Even when I look back on my childhood, I can’t really think of many Christmas films I enjoyed. Whilst I certainly enjoy the day, I simply can’t be fussed with all the fanfare that comes with it. But there is a film I do distinctly remember that I loved as a kid, that upon revisiting as an adult I found I loved even more.
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is a successful toy salesman who is looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with his son Charlie (Eric Llyod). Charlie lives with his mum Laura (Wendy Crewson) and stepfather Neal (Judge Reinhold), and has recently been told by Neal that Santa doesn’t exist. Opposed to having his son be forced to give up the magic of Christmas so early, Scott keeps up the façade that Santa exists to Charlie. That night Charlie hears a noise on the roof which Scott investigates only to discover Santa and his reindeer on their roof. Scott startles Santa and inadvertently kills him (morbid right?), but in an attempt to prove to Charlie that it isn’t the real Santa Scott puts on Santa’s red suit and gets in the sleigh. The reindeer then take off and Scott is taken to the North Pole where he is informed by an Elf named Bernard (David Krumholtz) that by putting on Santa’s suit Scott has contractually agreed to The Santa Clause, wherein he is now the new Santa.
Over the course of the following year Scott gains weight, grows a beard, and all his hair turns white. Meanwhile Laura and Neal get the impression that Scott is intentionally trying to psychologically damage Charlie by impersonating Santa, and so they begin legal proceedings to stop visitation rights. Scott must not only prepare himself for Christmas, but also salvage the relationship with his son before it’s too late.
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is a successful toy salesman who is looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with his son Charlie (Eric Llyod). Charlie lives with his mum Laura (Wendy Crewson) and stepfather Neal (Judge Reinhold), and has recently been told by Neal that Santa doesn’t exist. Opposed to having his son be forced to give up the magic of Christmas so early, Scott keeps up the façade that Santa exists to Charlie. That night Charlie hears a noise on the roof which Scott investigates only to discover Santa and his reindeer on their roof. Scott startles Santa and inadvertently kills him (morbid right?), but in an attempt to prove to Charlie that it isn’t the real Santa Scott puts on Santa’s red suit and gets in the sleigh. The reindeer then take off and Scott is taken to the North Pole where he is informed by an Elf named Bernard (David Krumholtz) that by putting on Santa’s suit Scott has contractually agreed to The Santa Clause, wherein he is now the new Santa.
Over the course of the following year Scott gains weight, grows a beard, and all his hair turns white. Meanwhile Laura and Neal get the impression that Scott is intentionally trying to psychologically damage Charlie by impersonating Santa, and so they begin legal proceedings to stop visitation rights. Scott must not only prepare himself for Christmas, but also salvage the relationship with his son before it’s too late.
The Santa Clause is such a fantastic premise for a film wherein Santa isn’t some mystical being but actually just some guy who put on a specific Santa suit. I actually feel the film works better as an adult. I remember liking the film as a kid because Tim Allen is hilarious, and I enjoyed seeing him gradually turn into Santa over the year. But as an adult I feel like the family dynamic built in the film is really great. At times I do feel it is a little contrived as to just how far Laura and Neal are willing to go to try and crush the idea of Christmas magic out of a six-year-old boy; and I also at times struggle to understand what Laura sees in Neal because he’s such an ass. But overall, this central conflict of a father fighting for his visitation rights, as well as trying to keep the magic of Christmas alive for his son an extremely endearing story.
I’ve already briefly touched on Tim Allen’s performance but there’s a good reason why this man is one of America’s best comedy actors and I feel he doesn’t get enough credit a lot of the time. His tone, his timing, his physicality, everything blends together so well in a performance that he has to keep changing how he moves, and how he talks to be more in line with Santa is extremely impressive. The whole films success literally hinges on Allen’s performance and he knocks it out of the park.
I do also enjoy Wendy Crewson’s performance as Laura. Despite her current choice in men, I feel like she brings a level headedness to the situation to try and stop the dick waving contest between her ex-husband and her current husband. She too also gets some good jokes in and particularly in the last act is the real emotional anchor of the story.
If you’re ever in need of something to watch at Christmas I cannot recommend The Santa Clause enough. It’s a golden slice of 90’s comedy that shows the full range of Allen’s capabilities, as well as provides an excellent and unique twist on the story of Santa trying to save Christmas.
I’ve already briefly touched on Tim Allen’s performance but there’s a good reason why this man is one of America’s best comedy actors and I feel he doesn’t get enough credit a lot of the time. His tone, his timing, his physicality, everything blends together so well in a performance that he has to keep changing how he moves, and how he talks to be more in line with Santa is extremely impressive. The whole films success literally hinges on Allen’s performance and he knocks it out of the park.
I do also enjoy Wendy Crewson’s performance as Laura. Despite her current choice in men, I feel like she brings a level headedness to the situation to try and stop the dick waving contest between her ex-husband and her current husband. She too also gets some good jokes in and particularly in the last act is the real emotional anchor of the story.
If you’re ever in need of something to watch at Christmas I cannot recommend The Santa Clause enough. It’s a golden slice of 90’s comedy that shows the full range of Allen’s capabilities, as well as provides an excellent and unique twist on the story of Santa trying to save Christmas.