Christmas movies are kind of my thing. After decades spent watching and rewatching my favorite holiday hits, I like to consider myself an expert on the topic.
Now I assure you, I’m not out to make a clatter. But it’s my yuletide belief that Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause is the best Christmas movie of all time — no contest. Have a look and find out why.
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To begin with, *The Santa Clause* introduces several new twists into Santa’s mythology.
The idea that Santa could be anyone, that the title could be passed from one person to the next, was both unique and intriguing.
Scott’s slow transition into Santa is also fascinating and hilarious to watch.
While we are on the subject, can we agree that *The Santa Clause* is one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made?
This is Tim Allen in his absolute prime!
His signature sarcasm, combined with that sharp but subtle wit, make The Santa Clause a slam dunk with children and adults alike.
But beyond the humor, the family dynamic feels incredibly authentic.
Don’t you just hate the holiday movies where everyone gets along and loves one another? It’s enough to make you sick.
Depicting a divorced family at Christmas would have been considered a risky move at the time — especially for a company like Disney.
There is no ‘bad guy’ in the traditional sense.
You could make the argument that Scott Calvin is both the hero and the villain of the story.
That only by destroying the man he was, can he truly become the Santa we need him to be.
And all of the creepy old elves that normally live at the North Pole are gone!
Let’s be honest, the elves were always the eeriest aspect of the Santa Claus mythos.
By casting them as children, it allowed kids to be able to see themselves in the movie.
Most of all, *The Santa Clause* makes you want to believe in magic.
Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing. That’s the central theme lying at the heart of The Santa Clause .
Most people stop believing in Santa Claus when they’re very young. The magic of The Santa Clause is that it will, at the very least, make you second guess your assertions on the subject.
Lastly, Tim Allen is flat out the best Santa Claus that ever was.
If not Tim, then who? Kurt Russell was fantastic in The Christmas Chronicles but a little too Rock n’ Roll for my taste. Richard Attenborough is endearing in Miracle on 34th Street but a bit on the stuffy side.
Tim Allen is our Santa Claus. He’s the one we need and the one we deserve.
