10-year old Joy writes to Santa asking that he bring her Marine father, overseas fighting in the "wars", home for Christmas. Santa can't grant this wish, and to make matters worse is caught leaving gifts in the home of an elderly couple, who when they see the large black man in red assume the worst and shoot. 10-year old Lulu attempts to save Santa when he is assaulted by a gang, aided by her no-nonesense, cane swinging, grandmother, Mama. Joy rushes to help her. Now these two families, white and black, along with a handsome lawyer providentially named Denzel, must help Santa find his sleigh and save Christmas (even though the adults don't think this old black man is really Santa).