The Santa Clause

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

MPAA Rating: PG

IMDB Rating: 6.1 / 10

Length: 97 min

Tags: comedy, family, drama, fantasy

Director: John Pasquin
Writers:

Cast:

Scott Calvin
(Tim Allen)
Santa Claus
(Judge Reinhold)
Dr. Neil Miller
(Wendy Crewson)
Laura Calvin Miller
(Eric Lloyd)
Charlie Calvin
(David Krumholtz)
Bernard the Elf
(Larry Brandenburg)
Det. Nunzio
(Larry Brandenburg)
Miss Daniels
(Mary Gross)
Judy the Elf
(Paige Tamada)
Mr. Whittle
(Peter Boyle)
Susan Perry
(Judith Scott)
Judy the Waitress
(Jayne Eastwood)
Sarah the Little Girl
(Melissa King)
Elf at North Pole
(Bradley Wentworth)
Elf in Hangar
(Azura Bates)
Larry the Elf
(Joshua Satok)

Editor Review

The Santa Clause is a great example of a wonderfully simple premise that lives up to expectation.

What if you were told you were to be the next Santa Claus?

This is the unfortunate question that confronts Tim Allen's Scott Calvin when a mysterious, red-coated figure falls from his roof one Christmas Eve. This apparent Santa Claus then magically disappears, and Scott is coerced into wearing the remaining red suit by his son, Charlie. The reindeer then transport them from house to house where Scott must deliver the presents. His fears are confirmed when the sleigh then returns to the North Pole, where Bernard, the head elf, removes the magically binding contract and it's Santa Clause; "If you put on the suit, you're the big guy."

Despite trying to deny the role, Scott begins fitting it perfectly, with an instant-growing, snow white beard and gaining weight through his newfound love for cookies and hot cocoa. This change is made all the more difficult when his ex-wife and her new partner try to end Scott's visitation rights to Charlie because of his erratic behaviour.

Such quirky include Charlie hitting his head on a ladder from the Rose Suchak Ladder Company, as in the line "There arose such a clatter" from the famous poem The Night Before Christmas. Also the decision to revisit the one Christmas present never received as a child - such as the Mystery Date game and an Oscar Mayer Wienie Whistle - was a touching way to tap into the desire in us all to believe in Father Christmas, and how maturity and life get in the way.

When Charlie takes a visit to the North Pole, everyone is sure he's been kidnapped, and the next time Scott appears, the police are on hand to lock Santa up for Christmas. Santa's little helpers, the Effective Liberating Flight Squad, or ELFS, must assist Charlie in busting him out.

A film eager to rekindle the love for Saint Nick in all of us, The Santa Clause will keep the whole family smiling.

Fun fact:

The film was written with Bill Murray in mind, and Chevy Chase was to play the part of Scott, but had to back out because of scheduling conflicts.

Purchase / Download The Santa Clause from Amazon >>