In a world where adults struggle to appreciate the magic of Santa Claus, there are a unique set of rules that follow the big man around, known as The Santa Clause. When Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off of his roof, he, just as inadvertently, becomes the new head elf. With his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) fully engrossed in the myth of Santa, Scott is propelled forward into a new and unexpected role. He can choose to believe in the magic of Christmas or he can fall back into his old, bah humbug ways and fail to deliver for millions of children around the world. Scott has the weight of the world on his shoulders--can he make the right choice?
As far as Christmas classics go, The Santa Clause ranks right up there with the best of them. Allen has solidified himself as one of the better comedians that Hollywood has seen in some time, but The Santa Clause is peak Allen. From the opening moments of the film Allen proves that he can be funny, relatable, and fully accessible by all that watch. He’s energetic and his expressive face is inviting, allowing viewers to quickly feel engrossed in John Pasquin’s holiday spectacle. In addition to Allen bringing a slew of comedy, he proves that he’s capable of effectively conveying the struggling father, businessman, and human being. It’s not that he’s a bad father or failing at his job, but rather that life, like it does for all of us, has proven to be quite difficult--throwing him a series of curveballs that initially feel like too much to handle. Scott Calvin is understood by the masses, and there’s never a moment, even as he is challenged by his newly intended role, that viewers aren’t able to relate to him.
Allen is wonderful throughout, and his counterparts--Judge Reinhold (Neal), Wendy Crewson (Laura), and David Krumholtz (Bernard)--are just as brilliant in their attempts to convey their characters, but the actor that best exudes all that The Santa Clause is meant to be is the young, still-wet-behind-the-ears Lloyd. Let’s be honest, part of the reason he’s so successful in his role as Charlie, the naive eight year old who struggles with his Santa-related beliefs, is a result of how adorable he was. He’s cute, and it’s truly difficult to see anyone else better fitting that role. Furthermore, far beyond his ability to awe with his innocent appearance, is a young man with an impeccable acting ability. He’s tasked with playing alongside a group of highly-talented individuals, and he holds his own throughout the course of The Santa Clause.
The Santa Clause not only brings to life the anticipated Christmas spirit, but it provides a series of life lessons that children and adults alike can learn from. The numerous lessons act as a bridge between viewers and the obviously fictitious story of Santa Claus. This addition, a possibly unforeseen one, sets it apart from all other films of this genre.
In addition to everything said above, The Santa Clause is simply fun. With never-ending action, jokes, and Christmas-related lore, The Santa Clause is entertainment for viewers of all ages. While this particular Christmas film isn’t my all-time favorite, it’s fair to say that there will never be another film quite like this. We’ve seen the stories of how Santa came to be and the whimsy of children during the holiday season, but never has a film combined them so perfectly. With phenomenal acting, laugh-out-loud comedy, and just about everything else you could ever ask for in a Christmas film, The Santa Clause is a classic that can never be duplicated or replaced--and it has landed itself among the greatest Christmas films of all time (a place that I’m sure it will remain forever).
Directed by John Pasquin.
Written by Leo Benvenuti & Steve Rudnick.
Starring Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd, David Krumholtz, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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