Synopsis

 

On a moonlit Christmas eve, Gramps is sitting by the fire in his workshop on Manitoulin Island, in Canada, when suddenly the building is shaken by a loud crash. He rushes outside to discover Santa Claus, his battered sleigh, frightened reindeer, and gifts scattered in the snow.

Shaken but uninjured, Santa joins Gramps in his shop to decide what to do. Over a wee dram, Gramps is shocked to learn that Santa has shut down his workshop, laid off the elves, and that this is his very last Christmas delivery before he and Mrs. Claus retire to someplace sunny and warm.

But something must be done to save THIS Christmas Day, so Gramps comes up with a plan. He offers to install his freshly-rebuilt Jaguar engine into Santa's sleigh, but that presents another problem - what to do with the reindeer.

Gramps points out that Manitoulin, with its huge deer population and pristine forests, would be the perfect place for the reindeer to retire. Santa and the reindeer agree, and in a bittersweet parting, the reindeer soar into the moonlit evening to explore their new home.

Now comes the hard part - rebuilding the sleigh. As they roll up their sleeves and set to work, Gramps learns that Santa's retirement is more forced that voluntary. An evil software company has developed a smartphone app that will replace Santa Claus. And it gets worse. Their legal department has trademarked his name and threatened to arrest him if he continues to use it.

St. Nick's bitterness fills the shop but as Gramps listens to this sad tale, the door opens and in walks his 6-year-old grandson, Davey, who's still half asleep. But not for long. The sight of Santa Claus lights up Davey's face and he rushes to his open arms. Their smiles illuminate the whole room and extinguish Santa's dreary mood.

After Davey departs the shop for his warm bedroom, Santa and Gramps set to work on the sleigh with renewed vigor and soon it is all repaired and fitted with its sparkling new engine. Time to shove it outside and into the snow.

With the sleigh loaded up and ready for flight, Gramps gives Santa a quick lesson on the controls for his hopped-up ride. Each man takes a pull off of Gramps' flask and after hugs and goodbyes, Santa hits the starter button. Nothing happens. The engine is a dud, and with the reindeer already dispersed to the four winds, Santa is stuck here and this Christmas is well and truly ruined for the entire planet.

Just kidding.

The engine rolls over and roars into life and shoots the sleigh upwards and into the night. Santa Claus delivers his presents in record time and Christmas is saved.

For the last time.