Christmas movies can be realistic with somber tones. They can also be fantasy, goofy, and made for no other reason than having fun. They shouldn’t try to be both, as evidence by the 1985 “Santa Claus: The Movie” fiasco.
What’s amazing is the list of big names that are involved in such a bizarre production. David Huddleston, Dudley Moore, John Lithgow, Burgess Meredith (only one scene but still). These actors are excellent as expected. They make the most out of what they are given. Which sadly isn’t much.
This is an origin story.
It starts with the genesis of Santa Claus in the Middle Ages. I was a bit confused at what was going on but eventually figured things out. Santa (Huddleston) and his wife (Judy Cornwell) deliver toys to the children of their rustic village. Through some kind of temporal magic he ends up surrounded by elves at the North Pole. Hence forth, he becomes the immortal Santa Claus.
I can deal with the magic in a Christmas story. Here it comes off as strange. Huddleston is great portraying Santa. But he plays it seriously, and, considering the surrounding happenings, it doesn’t jive. The lead elf is Patch (Dudley Moore) who is full of innovative ideas. Patch messes up – once in a span of like 1,000 years – and leaves in disgrace, ending up under the control of an evil toy manufacturer played perfectly by John Lithgow.
“Santa Claus: The Movie” is only 108 minutes and its painfully slow. The entire first half is setting up the mundane workings of the North Pole – as if it’s a real documentary. By the time the modern era action occurs you’ll be fidgeting in your seat and scrolling on your phone.
Yo them reindeer are wack!
The special effects are a mix of awful to decent considering the time it was made. Its from 1985 but feels way older than that. The reindeer are clearly not real and it shows. There are cool scenes of Santa flying around New York City. But even that cross the line into into creepy when he makes a beeline for the Twin Towers and then does several flybys.
The uncanny mixture of reality and fantasy elements just doesn’t work. Despite the great acting. Lithgow in particular is hysterical as the over-the-top villain. Though – SPOILER ALERT – his death at the end; being blasted up into outer space where he will slowly suffocate – was a bit jaw dropping.
“Santa Claus: The Movie” is weird. I’m not sure how they got the big names they they did. There’s nothing special about this flick, and really no reason to invest time watching it.
“Santa Claus: The Movie” is currently available to stream on Amazon
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