Set in a world where a Christmas tree's star is actually a secret transmitter used by Santa Claus to identify all of the active Christmas homes throughout the world, a by-the-book toy soldier must lead a group of Christmas tree ornaments in a desperate race against time to find their missing star so Santa doesn’t skip their house. TOY STORY meets NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

SYNOPSIS:

“Off the Hook” is an animated holiday adventure along the lines of “Toy Story” meets “Night At The Museum.” This script has placed as a a Tracking Board Launch Pad Top 75 finalist, a finalist in the New York Screenplay contest, a semifinalist in the Nashville Film Festival Screenplay contest, a semifinalist in the Screencraft Family-Friendly contest, and was an Austin Film Festival 2nd rounder, among others. This script was also adapted into a fully illustrated and award winning family picture book -- the details of which can be found @ offthehookbook.net!

The story follows a “by the book” toy soldier ornament named FAO who is the lead ornament responsible for all ornamental duties for the Thompson family Christmas tree. From receiving Santa’s presents to feeding the reindeer – there are no details overlooked by FAO and his hooked helpers – and no detail is more important than their tree’s star, which secretly serves as Santa’s location transmitter. During the commotion at the Thompson’s annual Christmas Eve party, FAO sees the family cat accidentally dislodge his tree’s star and watches it fall into a gift bag and get buried under tissue. Later, the bag is taken by Christmas Crazy Aunt Connie across town to her house, where she mistook the star as a gift and put it on one of her trees.

With Christmas at his family’s house now in serious jeopardy, FAO, with the help of some pampered ornaments from the front side of the tree, venture across town to Aunt Connie’s house to retrieve his family’s star and save Christmas.

Standing in the way of FAO is a wise cracking burglar themed ornament from the back side of the tree named, Rob Banks. Rob and his group of ragtag “back side” ornaments are tired of staring at walls and being bossed around by FAO -- they vow to find their star first and take control of the tree for themselves.

With just 3 hours until Christmas, the race is on! Along the way to Aunt Connie's house FAO and “front side,” along with Rob and “back side,” not only battle themselves, but overcome a hungry pack of squirrels, help a donkey in pain at a live nativity scene, and even thwart a jewelry store burglary.

Eventually the dueling sides reach Aunt Connie’s house and discover it’s absolutely drenched in an insane display of Christmas swag! Finding a way in first, Rob leads back side into the family room which has been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with an assortment of Christmas trees each with their own ornamental theme. It’s at this moment that they spot their star on top of a tree that is filled with furry bear ornaments, called the Green Bearets, who are led by the hard-nosed Sergeant Rough Stuff. Sergeant Rough Stuff not only refuses to give them their star, but uses his goon squad to capture back side and sentences them all to death by garbage disposal!

Outside, the front side crew tries and fails to enter the house through the chimney that results in a wild ride around the yard in punctured Christmas inflatables! They finally gain entry via a hidden spare key and proceed to meet a similar fate to back side.

With less than an hour until Christmas and with their days of festooning about to come to a shredded end, the group narrowly escapes the disposal! Both FAO and Rob agree to put their differences aside and team up to take their star from Sergeant Rough Stuff.

Mayhem erupts as the group battles not only Sergeant Rough Stuff and his army of Green Bearets, but groups of ornaments from other trees themed after monsters, cosmetics, ninjas, roadsters, and even the 12 days of Christmas! After a melee for the ages, FAO and company emerge victorious and bolt from Aunt Connie’s house with their star just as the family arrives at home!

As the Christmas clock ticks down, the group finds themselves resigned to the fact that they’ll never make it back to their house in time to signal Santa. With Christmas all but lost, Rob eyes the donkey they helped at the live nativity scene and is struck with an idea! It’s off to the races yet again as the group hooks onto the donkey and rides him across town, able to get ahead of Santa!

They reach their house and celebrate when they lose their grip on the star and it crashes to the ground shattering to pieces! Collectively, they watch as Santa passes over their house and out of sight. A crestfallen FAO shoulders the blame and asks Rob to take over leading their tree. Rob declines stating that they already have the best ornament for the job.

Then out of nowhere Santa arrives and acknowledges their effort to save Christmas! He says that not only are Christmas stars a signal for Santa, but they’re also looking glasses – and through the stars he can see all the good deeds they’ve done this Christmas. Using the magic of Christmas, Santa restores their star and repairs the ornaments to look as good as new. He also grants FAO’s request to place the tree on a rotating stand so that all of the ornaments can enjoy the magic of Christmas morning.