Rating: 
Summary: Believe....
Review: There is a certain time every year where certain kinds of films get their yearly taken out and watched. When Christmas rolls around, there are several of these films that get to see the light of day again for a while. While "The Santa Clause" may not be "A Christmas Story" or "It's A Wonderful Life" to some people, it is still an incredibly fun and entertaining family classic for everyone. Tim Allen, who at this time was the king of the tube with "Home Improvement", stars as Scott Calvin. He is a divorcee with a son named Charlie(Eric Lloyd), and is an executive at a toy company. The holidays come around and Tim and Charlie have their yearly visit. It's no surprise that Scott doesn't especially care for Charlie's stepdad Neil(Judge Reinhold). That's another story. One night, Scott hears something on the roof and goes to investigate. He yells at the strange man who is on his roof. The man slips and falls and dies. He is Santa Claus. Scott refuses to believe it at first, but Charlie is excited as all get out. Scott takes over the reins for the night until a suitable replacement comes. Scott learns that he is the permanent replacement. He is swooped away to the north pole and meets all of the elves who fill him in on what is going on....and who he will be. Then, over the course of the year and into the next holiday season, Scott gradually changes. White hair and a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly take over Scott. He is now, truly, Santa Claus. This all causes Scott's ex wife(Wendy Crewson) and Neil, who is a psychiatrist by the way, to think Scott has lost his mind and is messing with Charlie's in the process. The reason this movie works is because of Tim Allen. Sure, you can have a number of people in the role, but Tim has such an endearing charm and likeability to him, that he makes the moment his. It's his movie and one can't think, or want, anyone else in the role. That has been his key to such popularity for all these years. He's like a best bud. Everybody else in the film do fine jobs, but it is Tim's movie, and they all blend into the background. The movie has a nice, warm, magical feel to it. Makes you want it to be Christmas. It's a by the numbers script, but I don't think anyone will care or mind that they can pretty much figure out what is going to happen. It's not about that. It's about make believe. It's about fantasy. It's about being a kid and finding that kid in all of us. It does the heart good.
Rating: 
Summary: Santa slips and falls
Review: This Christmas picture has Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen, as a divorced dad trying to find time to spend with his son, Charlie. On Christmas Eve Charlie hears a clatter on the roof and as Scott goes out to check, with club in hand, Santa slips and falls off the roof. Scott tries to find out who the man is and stumbles on to his business card that has nothing on it except "Santa Clause." By taking Santa's suit Scott has agreed to become the next Santa Clause and the fun begins. Before the night is over Scott and Charlie have completed delivering the Christmas gifts and visit the North Pole.There is also a lot of humor in the film that might not be caught the first time:
1) We find out that Santa is now lactose intolerant,
2) Scott is constantly worried about how to keep Santa from falling off the roof Wonderful holiday film! Good for all ages!
Rating:
Summary: The Moose Hole - 'Santa' Delievers Holiday Magic
Review: Here we are once again! It's the usual time of the year when the holiday themed feature films are out in full force, flooding multiplexes across the country for the Thanksgiving holiday and going into December. And it seems work as usual for the Walt Disney Company with their release of The Santa Clause, but what makes this project unique is the concept it uses, one that has never fully been developed on the big screen before. The feature is also unique in that it stars Tim Allen, who is best known for his hit television show, Home Improvement, on ABC. Does that mean an automatic is lying in the waiting to flock to theaters for Allen's flick? Not necessarily. Granted there are people who are die hard fans who will love the actor/actress for whatever work they do but for others, they are pretty critical of television stars who believe they can easily make the jump to the big screen. Can Allen pull it off? Only the holiday box office will tell. The story centers around a man who goes from being divorced, self-centered business man to possibly the most care-free, charitable man on the planet, Santa Claus. Scott Calvin works for a toy company, has recently divorced from his wife, and is stuck on Christmas Eve with his son, who is just as excited as his father is being together for the holidays. Once he tucks his kid into bed for the night, Scott hears a noise on the roof and goes to investigate. When he tries to confront the man on the roof, he falls off and when Scott encounters him, the mystery man is dressed like Santa Claus. He and his son enter the sleigh and the puts on the Santa suit, all thanks to the urging of his son. When the sleigh returns to the North Pole after a long Christmas Eve, Scott discovers that he is the new Santa, thanks to the Santa Clause, which is a contract stating who ever puts on the suit becomes the new Santa Claus. He notices physical changes like the color of his hair and his weight but soon he notices that he feels more and more like Santa on the inside. The story for The Santa Clause is quite possibly one of the most original holiday films in years, which is surprising considering the concept is such a simple one that it is hard to believe that it has never fully been attempted before. The feature does a wonderful job at mixing comedic elements with emotional values, which is hard to do at times. The Santa Clause defies that and presents how it can be done right. The film revolves mostly around Tim Allen's character and generally that is all that really matters for the film but at the same time the character can be ruined if he doesn't interact with supporting cast members. Fortunately this doesn't happen here or at least not very often. Allen is marvelous in his role as Scott Calvin aka Santa Claus. He successfully translates the comedic magic he had on his television show and amplified it ten times. There is also a lot of emotion behind scenes that he has with his son, Charlie. David Krumholtz, who plays Bernard the head elf at Santa's workshop, is quite possibly the most enjoyable highlight of the film. He work extremely well with Allen as the two are able to play off each other in several moments within the film, that if they had been performed by anybody else would have been flat. The character of Charlie, Scott's son, is moderately played out by Eric Lloyd. Lloyd begins to get pretty annoying and whiny as the film progresses but then again what can you expect from a cute little kid? Overall, The Santa Clause, just like the big man himself, spreads holiday magic to every boy and girl, nobody how young or old they are. It is such an original concept, one that hasn't been seen and may never be seen again for many years. Though there is much to praise the film on, there are also slight things to pick at. The messages that the film tries to convey, though meaningful and expressive, came off as being too forced. It would have been better if the filmmakers had slowly sunk the ideas in the heads of movie-goers rather then what they ended up doing. And, as was stated earlier, Eric Lloyd came as being too cute and annoying at times in the film but this is something that doesn't necessarily mean anything major, just a small squabble. Make sure to avoid the tacky holiday films like the remake of Miracle on 34th Street and make it your duty to catch The Santa Clause instead, which is sure to become a new holiday classic for the entire family.
Rating:
Summary: Tim Allen's Most Memorable Role
Review: Ever wonder, who is Santa Claus, really? Where does he come from, how old is he? How in the world does he squeeze down a chimney, and how does he get in if there isn't a chimney? What's the deal here? Well, happily, the answers to these questions and more are finally answered, as the legend of Santa Claus comes to life as never before in "The Santa Clause," directed by John Pasquin and starring Tim Allen. Scott Calvin (Allen) is an executive with a toy manufacturing company, he's divorced and has a young son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), who still believes in Santa, but is at an age at which doubt is beginning to creep into the picture. And the fact that Charlie's mom, Laura (Wendy Crewson) has a boyfriend, Dr. Neal Miller (Judge Reinhold), who is a psychiatrist, isn't helping the situation any. Neal, it seems, is adamant about counseling Charlie in the realities of life, which of course includes the real scoop on Santa, which doesn't go over too well with Scott. Then on Christmas Eve, which Charlie is spending with Scott, a strange thing happens. There's a clatter on the roof, and Scott rushes outside to investigate, where he discovers a man in a red suit clamoring about on the roof of his two-story house. As Scott watches, the man loses his footing and falls into the snow on the front lawn. And to Scott's amazement, it's Santa Claus! Or at least a guy dressed up like Santa, and he's not in very good shape at the moment. Lying there on his back, the man hands Scott a card with instructions written on it about what to do in this particular situation. "Put on the suit," it says, "The reindeer will know what to do." And when Scott looks back up at the roof, what he sees concludes what Neal would probably call an SEE (Significant Emotional Experience), and though he doesn't realize it at the moment, his life is about to change forever... And with that, Pasquin goes on to tell the story of Scott Calvin's amazing odyssey, which puts a humorous, and at times poignant, spin on this contemporary and highly imaginative rendition of the Santa Claus story, which offers much more than merely a fresh face on an old tale. The Santa angle has that universal appeal that will attract viewers initially, but what makes this story really accessible is the reality which lies beneath the fantasy. The relationships examined in this film-- the whole situation with Scott, Charlie, Laura and Neal-- are quite common in our modern world, and that obstacle in the lives of these characters puts a necessary balance in the story that makes it more than just another Christmas fantasy. It puts an edge on the sentimentality that would've been over-the-top had Scott, for example, been a happily married man with a text book family life. That would've been good for maybe a one hour T.V. special on a Tuesday night, whereas this story and the way it's presented is unique and lends itself well to full length motion picture status. When you think of Tim Allen, you don't necessarily think in terms of Santa Claus-- his Tim Taylor, "Home Improvement" persona is simply too far-reaching (there are, in fact, some "in" jokes sprinkled subtly throughout this film, like when Scott, in Santa's workshop, picks up a toy tool belt and holds it up to himself)-- but it actually becomes a positive here, and another part of the appeal of this film. it establishes Scott as a real person, an average guy attempting to cope with the everyday problems of everyday life. And it keeps the core of the story grounded, which ultimately makes the fantasy work while giving it heart. So, in retrospect, Allen was a perfect choice for the role of Scott Calvin, and in the long run this just may turn out to be one of his most memorable roles (which is somewhat ironic, as this was Allen's big screen debut), because this is certainly the kind of film that is bound to make a lot of people's annual "holiday movies to watch" list, falling into that category of films you can watch over and over again every Christmas season, like "A Christmas Story." "Christmas Vacation," "A Christmas Carol" and "It's A Wonderful Life." All films which, though certainly diverse, have at their center the spirit of Christmas along with family values and traditions, and all told in a way that enables the viewer to readily identify with the characters and the story, which is exactly what this film does. Eric Lloyd turns in a good performance as Charlie, making his character believable while keeping him positive despite the conflicts which surround him, and Crewson and Reinhold are solid in their respective roles, as well. But in supporting roles, the standout performances come from David Krumholtz, as Bernard, Santa's Head Elf, and Paige Tamada, who is endearing as Judy, the Little Elf. Rounding out the supporting cast are Peter Boyle (Mr. Whittle), Mary Gross (Miss Daniels), Larry Brandenburg (Detective Nunzio), Judith Scott (Susan), Jayne Eastwood (Judy, the Waitress) and Joyce Guy (Principal Compton). An entertaining and ultimately uplifting movie, "The Santa Clause" is funny and enjoyable and has a lot to offer in the way of family entertainment, the kind of film adults and kids alike are going to appreciate. And it may even make you believe in some things you hadn't even considered before-- but that's for you to figure out as you watch the movie. And that's the magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: Great holiday flick
Review: I heard about The Santa Claus movie a long time ago, but was never motivated to see it until after purchasing the sequel, which appeared even more family friendly than the first. You will definitely want to see them in order, but there are a few slight moments of objectionable content in this first movie, while I'll mention in a second. PLOT: Scott Calvin is a divorced father, an executive of an advertising company, and getting set for a Christmas time visit from his son. Little Charlie isn't thrilled to be with his *other* dad for Christmas, especially when Christmas dinner equals Denny's. Charlie awakens Scott in the middle of the night when hearing thumping noises on the roof. Scott steps outside and hollers at the perpetrator on his roof - and looks on in stunned disbelief as a red-suited figure comes tumbling down. Scott finds a card in the fellow's pocket saying "If something should happen to me, put on my suit, the reindeer will know what to do." Climbing up on a magic ladder, Scott finds himself face-to-face with eight not-so-tiny reindeer...and one long night's work. He finds himself at the North Pole at the end of his journey, where head-elf Bernard irritably informs Scott that, according to the Santa Clause (the clause in the contract, as stated in microscopic text on the card he removed from Santa's pocket) he's the new Big Guy himself. Scott is returned home in disbelief, and must decide whether or not to accept the job ... all the while in trouble with Charlie's parents when Charlie tells them the tall tale of the North Pole visit. GOOD POINTS: With a few exceptions, most of the humor in the movie is clean and humorous. And, again with a few exceptions, the whole movie is family-friendly, and a great holiday classic for everyone to sit down and watch. BAD POINTS: There's a lot of discussion about whether or not Santa Claus is real. Charlie doesn't believe at first, and when he does after visiting the North Pole, his other father Neil attempts to dissuade him by raising numerous objections as to how Santa could do that. Neil and Charlie's mother Laura discuss the times they stopped believing in Santa. There's also some potty humor found in such things as Scott passing gas early one morning. Scott also hollers at a neighbor that he usually sleeps "butt-naked". During his first night taking over for Santa, he isn't very nice to one young girl who wakes up to see him, and grumbles about passing out the other gifts. There's also several "Oh my god" exclamations. Most of these "bad points" are minor, but might raise objections for those searching for a thoroughly clean family film. THOUGHTS: The question of Big Red's validity will probably be raised again by this movie, even though he is proven by Scott's North Pole visit. But if you don't mind that, and a few other parts like those listed above, then you'll want to buy this movie. Six and a half out of ten stars. DVD BONUSES: Minimal. I'm guessing this was among the first few to enter DVD-dom because of the small extras. There's an interactive game you can play (keep Santa airborne by ducking flocks of geese, and chimneys) a Make Santa Snacks with some Chef you've never heard of but are supposed to have, and a "So You Wanna Be An Elf?" feature, which is an early attempt at a behind-the-scenes feature, but didn't quite make it.
Rating: 
Summary: how many people wrote the script?
Review: about halfway through this film i started to wonder if the scriptwriter gave their pages over to a stand-in...what starts out as perfectly good story with plenty of adventure and comedy soon gives way to inconsistency and jumpy scenes...
ever notice how some sequels artifically play up to the original? this movie does it to itself...
i loved the first half, but the rest is just trite...
Rating:
Summary: Not a classic just yet.
Review: I don't think this movie really ever will be, despite the BBC's determination to show it every Xmas eve. It's just too wholesome and safe. I like Xmas movies with some edge like Scrooged or Xmas Vacation. That's not to say The Santa Clause isn't fun. It is a perfect vehicle for Tim Allen's sarcastic sense of humor and it does generate enough of that Xmas atmosphere to make it suitable viewing on Xmas eve. But, as with ALL Xmas movies, it just doesn't work for the other 11 months of the year. Maybe, given time, The Santa Clause will join the ranks of classic Xmas movie but for the moment it is simply distracting fun. This new DVD is an improvement on the last one (while not drastically) with an anamorphic 1.85:1 picture and Dolby 5.1 sound. There are a few mediocre extras.
Rating: 
Summary: Heh Heh Heh...
Review: Ever since that Micheal Eisner guy took over, Disney has been trying to make movies that appeals to both adults and kids. This is not working and Eisner need to get that through his stupid, ugly, deformed, thick head. Now onto the review. Despite the PG rating, little kids wouldn't be able to understand the hidden adult jokes like when Tim Allen tells the little 10 year old elf girl "you look good for your age." I believe this is rather unusual but what's more unusual is every elf in the movie are little kids working at Santa's workshop. I don't know if anyone's noticed, but this is rather similiar to child labor. Another thing, why does Disney promote Santa so much? Don't tell me because it's Christmas, I know that. What I do know is there are more things to Christmas and Disney is making it look like it's all about Santa.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for the WHOLE family!!
Review: We borrowed this movie from a friend. We kept it for 2 weeks and watched it every day!! I loved it as much as my children did and they're only 3 and 4 years old!! Even multiple times, this movie is as enjoyable as the first time we viewed it!! I highly recommend it for everyone from 2 to 92!! We have to go buy it now!
Rating:
Summary: Good movie, but a little out of state with reality...
Review: Hello there. As I'm typing this, my elves and I are making all of the last-minute preparations for Christmas, getting ready to deliver gifts to all of the nice boys and girls in all time zones around the world. I felt I needed to take some time out of my busy schedule to post a "review" and set the record straight about some of the misinformation that has been passed on about me, which has resulted from this movie and others: First of all, I am NOT lactose-intolerant! I enjoy my real milk dairy product with my cookies, thank you very much! In fact, the thicker the milk, the better! I maintain a steady diet of food which most people would regard as "high in fats". I need to maintain this diet to support my career choice, which was appointed to me hundreds of years ago. Secondly, I can not be replaced and there are no "clauses" in my contract! I can see why people would be enamored with such a clever concept born of a silly pun. You think I never thought of that? A hearty "Ho ho ho", I say, but the whole idea is simply not true. The premise of this movie and the sequel is based on false presuppositions -- (1) I can not be replaced by another Santa, (2) I have a verbal contract with my Creator and (3) there are no "clauses" in this contract! Thirdly, I am not married. There is no "Mrs. Claus" or "Mrs. Clause". If you saw me working year-round up here in the North Pole, you would probably say I'm married to my job. All of these characterizations about me are not true, but they are a great source of jolliness for myself and all of my elf helpers! Finally, Tim Allen's visage as "Santa Claus" does not resemble me. I *am* plump, jolly and have rosy cheeks. I also have garments that look like the ones in the movie, but my facial characteristics are more like the Santas you see in the mall or in that accurate Christmas classic, "Twas the Night Before Christmas"... I enjoyed watching this movie, please do not misunderstand me! It was a clever concept and I applaud those who wrote the script, produced and directed this movie. Generally speaking, it is also a source of amusement to all of us here to see how the legend continues to grow! Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Holiday Season!
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