Dashing Through the Snow (2023)

Film and Plot Synopsis

Eddie Garrick (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) is a good-hearted man who has turned his back on Christmas due to a traumatic childhood experience. At the request of his wife Allison Garrick (Teyonah Parris), from whom he is separated, Eddie takes his 9-year-old daughter Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum) to work with him on Christmas Eve, where they meet a mysterious man in a red suit named Nick (Lil Rel Howery). Eddie, who is a social worker, thinks the man is delusional and needs professional help, but when he evokes the wrath of a local politician (Oscar Nuñez), he and his daughter are taken on a magical adventure that just might restore his faith in Christmas. (Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios)

‘Dashing Through the Snow’ Movie Summary

When Eddie Garrick (Dominic Kingston Bell) was 8 years old, his parents were going through a separation around Christmas time. Eddie wrote a letter to Santa Claus asking him to bring a fishing pole to his father (Brad James) to make him happy so that his parents would remain together. On Christmas Eve, Eddie’s parents decide to stay in the same house overnight for Eddie’s benefit. During the night, Eddie hears a noise from downstairs and goes to investigate. He finds Santa Claus (Tywayne Wheatt) dancing around the Christmas tree. However, Santa Claus was not the real Santa Claus, but a burglar who had broken in to steal the Garrick family presents. Eddie’s father chased the thief out of the house. As a result, the fishing pole was never delivered, Eddie’s parents later got divorced, and Eddie learned that there was no such thing as Santa Claus.

In present day, Eddie Garrick (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) is a social worker who works with the police department with people who are facing mental health challenges. Eddie is married to Allison (Teyonah Parris) and has one child, 8-year-old Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum). Allison and Eddie are in a trial separation as Eddie is working on some issues, primarily always making his job more important than his family. On Christmas Eve, Allison must do some last-minute shopping and asks Eddie to watch Charlotte. Charlotte is a Christmas fanatic and fully believes in Santa Claus which Eddie tries not to reenforce. Before beginning his big evening with his daughter, Eddie goes over to his neighbor’s house to feed their cat while the neighbors are away for the holiday. Eddie discovers a man dressed as Santa Claus, who goes by Nick (Lil Rey Howery), stuck in the chimney. Nick claims to be the “Santa Claus”, however, Eddie believes he is just mentally ill and seeks help for him by taking him to a hospital. Nick does convince Charlotte that he is the real Santa Claus.

Along the way, Eddie’s car breaks down, and Eddie is forced to call a taxi. Eddie is unaware that he is being followed by three henchmen – Peter (Ravi Patel), Paul (Marcus Lewis), and Mary (Mary Lynn Rajskub) – who work for a dirty local politician Conrad Harf (Oscar Nuñez). Harf believes that Nick is in possession of a tablet that details all the locations that Harf is hoping to pave over as part of some political dirty dealing. Nick does actually possess the tablet, mistakenly picking it up while delivering presents and believing that it is his naughty and nice list. Harf has sent his henchmen to reacquire the tablet and ascertain who Nick is and how much does he know. Nick is aware that they are being pursued and jumps out of the taxi and hides out in a club where everyone is dressed as Santa. Nick and Charlotte follow him inside.

Eventually, Charlotte, Eddie, and Nick lose their pursuers by using the confusion in the Santa club to sneak out the back door. The trio is picked up by a family called the Truckles – Sonya (Gina Brillon), Martin (Sebastian Sozzi), Kayleigh (Gaby Rosario), and Diego (Noah Ayden Hernandez). The Truckles are believers in Santa Claus and spend their Christmas Eves attempting to track and contact the jolly one. Their equipment led them to Nick, who makes another quick exit from the Truckle van and runs off into the night. Eddie and Charlotte follow him again.

Nick leads Eddie and Charlotte to one of his warehouses where many of the toys are made. The warehouse is run by two full-sized elves named Gerald and Lucille (Kevin Connolly and Zulay Henao) who work on fixing Nick’s equipment that will allow him to summon his reindeer. Nick explains to Charlotte and Eddie why they are being followed by the henchmen. Misunderstanding the situation, Eddie interprets the story and believes that Nick is just another burglary using Santa Claus as his gimmick, the same as when Eddie was a child. Eddie calls the police to come and arrest Nick against the wishes of his daughter. As Nick is led away, Gerald provides Eddie with an envelope from Nick.

At the police station, Nick is taken away by a group of special officers. However, Nick correctly ascertains that the special officers are in the employ of Harf. The special officers cannot find the tablet on Nick. Back at the station, Eddie realizes that he still has the tablet and uses a password that he heard Nick mention to unlock it. Eddie learns the truth about Harf’s dirty backroom deals. Additionally, Eddie opens the envelope from Nick and finds a copy of the letter that he wrote to Santa Claus when he was 8 asking for a fishing pole for his father. Eddie suddenly realizes that Nick is the Santa Claus and agrees with Charlotte that they must save him.

Eddie and Charlotte find the Truckles and enlist their help in locating Nick who has been taken to Harf. Harf is attending a Christmas party at the mayor’s house. Eddie arrives to free Nick but ends up getting caught himself. He turns over the tablet to Harf, but Harf still intends harm to both Eddie and Nick. Nick realizes that Eddie now fully believes in Santa Claus and suggests that Eddie activate his reindeer caller. Eddie’s belief allows the caller to work. The eight reindeer appear out of the sky and beat up all the bad guys.

Police arrive and arrest Harf and his henchmen. Nick gives Harf a toy that he did not receive as a child which excites the politician. Nick gets his reindeer and flies away to deliver all the toys. Eddie takes Charlotte to Allison’s house. Allison is angry with Eddie for keeping their daughter longer than he should despite his repeated attempts to apologize and explain what happened. Nick arrives and convinces Allison that he is indeed Santa Claus. He also leaves one last present, a Saint Bernard puppy named Bulldozer. Allison and Eddie decide to end their separation, and Eddie invites the Truckle family to spend the holidays with them. Nick flies off into the night to finish delivering the presents.