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The Naughty Nine is an enjoyable holiday romp rittled with plot holes, which is somehow held together care of a few strong performances by the child actors playing the title characters. Beware if you have mischievous, thrill-seeking children... This movie offers plenty of inspiration. Some potential fun is sacrificed in service to a plot and pace that feels weighed down by the sheer amount of ground it purports to cover (and the number of characters sharing significant screen time). This reviewer may have dozed off in the latter half but I recall only one of the "Naughty" getting a satisfying redemptive arc, which, again, is a result of a story bogged down by the overall concept. There are fun moments and ideas a-plenty but leaks spring from the plot holes hastily covered with a thin veneer of sugary, peppermint glaze. Some solid performances left this viewer pining for a more concise holiday jaunt, but the 8 year old viewer next to us squealed in delight when the sequel was teased, so Naughty Nine certainly struck a few notes just right. 5.7/10.

Overall, I felt that the first half of Leo was much better than the second half, which suffered from poor pacing and loses steam. The musical numbers come out of nowhere and are deeply forgettable but the fun, silly humor (minus a few dirty jokes that went over kids' heads and felt shoehorned in) with which Leo interacts with the students is delightful. Even if you hate Sandler's comedic stylings (I don't), you will likely find yourself somewhat charmed by this septuagenarian lizard imparting wisdom to 5th graders. The substitute teacher's character arc is convulated and non-sensical, contributing to a final act that feel rushed at times, too slow at others, and wholly unsatisfying. But, to be clear, it is a fine move for what it seta out to be: a cute family film that delivers thoughtful lessons packaged in Sandler's classic style of humor. 6.8/10.