Farewell Mr. Kringle

The film begins in the town of Mistletoe, where the community gathers for a tree lighting led by Kris Kringle, a man who legally changed his name from John Wilson and has played Santa for 50 years. In the city, cynical journalist Anna Wahl is assigned by her editor, Zoe, to write a blog about Kris's 50th anniversary. Anna, who lost her husband Brian on Christmas Eve three years prior, is deeply skeptical of the holiday. Upon arriving in Mistletoe, she accidentally drives her car into the middle of a Christmas parade, making a public spectacle of herself. She checks into the Holly Inn, where she meets the owner, Mark Stafford. Mark is a former 'shark' divorce lawyer who quit his practice after a young girl asked him why he was tearing her family apart; he now works as the town's unofficial handyman. Anna begins her investigation at St. Nick's Cafe, where Mayor Phil and Zelda explain that the town renamed itself from Summerville to Mistletoe to honor Kris. She learns Kris's tragic backstory: his wife Betty died in a car accident on Christmas Eve in 1960, just three days after their wedding, and he became Santa to keep her love for the holiday alive. Anna initially suspects Kris is mentally ill, but as she spends time with him and Mark, her cynicism begins to thaw. Mark and Anna bond over their shared 'commitment-phobia'—his stemming from seeing failed marriages, hers from the pain of loss. Kris acts as a matchmaker, inviting them to a private dinner at his 'cave' (a house decorated for Christmas year-round). The story reaches a turning point when Kris takes Anna to the site of his wife's fatal crash and confesses he is retiring because he overheard a child say they only visit him out of pity. On his 50th wedding anniversary, Kris goes missing, prompting a town-wide search. Anna and Mark find him at Betty's grave, where he confirms his intent to hang up the suit. Overwhelmed by her growing feelings for Mark and the emotional weight of the story, Anna flees back to the city. However, she realizes she cannot live in fear anymore. She adopts an 'unwanted' dog named Todd from the pound and returns to Mistletoe on Christmas Eve. The film concludes with a surprise wedding in the town square where Anna and Mark are married, with Kris Kringle giving the bride away.