The Santa Clause (1994)

2009 Holiday Movieathon

Directed By: John Pasquin
Written By: Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick

Staring: Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson, Judge Reinhold, Eric Lloyd, and David Krumholt

Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing. -Little Elf Judy

Review

The Santa Claus still stands as one of the most remarkably original and sweet films about Christmas to be released in the last twenty years.  The eager charm of Tim Allen and the magical world created by JohnPasquin is undeniable in it’s ability to touch your heart and make you laugh.  There is really no better way to kick off your holiday season celebration than dusting off this DVD to get you in the spirit through laughter and kind hearted intentions.

The magic of the holidays is explored with actual magic.  When Santa falls of the roof of Scott Calvin’s house, he and his son check his coat to make sure he is okay while accidentally slipping into a clause that makes Calvin become Santa Clause himself.  Feeling slightly bah humbug after a Christmas Eve of ruined dinner and unattained expectations, he and his son Charlie finish the route dropping off presents throughout the world until they finally reach the north pole.  It all seems like a wonderful dream.

The stuffed shirt who barely has time for his own son let alone the entire worlds children is an irony that is pretty transparent, but it works, because even when Scott Calvin is portrayed as being kind of a jerk he is clearly a likable character no matter his actions, and even at his worse he emotes a certain sympathy for a character that is trying to have a career while also being a single dad.  Being constantly upstaged by his “replacement”, played by Reinhold is a palpable debacle and Allen delivers with an authentic performance.

By the time Scott Calvin is mystically taken to the North Pole the visual context is just as magical as the story itself.  The world is very dreamlike and the landscape becomes a magical and wonderful existence that capture the essence and excitement of Santa Clause and Christmas.  Though the story is sprinkled with wondrous comic timing, the purity of the joy and happiness that Christmas inspires in children was executed perfectly visually and in dialogue.

The Santa Clause captures the magic of Christmas while also exploring the importance of family and the fact that not everyone has a cookie cutter relationship anymore but you can still make it work.  This movie really brings the spirit of believing back, and encourages imagination and hope.  In the midst of the magic and excitement of Santa and his mystical kingdom there is a lot of tangible humor to be entertained with.  The Santa Clause truly hit this one out of the park and is still one of the most remarkable memories of the holidays.  It is a staple of required watching each holiday season.