The Santa Clause (1994)

hyped garbage

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

This is one of the first Christmas movies with a plot about someone turning into or becoming Santa Claus. The plot is strange, but far out enough to be somewhat interesting. The clause is in the contract. This is mostly comedy in a modern fairy tale. The sets, elaborate toy and workshop displays, and camera work are some of the pluses for this film. "The Santa Clause" just skirts on the edge of having a Christmas message. The various cast members are OK in their roles. Tim Allen is fine as Scott Calvin, whose initials just happen to be the same as those of Santa Claus. Judge Reinhold is OK in a familiar role as a lame Dr. Neil Miller. Wendy Crewson is OK as Laura, and Eric Lloyd plays Charlie Calvin. The various kids in the roles of elves aren't convincing enough for a kid's imagination. Some films were very good that used midget actors and other small people with excellent costumes and makeup. The wise-guy persona of Bernard the Elf (played by David Krumholtz) may be an effort to make this film modern, but it loses something more – in the image and lore of the North Pole elves.The film is good for a couple of laughs and smiles. But it's not of a caliber to be in an annual holiday film collection.

It is difficult for me, for personal reasons which I suppose readers will easily deduce, to give a positive review of a "Christmas" movie with no religious connotations. Nevertheless, "The Santa Clause" does manage to capture something charming if banal and fleeting of the tender deconfessionalized "holiday season" folklore of a Middle America that now seems an ever-more-distant memory.Perhaps its passing was inevitable, and perhaps even a good thing in at least some respects, but the nostalgia for the snow, Santa Claus imagery and brightly-wrapped toys is hard to shake, and "The Santa Clause" delivers well on those points. It's an amusing take on the pop culture Santa folklore of old Grinch/Rankin-Bass-type Christmas specials, where the "magic" of the North Pole appears to be taken in stride by all the civilians who cross its path. The adults in "The Santa Clause" suppose themselves to live in a straight-laced, Newtonian world in which "magic" does not exist, and the juxtaposition of their cynicism with the "reality" of Jolly Old St. Nick and his operation is fun to watch. Tim Allen is perfect as the fun-loving but inattentive and distant father suddenly forced, ironically, to "grow up" as he is thrust into the ultimate role of responsibility within the world of the childhood imagination, and the support cast's reactions to his irresponsibility, his confusion and his frustration is impeccable.And whatever the film lacks in conveying the ACTUAL meaning of Christmas, it does perhaps make up for in its subtle commentaries about the state of America and of the American family by the 1990s: lack of attachment, obsession with careerism and conformism, stiff-necked and anti-paternal divorce and custody policies, devaluing or discounting of creative imagination and so forth.Nowadays it is often considered a Christmas classic. I probably won't show it to my own children, but it's a fun trip down memory lane for those of us who remember that old, simpler America in its twilight.

Tim Allen plays Scott, a divorced toy executive who spends time with his son on Christmas Eve. They end up in Dennys as he burns the turkey but later that night he hears a sound. It turns out to be Santa who stumbled off the roof and died. Scott is persuaded by his son to don the Santa suit but accidentally invokes the Santa Clause. Scott is obligated to become the new Santa. A strange way to choose a new Santa, if you think about it we have a chain of accidental or unwilling Santa Claus's.So Scott with reindeer's and sleigh goes out to complete the delivery of the presents on Christmas Eve and he can magically go down chimneys and magical fireplaces appear.Things go a little Miracle on 34th Street as his son believes his dad is the real Santa. His ex-wife and her new nerdy husband who is also a psychiatrist are sceptical and fight to end Scott's visitation rights. It does not help that Scott has now put on a lot of weight and magically sprouted long grey hair and beard.The film was a big hit at the box office when it was released. It is a pleasant family film enjoyable by kids, slightly old fashioned but passable CGI effects. I thought the whole visitation rights subplot was rather silly and far fetched.

'The Santa Clause' is an undemanding, simple & sweet film, that entertains its viewer. Its amongst the better films based on the lovable Christmas legend. 'The Santa Clause' Synopsis: When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.We all grew up on Santa & We still live the magic of Christmas. 'The Santa Clause' celebrates the spirit of Santa. It takes us to North Pole & depicts the magic of it. Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick & Karey Kirkpatrick's Screenplay is celebratory & entertaining. John Pasquin's Direction is perfect. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are awesome.Performance-Wise: Tim Allen is terrific as Santa Clause. He's the life of the show. Eric Lloyd is adorable. Wendy Crewson is effective. Judge Reinhold is okay. The Late/Great Peter Boyle is good in a brief role.On the whole, 'The Santa Clause' is a film that touches the core of your heart.