12 Reviews of Christmas - The Santa Clause (1994)

          Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, we're getting close to the end of 12 Reviews of Christmas. So, as we wind down to the last review of the year, which will be this Thursday's review of Mickey's Christmas Carol, let's take a look at another Disney holiday classic: The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen. 

         The movie focuses on businessman and toy mogul Scott Calvin, who has to rush home from an office party in order to spend Christmas Eve with his son, Charlie, who is dropped off by Scott's ex-wife Laura, and her new husband Neil. After a bit of back and forth between Scott and Laura, and some smartass remarks by Scott, Laura heads off with Neil to spend Christmas Eve with Neil's parents. Scott, after failing to properly cook a turkey and burning the thing, takes Charlie out to a local Denny's for Christmas Eve dinner. After returning home from Denny's, Scott reads Charlie "The Night Before Christmas," and heads off to bed himself. 

         Later that night, Charlie hears a noise outside, and goes to wake up Scott, who hears a sound on the roof. Scott heads outside to investigate, and he sees Santa Claus on the roof and shouts "Hey you!" at Santa, startling him and causing him to fall to his death. Charlie then joins Scott outside, and sees the sleigh on the roof, along with a ladder from the "Rose Suchak Ladder Company." Scott, grabbing Santa's suit, follows Charlie up the ladder, and both end up in the sleigh, and it heads off to another house on Santa's list. Scott, at Charlie's urging, puts on Santa's suit, and heads down the chimney to deliver presents. All night long, Scott heads out to deliver presents as Santa, and heads to the North Pole afterwards. It is here that Scott meets Bernard the Arch Elf, who explains that, according to a business card Scott found in Santa's suit, putting on the suit makes him the new Santa Claus in accordance with something called the "Santa Clause." According to the Santa Clause, in putting on the suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all previous identities, real or implied, and fills accepts the responsibilities of Santa Claus in perpetuity until unable to do so by either accident or design. By the way, that's literally what's said in the actual movie. What that means is that: if anything should happen to the previous Santa, whomever puts on the suit assumes the responsibilities of Santa from that point forward. Scott is initially reluctant, but Bernard warns him that if he refuses to take on the job of being Santa, millions of children around the world will no longer believe in Christmas. After this, Scott meets another elf, Judy, who shows him to Santa's bedroom, where he and Charlie, to whom Bernard gave a magic snowglobe, stay overnight, waking up Christmas morning in Scott's house. Laura and Neil arrive to pick up Charlie, and that's that, right? Well...

         Some time later, Charlie continues to spread the story that Scott is the new Santa, which causes some laughter from other children, as well as concern from adults. This culminates to a point where Scott and Charlie agree to keep the Santa Claus issue a secret between the two of them, with Scott giving Charlie five dollars to make it so. However, the cat's out of the bag, as Scott is starting to physically change in appearance. He's gaining weight at an exponential rate, growing a beard, and his hair is turning white. The effects of the Santa Clause are slowly starting to take effect, and the naughty/nice list is shipped via FedEx to Scott's house. Laura and Neil, concerned for Charlie's well-being, decided to go to a court and legally take away Scott's visitation rights. However, Scott goes to see Charlie anyways to give a proper goodbye. Bernard arrives and takes both Scott and Charlie to the North Pole. Upon learning of their disappearance, the police are summoned, and they begin rounding up Santas across town. Meanwhile, Scott, aka the real Santa, gets suited up and takes off in a more advanced sleigh with Charlie, and the two of them head all over the world delivering presents to the children. Upon dropping off gifts at Laura and Neil's house, Scott is arrested, and Bernard is forced to send an elite squad of elves known as E.L.F.S. to get him out of the clink. Scott takes Charlie back home, and suggests that he should stay with Laura and Neil for Christmas. Laura and Neil finally accept that Scott really is Santa Claus. The movie ends with Scott giving Laura, Charlie, and Neil special presents: the board game Mystery Date, a soccer ball, and an Oscar Meyer hot dog whistle, and later returns and, with Laura's permission, gives Charlie a ride in the sleigh. 

         For a child of the 90's like myself, The Santa Clause is a staple of the holiday season. Tim Allen is terrific as Scott Calvin, and brings his signature snarky, smartass nature to the character that he brings to every character that isn't Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. Other actors in the movie like  Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd, and David Krumholtz were all terrific in the film. The idea that Santa Claus is a job title that is passed down between individuals is nothing new, but to have seen it done to this level was something truly unique. I also like the idea of having it be children playing Santa's elves, as it seems that the way the North Pole is designed, having children around makes it seem more lively. Director John Pasquin, who also worked on Tim Allen's popular sitcom Home Improvement, did a great job with directing this movie. Overall, a must-watch this time of year, I definitely give The Santa Clause a rating of 5/5. If you don't already own this one, go out and buy it as part of the Santa Clause Trilogy box set. Or, watch it on Disney+. Well, this is Chuck signing off. Tomorrow, we'll be looking at the best Christmas movie ever made. What will it be? You'll have to wait and see as 12 Reviews of Christmas continues.