The Santa Clauses is a Christmas comedy that revives the iconic Santa Clause film franchise released between 1994 and 2006. Tim Allen reprises his role as ‘Father Christmas’ in a series for Disney+. With six half-hour episodes, this spin-off adds a little more cheer to the most enchanting time of the year.
If you’re one of those people who settle in at night with a cup of hot chocolate to watch holiday programming, The Santa Clauses may be a fun choice for the season.
A bit of history
The movie Santa Clause, released in 1994, has become a beloved holiday classic. Over the course of nearly 30 years, the feature film has spawned two popular sequels: The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006). Just when we thought this merry tale was over, Scott Calvin returns with his own limited series for Disney+.
For newcomers to this franchise, here’s a brief recount: on Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) hears a strange noise on the roof of his house. Suspecting a criminal, he goes outside and catches Santa Claus red-handed. Unfortunately, Santa Claus has an accident and disappears without a trace. Scott Calvin, with little choice, decides to temporarily take the place of ‘Father Christmas’.
However, Scott Calvin is unaware of a delicate Christmas clause: “In putting on this suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all rights to previous identity, real or implied and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus until such time that wearer becomes unable to do so either by accident or design”. Thus, Scott’s life is changed forever.
The Santa Clauses
The Santa Clauses television series is set several decades after the events of The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006). In the franchise’s latest feature film, Scott Calvin and Carol, also known as Mrs. Claus, begin to raise their own family at the North Pole.
Of note, some of our favorite characters from the trilogy have reprised their iconic roles. Obviously, Tim Allen, star of Toy Story and Last Man Standing, returns to play Santa Claus. The series also stars Elizabeth Mitchell, reprising her role as Mrs. Claus. In addition, the cast reintroduces Eric Lloyd as Scott’s eldest son; and David Krumholtz as Bernard, the leader of the North Pole elves.
New talent joining the program includes Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Austin Kane, Kal Penn, Matilda Lawler and Devin Bright.
In the first episodes of The Santa Clauses, the fiction drops some hard news: Scott Calvin wants to retire! “For the good of Christmas, for the good of my family, I, Santa Claus, have decided to retire”, announces the protagonist.
The Disney+ show brings us closer to Scott Calvin as he is about to turn 65 and is looking forward to hanging up the suit. Basically, the premise of The Santa Clauses is that Scott realizes he can’t be ‘Father Christmas’ forever. After years of sleigh riding, gift giving and elf handling, Scott feels that he is no longer as efficient as he once was. He also finds himself convinced that his duties as Santa are taking a toll on his family.
As you might expect, Christmas cannot exist without someone to embody the figure of Santa Claus. So, before retiring, Scott Calvin must take on the challenging task of finding a suitable replacement. Obviously the big question arises: Who will be worthy of wearing the red suit on Christmas Eve? Scott and his wife Carol ponder the candidates and the future ahead. The problem arises when Scott hastily hires the wrong guy.
Soon, the North Pole is turned upside down. Elves begin to disappear and Christmas itself is in danger of fading away. Once again, the Calvin/Claus family must take the reins of the holiday and do all they can to rescue the magic of the season.
Is The Santa Clauses worth watching?
To be fair, one has to appreciate the ambition and ingenuity of the show’s creators, Jack Burditt and Tim Allen. It’s no secret to anyone that Christmas-themed series remain incredibly scarce, even in the crowded contemporary streaming landscape.
The Santa Clauses team does its best to bring holiday cheer to children and adults alike. This show contains some genuinely funny moments and a perfect amount of nostalgia. Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell continue to be captivating in their roles as Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Overall, the story is faithful to its tradition and allows for new details to freshen it up. Those familiar with The Santa Clause trilogy will recognize important winks. The North Pole is the same, the filmmakers honor the original franchise and achieve a beautiful similarity in the central aspects. The show is a festive package, with stupendous photography and visual effects.
The Santa Clauses presents some strong criticisms about the meaning of Christmas today. The series reflects on the importance of family and home, the loss of the Christmas spirit, human disconnection, modern childhood and rampant consumerism. “The world is different”, Santa Claus expresses to his wife with some concern, “people are misfiring, they’re disconnected”.
However, The Santa Clauses is not without its flaws. Tim Allen lets his political leanings show through without much qualms. There are some unfortunate jokes, which feel out of place in a family series; it should be added that Tim Allen not only stars in the show, but is also the executive producer, along with Jack Burditt. For his part, Burditt has been involved in hit shows such as Modern Family, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Frasier.
Despite its slips, The Santa Clauses is an enjoyable and mischievous Christmas entertainment. It’s about that content that offers the hope of believing that everything can work out in the end. In the series, there is enough snow, elves, reindeer, musical interludes, and witticisms to guarantee a good marathon. The Santa Clauses has everything it needs to become part of the television routine for Christmas lovers.