SANTA CLAUSE, THE
(director/writer: John Pasquin; screenwriters:
Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick; cinematographer: Walt Lloyd; editor: Larry Bock; music: Michael Convertino; cast: Tim Allen (Scott Calvin), Eric Lloyd (Charlie), Judge Reinhold (Neal), Wendy Crewson (Laura), David Krumholtz (Bernard, head elf), Mary Gross (Ms. Baniels), Peter Boyle (Mr. Whittle), Larry Brandenburg (Det. Nunzio); Runtime: 89; MPAA Rating: PG; producers: Brian Reilly, Jeffrey Silver; Walt Disney Pictures; 2025-USA/Canada)
“Kids should like it better than adults.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A lightweight and forgettable kid-friendly Christmas film directed by John Pasquin (“Jungle 2 Jungle”/”Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous”) and co-written with cheer and chutzpah by him, Leo Benvenuti, and Steve Rudnick.
On Christmas Eve Scott Calvin (Tim Allen, TV’s Home Improvement guy) runs into his yard with his young son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) after hearing noise on his roof and startles Santa while he’s on his roof with his reindeer and sleigh ready to go down the chimney to deliver gifts. Santa takes a tumble and dies falling off the roof. Through movie magic Scott becomes dressed as Santa and takes over the duties for the former Santa when he finds a legal contract in his pocket addressed to Santa Clause so he can legally play in the emergency the role of Santa Claus.
Scott, a toy company executive, is divorced from Laura (Wendy Crewson), whose new husband Neal (Judge Reinhold) is a nice guy psychiatrist, who wants nothing to do with promoting Santa’s reality for the children. Thankfully Scott, also a skeptic, is around to show the kid Santa is real for the little folks.
At the North Pole workshop, the new Santa works with Bernard, the head elf (David Krumholtz), as he prepares for his house calls that evening.
I can’t say I loved this oddball take on the Santa story, but it was charming and though too sentimental, and the story was too dull to keep my interest, it at least showed that not all stepdads are monsters.
Kids should like it better than adults, who might like it enough to watch it with their kids. If you don’t have kids, I might skip it.
REVIEWED ON 12/25/2025 GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com