Nerds That Geek Movie Review: Disney’s ‘The Naughty Nine’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Deric Mccabe, Camila Rodriguez, Madilyn Kellam and Winslow Fegley as Jon Anthony, Dulce, Laurel, and Andy, in Disney’s ‘The Naughty Nine’. (Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Wenk/Disney.)

One thing that every fan of holiday films can agree upon, is that holiday films are sacred in nature. In the sense that if it isn’t an independent horror story, there should be minimal darkness in those films. They should instead be about love and redemption, and the power of the season and if there is darkness, that should be used to propel the story to something positive. To really remind us of the majesty of the season and its wonder, and truly, that edict has served this type of film well for decades on end. For that is what we see year in and year out, and we do of course find joy in it, since positive stories are indeed a wondrous break from the sometimes chaos of the world.
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But we live in a unique time for storytelling, where there’s an opportunity for creatives to try new things and push the envelope when it comes to every type of film out there. Which is giving rise to holiday stories that now ask… can they go deeper? Can they toy with concepts that traditionally aren’t acceptable? Such as say having characters that aren’t focused on the wonder of the season and believe more in their own agenda? And of course… do all this while still celebrating the best elements of these types of films? Well as it turns out, Disney is one the studios that is curious as to what the holiday film might look like if by chance… the core tenants were toyed with and new ideas were explored and a film in that vein is about to make its debut on Disney Channel later tonight, and that makes The Naughty Nine quite the fascinating feature.

Simply because… it answers those questions with a resounding yes, through the film’s unique plot. One that introduces us to a boy named Andy… who is smart, surrounded by friends, and a loving family, and absolutely beats to the tune of his own drum. Because Andy gets what he wants in this life and just before winter break, Andy makes sure to take part in a specially designed heist against his school to help him make enough money to buy accessories for the game console he’s expecting Santa to deliver. But when that console doesn’t arrive because Andy discovers he made the Naughty List, he decides to go the extra mile to get what he wants. By recruiting the most talented kids off of the Naughty List, and his sister, so they can head to the North Pole and steal the presents they deserve.

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Danny Glover as Santa Claus in Disney’s ‘The Naughty Nine’. (Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Wenk/Disney.)

Which is a plot that really is off the beaten path when it comes to holiday films. After all, we rarely see anyone embrace the concept of being on the Naughty List in these tales, not to mention… we don’t see anyone ever give so little care to the meaning of that list… that they feel the need to just rob Santa. But this is a concept that works well for several reasons. In part, because it leads to a big adventure, one that is fun and lighthearted and quite frankly, features some stunning visuals and memorable moments. Giving rise to the reality that if by chance the character isn’t grounded in pure evil and is perhaps misguided… such a plot can work and provide viewers with something different. But of course, there are other reasons why this particular film is so appealing and that relates to the messaging present within it.
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Because while this holiday film does indeed feature a unique and refreshing core concept, it is at heart… a holiday film. One that takes the time to explore more than just how entertaining it would be to see people assemble a heist again Old Saint Nick. For it does examine, what is it that drives Andy to act in this manner, and those consequences, and of course… it ponders deeply upon how people grow and make better choices than the ones we see here. Giving rise to a highly intelligent film as well that uses subtle commentary and gentle moments to teach us a solid holiday lesson, rather than just making it known loudly as so many other holiday films do. Giving rise to a delightful feature that still does the genre proud by offering great lessons regarding what it means to be better and what we really should cherish during the season.

If anything, all of these elements bring forth what could be considered, a flawless hybrid holiday film. One that injects a little everyday Hollywood into the genre by way of that Ocean’s Eleven feel but makes sure to never let go of what makes the holiday feature so beloved and so great. Which is a testament to Director Alberto Belli’s work, since he is the one responsible for blending all these concepts and big moments together, and he brought out the best in the cast as well, who all turn in amazing performances and sell the wonder of the dynamic holiday feature. One that is essential viewing for certain, because you can never go wrong with a holiday film that breaks new ground while still offering up everything, we love about this tried-and-true genre about a magical time of year.

‘The Naughty Nine’ makes its debut on the Disney Channel, at 8 p.m. EST tonight, and will be streaming on Disney+ on Thanksgiving Day.

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