and Ludacris stands out in Dashing Through the Snow. But Ludacris, who’s been a fan favorite in Fast X, wasn’t at all surprised by that. “I grew up watching comedians. That’s my whole world,” he shared. “I love to laugh 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Soon as I knew I was working with Lil Rel, he didn’t even have to say anything. I knew the chemistry was going to be good because I love comedians, and he’s a comedian.’

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The actors also shared that it was a joy working with young costar Madison Skye Validum, who plays Eddie’s young daughter Charlotte in the film. “Honestly, what helped our chemistry too is Madison,” Howery said, with Ludacris noting how the young actor was “the glue” that held together the sweetness of the film.

Related: 10 Christmas Movies That Defined the Millennial Generation

Howery added: “I love working with actors. I can tell when they’re really into character, like the ones who take the character seriously. It’s easy to work off that when everybody knows who their character is, right, and so you’re able to work better that way. I think lil’ Madison helped honestly make the blend even better. She helped the chemistry, actually, because she was the chemistry.”

Will Packer on the Actors’ Performances
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Producer Will Packer, the man behind the 2022 Oscar telecast and films like Girls Trip and Beast, knows how to deliver great entertainment. Collectively, his movies have grossed more than $1 billion at the box office. With Dashing Through the Snow, he saw a great opportunity to move beyond some of the creative approaches employed in previous films.

“I’ve done some holiday movies before about big family dynamics, and the drama that entails, and what happens when you get a bunch of folks together under one roof, typically, for the holidays, right?” he said. “It’s one of the most stressful times, it’s one of the most magical times, it’s one of the most high-stake times, and one of the most hopeful times. But it creates a great backdrop for a movie. With this one, it’s a much smaller family dynamic. It’s really about Ludacris’ [character] and his daughter.”

In the film, Eddie, a devoted social worker, is estranged from his wife, and as Packer explained:

“He’s somebody that helps people all the time, but now he needs help. And that help comes in the form of a very unlikely character which is [played by] Lil Rel, who shows up in a red suit saying that he’s Santa Claus, and he can do all these magical things. So, of course, Luda’s character is thinking, ‘Okay, I know you need some help because I deal with people who have mental health issues and that certainly seems like what you are dealing with, sir.’”

He adds, “But of course, it turns out that Luda’s the one that needs help. It’s that kind of flip and interpersonal dynamic between the characters, yet against the backdrop of a much larger fanciful scope of a holiday film, that I think makes [this film] stand out.”

Related: Best Actors Who Played Santa Claus, Ranked

Packer went on to say that audiences will be most surprised by Ludacris’ performance because, “He hadn’t done this character, so I think that will surprise people. And Lil Rel… you know, he’s not your father’s Santa Claus. He’s a different kind of Santa. He’s got a little more flavor, a little more soul, and I like that. I like the fact that it’s his Santa that he makes all his own.”

The Best Takeaway From The Film

In the 2020s, mental health issues are on the rise. One of the more unique creative elements of Dashing Through the Snow is that it gently slips that cultural issue into a comedic tale. When asked what they wanted audiences to take away from the comedy, Ludacris immediately said:

“Healing. Healing, man. Look towards your inner self. If there are any traumas or post-traumatic stress or anything you’ve ever gone through, there is a way to deal with it. It’s okay to have help. It’s okay to make yourself better so that you can be better for others. I think that’s the big thing.”

Lil Rel Howery offered this, “The film has given away many gifts. It’s given a gift of laughter, a gift of love. It’s given a gift of healing, a gift of friendship, and it’s given a gift of family […] It’s one of these movies you can watch with your whole family. And I think that’s the most beautiful thing. I hope when people watch it together, they take away all those gifts we’re trying to give.”

Dashing Through the Snow is available to stream on Disney+ beginning November 17.

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