The Santa Clause

     You know what makes a good Christmas film? Divorce and custody rights cases against a crazy guy! That's what makes a brilliant Christmas film!
     No, I am serious. The Santa Clause isn't just a story about how a guy becomes Santa Claus, it is also about the implications of it. It doesn't just say "He's Santa, now he has completely abandoned his whole life to be the jolly fat man!" It is about his transition, and the problems that arise from it.

    The movie centers around Scott Calvin, who works as an executive in a toy-making company. He has an Ex-wife whom he shares custody of their son, Charlie, with. On Christmas Eve, Scott's ex-wife drops off Charlie with Scott,  who is supposed to watch him until Christmas morning.
    That night, Charlie hears Santa Claus on the roof. Thinking it's a burglar, Scott goes outside to stop him, and accidentally causes Santa to fall. Scott ends up performing the rest of Santa's job, taking Charlie with him. as such, he fell victim to the Santa Clause, meaning that, with Santa dead, Scott became the new Santa Claus.
     Scott is given 11 months to get his affairs in order (meaning basically never going back to his job except for one scene where he makes a fool of himself) and during that period transitions into looking like Santa.
     Meanwhile, Charlie is obsessed with Santa now, as he knows Scott to be Santa. However, his mother and her Psychiatrist boyfriend are concerned for Charlie's well-being. That is the main plot of the movie; the relationship between Scott, Charlie, and Scott's Ex. It isn't about how he's going to deliver the toys, or any of that; it is a rather sober look at what this kind of transformation would do to one's life. It is a bit like a children's version of a werewolf movie, except with a much happier ending.

     I don't really have any problems with this movie. While initially some jokes are outdated, a couple got renewed in their humor (Do you remember the first time Charlie Sheen went crazy?). The only thing I could do without is all the technology and kidish antics near the end of the movie. The rest of the movie is very sober, and the last 15-20 minutes seem like something out of Home Alone, or Unaccompanied Minors... It would've been better if they maintained that Soberness, as the antics can leave a bit of a bitter taste. (Wow, I didn't even mean to make an alcohol pun there, but it works.)

     This is certainly a Christmas Classic, but it doesn't really breach the top of the list.

Then again, neither will tomorrow's. Tomorrow is a movie you've never heard of, and will never watch. Yet, it has potential to be something of value.