Hello and welcome to the penultimate edition of Movie Reviews 2025. And as this is the penultimate edition, this week I’m keeping things simple.
All of this week’s movies can be found on Netflix. Yep, three movies, three movie reviews, but just one streaming service.
So, once you’ve read this week’s reviews you won’t have far to go if you want to check out the movies. Speaking of which, this week’s reviews include the George Clooney/Adam Sandler drama, Jay Kelly; the romantic comedy, My Secret Santa; and the murder-mystery, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
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Now streaming…
My Secret Santa (2025)
First up this week is the romantic holiday comedy, My Secret Santa. Directed by Mike Rohl and starring Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, and Tia Mowry, the movie tells the story of a desperate mother who dresses up as Santa Claus in order to pay for her daughter’s tuition fees.
In the movie, Taylor Jacobson is a single mother doing her best to bring up her daughter, Zoey. However, things take a difficult turn at Christmas when Taylor is made redundant from her job.
To make matters worse, her dismissal happens just as Zoey is accepted into a prestigious snowboarding camp with super-high tuition fees. There is simply no way Taylor can afford to pay the fees, yet she doesn’t want to disappoint Zoey.
But when Taylor learns that employees of a nearby ski resort get 50% discount on fees, she makes it her mission to land a job. Thing is, the only vacancy is for a professional Santa, and Taylor doesn’t quite fit the bill of a rotund jolly guy with a beard.
Well… that is until her brother and his partner give Taylor a makeover, transforming her into a stand-out Santa. This in turn helps her bag a job, where she masquerades as a male under the pseudonym ‘Hugh Mann’.
But how long can Taylor keep the deception going? You see, not only is Santa gaining a lot of attention, Taylor has also caught the eye of Hugh’s boss and a romance is unfolding.
Taking cues from She’s The Man, and Miracle on 34th Street, as well as a lot of inspiration from Mrs. Doubtfire, My Secret Santa is hardly original. There are elements of this film which feel as if they have been lifted directly from the aforementioned motion pictures, as well as others, which in turn creates a sense of déjà vu throughout.
It’s also fair to say there’s nothing particularly grand here either. This whole thing plays very much like a small budget TV-movie-of-the-week affair, so don’t expect big production values.
Yet, there is something rather likeable about My Secret Santa. The story is charming (if a tad far fetched); the make-up and prosthetics for Hugh/Santa are decent (if nothing groundbreaking); and there’s a serviceable little romance thrown in for good measure.
Sure, serviceable doesn’t scream ‘must-watch’, and of course this isn’t a ‘must-watch’ movie, but at this time of year what’s on offer in My Secret Santa is perfectly acceptable. What I’m saying is My Secret Santa goes down rather well with a hot cup of cocoa and a gingerbread man, and that’s what many audiences want right now, which is fine.
My Secret Santa is standard Netflix fare and nothing more, but at times it is mildly entertaining Netflix fare. You know what you’re going to get when you press play, and if you accept this from the outset you can get some enjoyment out of it regardless.
Alexandra Breckenridge is solid in the role of Taylor/Hugh/Santa; there are one or two pleasing messages in the story; and the vibe is good. If this is the sort of holiday movie you seek, and you can overlook the obvious comparisons to other movies, then give it a go.
Well, it is almost Christmas.
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Now streaming…
Jay Kelly (2025)
Moving onto movie No. 2 now, for the star-studded drama Jay Kelly. Directed and co-written by Noah Baumbach, the movie stars George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup, Emily Mortimer, Laura Dern, Stacy Keach, and Jim Broadbent, and follows the story of a film actor who embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
In the film, Jay is a high profile actor in a late period in his career. Jay is at a point where he’s still doing well, but he’s starting to think about the past, the present, and the future, including sacrifices he’s made in life.
To achieve the level of success Jay has, he’s missed certain touchstones. He wasn’t always around while his kids grew up, and hasn’t always taken the time off he should.
After getting into an altercation with an old friend, Jay sets off on a journey to Paris to spend time with one of his children. Along the way he thinks back over the choices he’s made, and contemplates his decisions.
Beautifully shot and filled with many recognisable names and faces (Lenny Henry! Patrick Wilson! Janine Duvitski!) Jay Kelly is a poignant drama about reflecting on the past. The movie essentially focuses on Jay, as played by George Clooney, as he mulls over the highlights and lowlights of being an actor.
And with Clooney on board, it’s not too difficult to get caught up in the story. Clooney gives a captivating performance (as always) and this is a big selling point of Jay Kelly.
If you’re a fan of the actor, you’ll be interested to see him light-up the screen and this is the film’s crowning glory. Clooney could spend two hours reading the back of a cereal box directly to camera and he’d do it better than most, and this is where the film excels.
As to whether the rest of the movie will work for everyone, well that’s debatable. For all its other strong selling points – including a solid supporting role for Adam Sandler as Jay’s manager – Jay Kelly does feel a bit self-indulgent.
This is one of those Hollywood movies about working in Hollywood and doing Hollywood things and I have to ask the question: Does the average Joe (who doesn’t live or work in Hollywood) care all that much? There is a human side to all the drama, sure, but at times it does feel like there’s a disconnect between those making this picture and the rest of us.
I have a feeling Jay Kelly may become a movie which film critics gush over, but general Netflix subscribers are not all that arsed about. I guess we will see in the fullness of time, but don’t be surprised if this one is not for you.
If you want a slow-burning drama to delve into; you want to see Clooney being his handsome charming self; or you want to watch Sandler prove he’s at his best when he taking on serious roles, you may find Jay Kelly right up your street. On the flip side, if you’re not really into slow-paced films about rich people looking back on their life while being followed around by their entourage, you should skip it.
Jay Kelly is very much one of those movies you’re either sold on within the first twenty minutes or you’re bored and flipping over to something else entirely. There’s little crossover here, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
That said, this is a lovely looking film and Clooney rocks. So, good for some, not so good for others, but put together rather well.
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Now streaming…
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
And finally this week, there’s a mystery to solve in the latest Benoit Blanc film from writer/director, Rian Johnson. The new movie is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which sees Daniel Craig reprise the role of Blanc (having previously appeared in Knives Out and Glass Onion), alongside a new ensemble cast which includes Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Jeffrey Wright, and Thomas Haden Church.
As for the story, following an altercation, Rev. Jud Duplenticy is sent to a new parish to work alongside Monsignor Jefferson Wicks – a difficult and overbearing priest who holds power over his parishioners. After the two butt heads, things become somewhat frosty between the pair and Duplenticy begins to alienate himself amongst the community.
So, when Wicks is murdered in church, Duplenticy becomes the chief suspect. But there’s no way he could have killed Wicks, as the priest died in a sealed cupboard, and Duplenticy was conducting a service in front of witnesses at the time of his death.
With the police involved in the case, Benoit Blanc is brought in to investigate the murder. He doesn’t believe Duplenticy is the killer, so needs to uncover the truth about what happened.
If you’re a fan of the two previous Benoit Blanc movies from Rian Johnson then be prepared for some good news: Wake Up Dead Man is yet another solid entry in the series. This is an all-star affair, with a standout turn from Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy, and an intriguing mystery.
Following suit with Knives Out and Glass Onion, this is a sprawling story with a great set-up, a quirky set of suspects, and some stunning cinematography from Steve Yedlin. Wake Up Dead Man feels deliciously decadent, yet it never over eggs the pudding and most important of all, it keeps the interest level high throughout its 140-minute runtime.
What’s impressive about all of the Benoit Blanc films, and remains true with this latest offering, is the way they arrive as established classics. There is a depth and theatricality which puts them on par with an Agatha Christie tale, and a perplexing murder which needs solving.
The solution won’t be presented here, but it’s a murder which requires some careful consideration. The crime takes place seemingly in front of all the main suspects, making it a tricky one to decipher, but then that’s the fun of these movies – trying to work it all out.
And of course at the heart, flexing his brain power to reveal the truth is Daniel Craig’s Blanc who is as likeable as ever. There’s something fascinatingly odd about Blanc, and about the way that Craig plays the character, and this draws the audience in time and time again.
Will this be the last time? Let’s hope not.
As he’s done with his previous films in this series, Rian Johnson has delivered yet another great case for Blanc and it’s one you should certainly pop on your watchlist. Johnson crafts an intriguing, involving tale, which looks fab, has the star power to back it up, and provides ample entertainment.
Craig has already made it known he would like to do more of these movies with Johnson, so hopefully Netflix will green light a few more because this is a series which could run and run. However, for now, enjoy what’s on offer and see if you can crack the case.
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week, and from this week’s trio of films it is pretty clear the winner is Wake Up Dead Man. The film is another triumphant entry in the Knives Out series and if you love a good mystery movie then this is one to watch!
And if you like Wake Up Dead Man you might also like:
- Knives Out (2019) – Rian Johnson directs Daniel Craig in this first mystery for Benoit Blanc.
- The Last of Sheila (1973) – Murder-mystery which focuses on a group of friends aboard a yacht who play a deadly game of secrets.
- Deathtrap (1982) – Fabulous black comedy murder-mystery starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, and Dyan Cannon.
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Simply the Best
And that’s your lot for this week, but if you’re craving more movies then you should take a look at this month’s edition of Movie Reviews Special. Titled 35 Movies of 2025, the Special offers up a selection of 35 movies you should probably watch from this past year.
From Roofman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, to I Swear and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, these are the stand out movies of 2025. So, if you’re not sure what to watch, or what you might have missed, this edition of Movie Reviews Special can help.
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2025. For more posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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