Disney's 'The Search for Santa Paws' Now on Blu-Ray & DVD - Movie Review

In Disney's "The Search for Santa Paws," at the North Pole, Santa receives a snow-white stuffed puppy from the recently deceased Mr. Hucklebuckle. To cheer him up, Santa's elves turn the stuffed dog into a live dog -- Santa's new best friend, Paws.

Newest Disney Villain - Miss Stout

Meanwhile, Quinn (the adorable Kaitlyn Maher from "America's Got Talent") is brought to a foster home for girls where toys are burned and Christmas is not allowed by the villainous Miss Stout. Out spending the monthly care money sent for Quinn, Miss Stout plows into Santa, which knocks her hat into the street. When Santa and Paws try to retrieve it, Santa is hit by a cab and loses his magic crystal, his bag (with his Santa Suit) and his memory. Santa and Paws are separated, and end up wandering the streets of New York City alone.

Yet Another Santa Claus Becomes a Store Santa

Santa ends up at Hucklebuckles where he is hired as -- what else -- the store's Santa Claus. Hucklebuckles is now owned by Mr. Hucklebuckle's grandson and wife who have changed their name to Huckle. The Huckles will get the deed to the old fashioned toy store if they keep the store open through Christmas and turn a profit per the terms of the will. Then the Huckles plan to sell the quaint store.

Still lost in New York City, Paws runs into a pack of friendly dogs and tries to enlist their help to find Santa, but his friends are caught by the dog catcher. Paws uses the power of his magic crystal to release them, but the dogs are separated by the dogcatcher's pursuit, and Paws is alone again until he runs into Quinn. It looks like things are turning around for the lonely orphan and the lost puppy until Miss Stout finds a dog in her house and decides to get rid of it.

"The Search for Santa Paws" Derivative but Family Friendly

Although "The Search for Santa Paws" is extremely derivative of every other Christmas movie where Santa looses his memory, it is a charming movie which will delight children and not be too hard on the adults. Full of talking dogs, music, and Christmas cheer "Santa Paws" is definitely worth putting under the tree and in the DVD player and is family-friendly fun.

However, it does have a few drawbacks. Santa is a bit scary looking, especially his eyes, and the power of Christmas has little to do with the true meaning of Christmas but much more to do with magic crystals. The acting is overdone in the manner of kids' programming, but this is a children's movie, so that's to be expected.

"The Search for Santa Paws" released on a Disney Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on November 23.