‘THE SANTA CLAUSE’
Please feel free to comment on my review.
Tim Allen becomes Santa Claus
And all this time, I thought he was just Buzz Lightyear in the ‘Toy Story’ movies! 😀
In 1994, ‘The Santa Clause’ was released at cinemas at around Christmas time. I saw the film on VHS a year or so later when I was a kid in the 1990s. I had no idea ‘The Santa Clause’ would spawn two more films, making it a trilogy, which me and my parents currently own on DVD from the year 2010.
Over the years, we’ve had many various versions of Santa Claus depicted in films and TV. These range from actual old men Santas featured in films like ‘Elf’ and the ‘Santa Paws’ movies to there being a female depiction of Santa Claus in the film called ‘Noelle’, which is now available on Disney+.
And the question has been raised as to whether Santa Claus actually exists or not in the ‘Doctor Who’ episode ‘Last Christmas’. I have my own views on Santa Claus. Whilst I believe more in ‘The Nativity Story’ than Santa Claus, I find the Santa Claus movies I’ve seen over the years entertaining. 🙂
This is the case with ‘The Santa Clause’ trilogy of films, starring Tim Allen in the leading role. I hope to share why I’ve enjoyed these films when I saw them on VHS and DVD and what my opinion on each of them has been over the years. They’re certainly really entertaining films to check out here. 🙂
In the first film of the trilogy called ‘The Santa Clause’, Tim Allen as Scott Calvin accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve. Santa should have been careful when on the roof.
Scott and his young son Charlie finish Santa’s trip around the world with deliveries and they end up at the North Pole. There, Scott discovers he’s become the new Santa since he signed the contract. 😐
And by ‘contract’, I mean he read the card when looking for the old Santa’s personal effects. Well, clearly, Scott should have been forewarned what he let himself in for once he had read that card! 😀
I actually like the fact that this movie and its successors play on the term ‘clause’ in relation to ‘Santa Claus’ as part of a business contract. Scott was a business man himself before he became Santa here.
After Scott has been sent back to his home from the North Pole, he has to convince those he loves that he is indeed Santa Claus. And he becomes a lot more like Santa Claus as the year progresses. 😀
By that, I mean, he grows facial hair and becomes fatter in the shape of Santa Claus. I’m starting to wonder whether Scott would have been given the choice and not end up forced to become Santa. 🙂
Throughout the film, there are some enjoyable laughs to be gained from watching it. This is especially in the extraordinary transformation of Scott Calvin into Santa Claus as the film progresses.
Tim Allen is very good playing Scott Calvin. I like how he balances the comedy and drama, from his initial scepticism to his growing acceptance that he is Santa Claus after all, which is quite fascinating.
It’s interesting how Scott Calvin is depicted as a divorced man and he has to find time to spend with his son who also spends time with his mother and stepfather. Being Santa does complicated matters.
As well as Tim Allen, the film also features Eric Lloyd as young Charlie. When Scott becomes Santa, Charlie is very excited about it, believing his dad is Santa, not realising that others won’t believe him.
Charlie is the only one who believes in his father and that they did go to the North Pole that one night. Scott being Santa has him be closer to his son than ever before, especially in the film’s last act.
Wendy Crewson stars as Laura, Charlie’s mother. Like most, Laura is sceptical about Scott being Santa. She believes that Charlie spending time with his father and believing he’s Santa is dangerous.
Judge Reinhold (who I’ve seen in ‘Beethoven’s 3rd’ and ‘4th’) stars as Dr. Neal Miller, Charlie’s stepdad and whom Laura married. Like Laura, he’s equally disbelieving that Scott is Santa Claus here.
It was fascinating how Laura and Neal shared their experiences of not believing in Santa when they were little children. Laura wanted her ‘Mystery Date’ game and Neal wanted his ‘Weenie Whistle’. 🙂
By the time the two start believing in Santa when Scott becomes him, Laura and Neal receive their ‘Mystery Date’ game and ‘Weenie Whistle’. It’s fascinating how these things turn out in life, right? 😀
David Krumholtz stars as Bernard the Head Elf, who instantly accepts the fact that Scott is Santa when he and Charlie arrive in the North Pole. Bernard is grumpy when Scott and Charlie meet him. 😐
Mind you, it might be down to the stress of getting the Christmas presents all sorted before the next Christmas Day or so. Bernard also has to explain to Scott what his duties are with becoming Santa. 😀
Peter Boyle stars as Mr. Whittle, Scott’s boss in the real world. The late Peter Boyle has done plenty of film and TV as well as ‘The Santa Clause’ movies. He would play Father Time in the next two films. 🙂
There’s also Paige Tamada as Judy the Elf, who makes nice hot chocolate/cocoa; Larry Brandenburg as Detective Nunzio, and Kenny Vadas as the leader of the E.L.F.S. (Effective Liberating Flight Squad).
There are some nice scenes featuring Santa with little Sara in her house on Christmas night in the film. I also like that the reindeer featured in this film are real ones compared to the next two films. 🙂
‘The Santa Clause’ is a very worthwhile, entertaining Christmas film to check out. I have happy memories of seeing this film on VHS back in the 1990s. I’m pleased to watch it again and again on DVD.
The DVD special features are as follows. There’s the ‘So You Wanna Be An Elf?’ short film; ‘Santa’s Helper’ – a trivia adventure game; and ‘Making Santa Snacks with Wolfgang’, including Wolfgang Puck’s pizza, classic Christmas cookies and Santa’s favourite cocoa with recipes and cooking measurements. There’s also a sneak peak of ‘The Santa Clause 2’.
‘The Santa Clause’ rating – 9/10
| The next story is | |
| Return to Christmas | |
| Return to Disney |
Bradley's Basement 