The Santa Clause

Rating:
Summary: Tim Allen is Scott Calvin, err, Santa Claus!
Review: There have been a lot of tellings about how Santa came to be, and so far, only two have been really worth watching (I am, of course, not including other Santa-based movie that have nothing to do with his origins, such as "Miracle on 34th Street". The first is "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", the stop-action TV special starring Mickey Rooney's voice in the title role and produced by the "Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer" people. The other, believe it or not, is when Tim Allen falls prey to "The Santa Clause".

Tim plays Scott Calvin, a divorced dad working for a toy marketing company who can't stand his ex-wife's new husband, a child psychiatrist who doesn't believe in the value of childhood fantasies, and Scott is constantly battling with his ex over how to raise their son. Problem is, Scott is one of those dads who really loves his son, but never seems to want to BE with his son. So he's losing the battle; Scott's son is warming up to his stepfather more and more, and wanting to spend time less and less with his real dad.

That is until one fateful Christmas Eve when Scott is awakened to noises on his roof, only to find and disturb Santa going through his work. Santa falls off the roof, and at the prompting of his son, Scott, still not believing at all what's going on, puts on the suit, climbs in the sleigh, and begins delivering toys all over the world in Santa's place. Eventually he ends up at the North Pole, where he discovers his actions have activated the Santa Clause -- a legal contract making Scott Calvin the new Santa Claus, permanently. Even as physical and psychological changes in Scott become more apparent over the next 11 months, he still finds it hard to believe that "fantasy" he'd felt the need to encourage for his son is actually real, and he's it. Making things harder is the ex and her psychiatrist husband, who are more and more becoming concerned that the changes in Scott's behavior, as well as the wild stories of trips to the North Pole they're getting from thier son, is reason for concern that Scott has lost his marbles and isn't safe to be around the boy anymore.

It's a sweet movie, and Tim Allen is actually quite surprising in both roles, as disbelieving father and eventually as the real-deal Santa Claus. Special credit also goes to the special effects and makeup departments, who have a lot of fun with a very imaginative script, enacting the changes in Scott.

But what's really nice is the way the script never falls into cliche with the characters or specific ideals. Okay, the overall story, especially the way it ends, is completely cliche and can be easily predicted even as the opening credits roll. But that's not the point -- here it's the magical journey, not the destination that's important.

The cliches I'm talking about involve mostly the ex and her new husband, the latter played by Judge Reinhold. Even though they have their concerns with Scott's behavior and are constantly butting heads with Scott about the health or dangers of perpetuating the Santa Claus "myth", they are never written as being evil. Granted Judge Reinhold's character can be as dorky as every other character he's ever played -- or maybe that's how Reinhold really is. But even though he's not as idealistic as the cop he played in Beverly Hills Cop, you never get the impression his motives are bent on evil or on ruining Scott's relationship with his son; he might not care for Scott and his motives at time might be somewhat misguided, but his heart really is in the right place. He's still wrong, but he meant well.

Frankly, this is a modern Christmas classic that is worthy of inclusion with such greats as "It's A Wonderful Life", the original "Miracle on 34th Street", and "A Christmas Story".

Rating:
Summary: If you like Toy Story, You'll love this one
Review: I saw this at school for a movie club. They let us watch it so we can see The 2nd Santa Clause movie. Well although this movie should be Rated G.

Rating:
Summary: The Santa Crass
Review: This movie is just stupid. Not even amusing in anyway. I always hate when supposed childrens movies cast children in parts where they are speaking obviously adult dialogue, such as when TIM ALLEN speaks to a young girl elf.
She is supposed to be several hundred years old but is obviously played by a ten year old.
ALLEN remarks how good she looks for her age and she says that she thanks him for the complement but she seeing someone else.
I just think it's dumb to put a child in an obviously mature situation just for giggles. Sure adults will all go wink wink, but in a way it is kinda provacative for kids.
I mean she is implying to all intents and purposes that she is having a sexual relationship with another male elf. She is like ten years old.
This kind of innappropriate for a kids movie, and for a Christmas movie.
I don't know why this kind of subtle sexualization of children is considered harmless.
I think kids movies should be kid's movies.
I have a huge collection of movies and lots of them contain nudity and sex.
But they are for adults.
Kids are kids, adults are adults. It's an easy line to draw people.

Rating:
Summary: OW OW! I LOVE it!
Review: YOW! The perfect modern Christmas classic! Believe me, I've seen far too many horrible kids' movies in my day, and horrible Christmas flicks, but this is far above them all. Methinks everyone will love this movie, not just the kids...
OK, so what's so great about it? It's funny and different, but still quite sweet and simple. There's some hilarious little gimmicks, but overall it's an honest, just plain sweet story. Tim Allen's great for the role of cynic-turned-Santa I that I would never have expected...really! He IS Santa, man. Eric Lloyd, who plays Santa's son, is an adorable but atypically not-[cruddy] child actor! yow! Judge Reinhold, who you may last have seen in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" in a Pirate hat, now plays the eternally-unhip Neil. (The new step-father, general Christmas-skeptic, psychiatrist, and wearer of LOUD sweaters.) Everyone's got to deal with Scott (Tim Allen) becoming Santa Claus, and learning to BELIEVE. ("Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing.")
BUT the best part of all??? One word: BERNARD. Portrayed by the magnificent David Krumholtz, he's the cranky head-elf who manages to DEAL with the new Santa. Come on, everyone loves Bernard. Shows up, shoves a pita sandwich down his gullet, comments on Neil's sweaters, and saves Christmas! WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?!?
All right, so I havn't done a great job convincing you to see/buy this movie. It sounds cheesy, you say. WELL IT'S NOT! It's actually a preety darn touching story of grumpy old cynical adults coming around to Christmas magic, father and son bonding, a new magical look at the North Pole, and one fabulous head-elf. What more do you want from a Christmas movie? I promise you won't regret seeing this movie. Go rent/buy it for the kids! No kids? Go to the store and make like you're renting/buying it for "the kids." Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Holiday film classic!
Review: "The Santa Clause", directed by John Pasquin, is an upbeat, Christmas tale classic that the whole family will love.

PLOT SUMMARY: Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is a divorced dad who co-owns a toy company. During this particular Christmas, Scott's son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), comes for a visit while his mother, Laura (Wendy Crewson) and her new husband, Dr. Neil Miller (Judge Reinhold) go away. Charlie is reluclent at first staying with his father...especially after Scott accidentally burns the turkey dinner and they have to eat at Denny's restuarant. After Scott tells Charlie the 'Night Before Christmas' story and he goes to sleep, Charlie hears a "clatter" on the roof "just like in the poem," as he says to Scott. So Scott goes outside to see what is wrong, when he is shocked to find Santa Clause on the roof! Appearently, Santa is also shocked to see him, so Santa falls off the roof and dies. Now, Scott (after putting on the Santa suit, getting in the sleigh, and bringing the preasents to the rest of the houses), is the new Santa Clause...only he doesn't realize this until after he and Charlie are brought to the North Pole and are introduced to the Arch Elf, Bernard (David Krumholtz), who tells him that he is indeed, Santa, by showing him the "binding contract" on the little card Scott found in the red suit. Now Scott is stuck doing something he really doesn't want to do or believes in, and he has one year to start looking like the real Santa. And if Charlie doesn't stop telling everyone that he's Santa Clause, Scott will be in a heap of trouble--especially with Laura and Neil, who feel that Charlie's strong belief in Santa Clause isn't good for him, and even try to prevent Charlie from seeing Scott when they think Scott is encouraging him.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: First of all, the acting...is absolutely superb! Tim Allen is perfect as the new-but-obligated Santa Clause. Eric Lloyd is cute and charming as Charlie, and the rest of the cast is brilliant. The storyline is humorous and fun--who wouldn't laugh when Scott keeps forgetting Bernard's name, or is making fun of Neil, or when they first arrive at the North Pole? The directing is wonderful, and the script is well-written. The special effects are darn good, too.

This special edition DVD is wonderfully packaged with a limited time movie pass to "The Santa Clause 2: Mrs. Clause" (the brand new sequel), exclusive sneak peak at the sequel, an original featurette, trivia game, holiday recipes, and DVD-ROM extras. The DVD is available in both wide screen and full frame formats.

I highly recommend "The Santa Clause".

Score:
100/100
A+

Rating:
Summary: Hmm..The Original or Sequel? Tis' a Great Question...
Review: Of course, with the new Sants Clause TWO craze, you're probably wondering: "Should I go to the theater, pay a ton for liquid buttery (yum, yum) popcorn, or go to the dollar rental & get the older one?" Here's what I say: they're both four-star movies. Which one you get should be based on the number of adults & kids in your viewing party. If there are more adults, rent it or get it, if you have more kids, go to the theater. Its not really that bad.

But why? Simply because this, the original, has more profound humor that kids won't get. The sequel is more.."silly," yet still decently funny to the experienced laugher.

Bottom line: Tim Allen is SPECTACULAR, try to watch both this holiday season.

Rating:
Summary: Cute kids' movie, but laid on a little too thick for adults.
Review: "The Santa Clause" has a neat premise: a divorced suburban dad finds himself being turned into Santa Claus because he unwittingly put on the suit of the Santa who fell off his roof. Kids are sure to enjoy this story of Santa, his North Pole, and how the jolly man in the redsuit gets all those toys delivered on one night. As an adult viewer, though, I found myself cringing during certain scenes, which were so sugary that my teeth ached. Also watching one bad child actor performance after another can get quite tiresome. (The kid who plays the son is especially annoying. And what is with that bowl haircut? Why do all movie kids look like they stepped out of my 1970's elementary school class pictures?) The most painful scene: the part with Santa, his elves- all played by talentless kid actors, and his annoying son marching to the tune of "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top (or as the Brits would say ZedZed Top.)

However, Tim Allen's performance may be enough to keep adults interested in this picture. He is the anchor that keeps this movie from sinking into a sea of sap. Mr. Allen's trademark cynical dad character dominates this movie's first half and the results are funny and entertaining. Unfortunately, the more Mr. Allen's character becomes Santa the less his comic personality is able to combat the heavy-handed saccharine of the film's second half.

Summary: Good kids' movie. Maybe tolerable for adults.

Rating:
Summary: Is he or he is not Santa Clause
Review: I have to agree with jarule1992, when s/he put in his/her review of the Santa Clause when s/he asked parents to stop lying to thier kids on who thier Christmas presents are from. But I'm not sure who eats the cookies and milk if cookies and milk was left out for Santa Clause. But also think of it, Christmas is the only holiday that parents lie to thier kids on who thier presents are from, Easter. Every Easter and Christmas, parents lie to thier kids on who thier presents are from. The Easter Bunny for Easter and Santa Clause from Christmas. I'm not sure on how this all started, but it has to stop. (I don't mean Christmas and Easter) has to stop but parents lying to thier kids on who thier presents are from. And now for my review of the Santa Clause

As the movie opens, little Charlie (Eric Lloyd) is spending Christmas Eve and the night with his father Scott (Tim Allen) becuase his mom Laura (Wendy Crewson) is spending Christmas Eve with her boyfriend/husband Neil (Judge Reinhold). Scott burns the turkey, and he and Charlie go to dinner at Denny's. (Even though we don't know what they ordered for dinner). During the night Santa Clause makes a loud noise on the roof of Scott's house. Charlie wakes up his father and Scott goes outside yells up to Santa causing him to fall. Charlie goes outside and both go on the roof find the Santa's deer and sleigh, and finishes Santa's duties with Scoot dressed as Santa Clause). And head home (to the North Pole) where an elf named Bernard (David Krunholtz) tells Scott in putting on the Santa suit he is the accpeted the duies of Santa Clause.

Rating:
Summary: A New Holiday Classic
Review: Scott Calvin just wanted to get some more sleep that fateful Christmas Eve. Instead, he finds himself in Santa's sleigh finishing up the deliveries after Santa slips off his roof. That's when he learns the truth, he now is Santa. With only his son to guide him, he must accept his new life in time for the holiday next year.

This is a wonderfully fun movie. Tim Allen gives a great performance, as does the entire cast. The jokes are frequent and right on target for a story of a normal man becoming a legend most people don't believe in. I've added this movie to my list of required holiday viewing and look forward to it each year.

The 5 star rating is in spite of this DVD, however. Don't get me wrong, the picture and sound are great. It's the features that I find disappointing. Billed as a special edition, it has a few features that kids might enjoy once, and that's it. There are no behind the scenes/making of features, no commentary, and they don't even have the theatrical trailer. There is a fun feature hidden at the end of the trivia game, but getting there is so annoying that it's almost not worth it.

If you haven't seen this film, you're missing a real treat. Get it today to enjoy during the holiday season. Just be forewarned that this is the special edition that wasn't.

Rating:
Summary: A new holdiay classic...
Review: The Santa clause is a holiday gem...about a father and son that needs to reconnect together..so they spend christmas eve together...On christmas eve night...charlie is waken by a clatter on the roof...and tells his father...they investigate and discovers a man in a red santa clause suit. scott is not convinced but charlie is..and with a bit of begging from charlie scott puts on the suit..they head off and delivers santas gifts...for what he thinks is a one night deal...BR>he doesn't want to except the fact that there is santa ...but with the help of charlie and a few elves and reindeer he beileves and the excepts and beileves in the magic of the santa clause.
a wonderful holiday movie.