The Santa Trap (2002)

In the heart-warming tale of "The Santa Trap" (2002), the Emerson family, led by Shelley Long and Robert Hays, find themselves attempting to adjust to the sun-soaked landscape of the southwest, a stark contrast to their previous New England surroundings. Amidst the desert, young Molly Emerson can't shake off her melancholy, lamenting, "it doesn't feel like Christmas." Her younger sister, Judy, disheartened by the notion of Santa being a mere myth, hatches an ingenious plan to capture the elusive figure. Her trap works, ensnaring none other than Santa Claus, portrayed by the charming Dick Van Patten. The bewildered Emerson parents react instinctively, alerting the local authorities about the jovial trespasser. As Santa struggles to establish his true identity, he finds himself thrust behind bars. The situation becomes increasingly dire when Judy pleads with her parents about the millions of children who risk waking up to a giftless Christmas morning. Santa's unexpected cellmate, a rogue biker named Max, played by Stacy Keach, adds another layer of complexity to the story. Back at the Emerson residence, the sound of hooves on the rooftop stirs Bill Emerson from his slumber. The sight of live reindeer prancing on his roof turns him into a newfound believer. Driven by his newfound belief, Bill rushes to the police station, determined to liberate Santa. However, the inept local police, in a comedy of errors, mistakenly release Max instead of Santa. As laughter ensues and tension rises, it is up to the Emerson family to save Christmas, which precariously hangs in the balance.

The Santa Trap is an action movie featuring Sonny Carl Davis.

The Santa Trap is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Crackle, FILMRISE, Freevee, Peacock, Peacock Premium, Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, Redbox, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Hoopla and fuboTV.