THE SANTA CLAUSE
US, 1994, 97 minutes, Colour.
Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Erica Lloyd, David Krumholz, Larry Brandenburg, Peter Boyle.
Directed by John Pasquin
The Santa Clause was very popular when it was first released in the 1990s, a family film for Christmas. It is very much in the vein of focusing on Santa Claus, on Christmas as a time of giving – but no actual reference to the religious origins of the celebration.
This is a star vehicle for Tim Allen who was soon to be heard as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. Tim Allen often portrays a character who is more than a touch sardonic. And this is the case here, a successful executive for a toy company but separated from his wife and certainly disliking her new companion, a psychologist, who has become a father figure for his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd).
There are a lot of discussions about belief in Santa. To his surprise, Scott encounters Santa who has a collapse and Scott is to take his place. He is fairly unwilling at first. But he gets fatter, grows a beard, speaks in a different way – to the surprise of everyone.
Eventually, he goes to the North Pole, encounters the elves, the work in preparing the toys, the routes for Santa’s journeys and he agrees.
It was surprising that it took another eight years for the sequel to be made and another four years after that for a second sequel.
1. A popular Christmas story? The beginning of the series? The focus on Santa, elves and reindeers, the spirit of giving – no Christian reference?
2. The blend of the comic and the real, the touches of fantasy? The family audience? Santa, the reindeers, his travels and gifts, the elves, the North Pole?
3. The target audience, children, families?
4. The introduction, the ordinary family, the company? Profits? Scott and his associate, their being praised, the commercial success? The party?
5. The discussions about belief in Santa? Scott’s wife and new husband, rationalist? Explaining to their son? Scott and his reaction? The discussions with Charlie, the explanations?
6. American audiences identifying with the ordinary family? The transition to fantasy with the chimney, Santa coming down the chimney, the fireplace appearing, the gifts? Santa collapsing? The reindeers? Scott and his having to step into Santa’s place? The transformation, his getting fatter, the beard, his reactions and not wanting this, the reactions of others?
7. His accepting the job, going to the North Pole, meeting Bernard, the other elves, the work, the plans, the roots of the gifts?
8. Santa on the job, Charlie and his sharing, Santa knowing the children by name?
9. The difficulties, his accepting the job? Preparation for the sequel?
