There are many holiday movies that people consider to be classics. The Santa Clause movie is definitely one of the films that’s watched every year by many people along with the likes of films like Home Alone and Elf. While there are some great things about this movie, it’s also got some flaws.
In some ways, it’s an underrated Christmas movie that doesn’t get talked about as much as some of the other classics, and in other ways, it’s loved more than it should be. Here are five reasons why The Santa Clause is an underrated movie and five why it’s overrated.
UNDERRATED: THE ELVES ARE REALLY AWESOME
There are many different variations of Santa’s magical elves, and some takes on them are better than others. The elves in this movie are extremely likable. They are played by children, but it’s made clear that they are hundreds of years old and quite wise.
From Bernard and Judy to the other more background elves, these characters are really endearing and it was a smart choice to go with children in this instance.
OVERRATED: SCOTT CALVIN HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO BECOME SANTA
One of the most messed up things about this movie is the fact that Scott Calvin is basically forced to become Satna. The fact that the “clause” that he agrees to is so small and hard to see is just unethical.
This is one of the weirdest things about the plot of the movie, and it’s also the premise that the entire film is placed on. So, in this way, it’s hard to take the story seriously.
UNDERRATED: IT PROVIDES A NEW TAKE ON THE SANTA CLAUS MYTH
The Santa Claus myth has been told in many ways over hundreds of years. There are lots of variations on the story, but The Santa Clause gives a modern twist to the tale.
Instead of Santa being hundreds of years old, Scott Calvin becomes a contemporary Kris Kringle that is easier to relate to. While this might take some of the mystery out of the figure, it does make the tale fresh and interesting as it strives to make a new story.
OVERRATED: TIM ALLEN ISN’T ALL THAT LIKABLE AS SANTA
In order for a movie all about Santa to be a true Christmas classic, it needs to have a Mr. Claus who is really likable and believable. The Tim Allen version of the holiday icon definitely isn’t the worst one ever seen in a Christmas movie, but he could be a little more endearing.
He’s not that nice of a guy to begin with, so sometimes it’s hard to root for him to be such a beloved figure who brings joy to people all over the world. There are definitely more likable portrayals of Old Saint Nick out there.
UNDERRATED: IT ENDS WITH MAGIC FOR CHARLIE
While the entire movie is mostly about Scott Calvin trying to figure out how to be a good dad, the ending is, of course, a happy one.
It allows Charlie to get to show the world that his dad really is Santa, and he is able to have both of his parents, as well as his stepdad, in his life in a happy way. Given all the drama that leads up to this resolution for Charlie, it’s definitely very heartwarming to see.
OVERRATED: THE FAMILY DYNAMICS ARE MESSED UP
One of the most frustrating things about The Santa Clause is how Charlie’s parents fight with and don’t get along with one another. All of the adults in this movie can be really immature at times.
Scott Calvin isn’t that great of a dad before he becomes Santa, and the way that Niel and Laura try to keep Charlie from his dad is also hard to watch. The issues between the adults make the movie hard to watch at times, and some of the moments are rather awkward.
UNDERRATED: SCOTT CALVIN'S TRANSFORMATION INTO SANTA CLAUSE
While Scott Calvin might not really know what he’s getting into when he puts on the red suit, seeing him transform is one of the best parts of the movie. He might be shocked by the extreme transformation at first, but seeing Scott start to look like Santa is a lot of fun.
He becomes a lot more jolly and begins to enjoy things such as cookies and hot chocolate. Seeing him become the myth of Santa after being a regular businessman in the modern age is really a good time.
OVERRATED: THE ELVES WITH ATTITUDE
While the choice to have the elves in this movie be played by children was a smart one, this movie suffers from something that many Christmas movies do. This is that many of these movies struggle to stick the landing in the last rid of the film.
Though the setup is often fun and interesting, the central conflict becomes kind of cheesy and ridiculous. So, when the elves with attitude come to break Santa out of jail, it’s one of those cheesy moments that just doesn’t quite work.
UNDERRATED: IT HAS SOME TRULY MAGICAL MOMENTS
While this movie definitely isn’t perfect, The Santa Clause does have some magical moments that make it rather memorable.
Scott Calvin's transformation is definitely up there, but it's easily bested by the magical snow globe that Bernard gives o Charlie, which is also really awesome. This globe allows Charlie to get in touch with his dad even over long distances, and it keeps him connected to the North Pole, too.
OVERRATED: IT’S NOT AS HEARTWARMING AS OTHER CHRISTMAS MOVIES
There are a variety of holiday movies out there packed full of heartwarming and endearing moments. Even though many of these movies, like The Santa Clause, have a lot of hilarious scenes, too, they also pack a lot of heart.
Meanwhile, The Santa Clause just isn’t near as endearing or magical as other classics such as Elf, Home Alone, and It’s a Wonderful Life. In these ways, it will never be quite on that level.