It stars Penélope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, Paul Walker, Alan Arkin, Daniel Sunjata and an uncredited Robin Williams.

She goes to her family to celebrate Christmas, where she meets Rose, who, through a series of events, has found herself in Nina's parents' house, and confides her story to her.

Noel premiered at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival and was bought for distribution by Convex Group, owners of the Flexplay disposable DVD technology.

The site's consensus reads: "Noel strains for holiday uplift, but -- despite the involvement of an outstanding ensemble cast -- settles for treacly sentiment instead.

[2] In a review that awarded 2 stars out of 4, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "I can be sentimental under the right circumstances, but the movie is such a calculating tearjerker that it played like a challenge to me.

"[6] He continued, "Some of the characters, like Sarandon's Rose, are convincing and poignant; others, like Arkin's lovesick waiter, are creepy, and [Thomas's Jules] should have tried the party at the Salvation Army, where they have great hot chocolate and sometimes you get a slice of pumpkin pie.

"[7] In a positive review, Ed Gonzales of Slant Magazine wrote that "the pieces of Palminteri's yuletide Short Cuts fit comfortably together.

Though visually unexciting, Noel is warmhearted and manages to get considerable mileage out of a series of unpredictable and nutty spiritual flights of fancy.