It’s Christmas! I’m calling it early, since Christmas 2020 seems to be starting in October and will likely last until Valentine’s Day 2021 at the earliest. Staying at home, worrying about seeing relatives, unwapping ununkown packages, all the constituent parts are here, so why not take a cue from Netflix and their endless early seasonal offerings, kick back on the couch and slather yourself with festive movies for four months? And where better to start than with a good hate-watch, with perennial mind-bender Santa Claus; The Movie?
After the hits of Superman and Superman II, the Salkind producer team put together a real ‘King Midas in reverse’ streak of utter duds; Superman 3 and 4, an unwanted third Three Musketeers sequel, Supergirl and this truly bizarre original story for Santa. Played by David Huddlestone, Mr Claus is a 14th century woodcutter with a bent for gifting to kids. His good work and jolly personality lead to him being headhunted by the Vendequm, a troupe of elves led by the Ancient One (Burgess Meredith in a Gandalf beard). Sound odd? We’re not even started. After 50 minutes of chocolate-box cobblers as Santa gets a grip on his corporate empire, he’s blindsided when his chief elf Patch (somehow Dudley Moore) takes all his trade-secrets and goes rogue, setting up shop with an evil magnate played without visible restraint by John Lithgow. This results in children being given deadly toys, like pandas stuffed with broken glass, so Santa has to saddle up his animatronic reindeer and embark on a mission to save Christmas as we know it.
A musical without any songs, Santa Claus The Movie hasn’t a clue if it’s a sentimental legend or a corporate comedy, and switches tones abruptly halfway. There’s horrific product placement for McDonalds that completely belies any anti-materialist message intended, and the strain is visible on all the cast, particularly Moore whose dialogue is peppered with ‘elf and safety’ type wordplay gags that no comic could raise a laugh with. Lithgow has reflected recently that of all his many films, Santa Claus The Movie is the one that he’s most recognised for in the UK, which is presumably why he rarely comes to these shores.
With stuffed animatronic reindeer, laughable blue-screen effects and tone-deaf satire, Santa Claus has something for everyone, except none of it works for a second. Instead, this muddlestone of Huddlestone lies inert as a dumped Xmas tree in March, boring children and befuddling adults with hopelessly confused pontificating about the meaning of Christmas. It’s a genuinely bizarre movie, but if you’re looking to laugh at a hopelessly misguided film, this is a traditional, seasonal hate-watch for ironists and bad-movie buffs the world over. Merry Christmas, Patch! Grab a panda full of broken glass and chill!
I have always been interested in seeing this since it came out. This does nothing to dissuade me. Being unable to physically purchase it does. It looks bad but enjoyably bad in my opinion.
I implore you not to subject yourself to this truly awful film; you are unable to purchase this for a good reason, and you should be thankful for that.
I am kinda glad (overjoyed) I missed this one. But in the coming months, OMG, I might watch anything!
No, I suffer so you can be free of this! Watch anything but this film!
I will. I promise.
Nothing annoys and delights like Christmas – I’ve always loved the Myriad ways Saint Nicholaus has been transformed in the west, but the inclusion of magical elves and flying reindeer has always screamed Nordic flavoring in the mix. Has anyone, beyond David Sedaris, ever actually traced the origins of many of these traditions? What people do around the western world for Christmas is a kind of model of human interpretation and manipulation of a theme. Sedaris claims that some Europeans actually include St. Nick’s “Slaves” . . . and apparently that is one of the origins of the “elves!”
quite a hodge-podge of historical and wack-a-doodle elements.
Yes, I’ve read a whole book, the name of which escapes me, about the different legends and traditions, all of which are much more interesting that the department store window sponsored by Macdonals that this putrid film offers….will have a look at Sedaris, thanks for the tip!
Dudley Moore? He’s right up there in my books with Chevy Chase! Oh wait, I forgot, I’m not supposed to say the “CC” word here. Sorry.
Lithgow though, now he’s funny. Well, at least in the tv show 3rd Rock from the Sun he was. Based on that alone I’d say he was a comedic genius. Unlike “Him Who Shall Not Be Named”….
You are more Chase obsessed than I am!
Have no fear, I shall name that name no more on your blog. Kind of like Voldemort 😉
Is he some kind of elf?
If he is, he’s definitely more of the modern urban fantasy kind than Tolkien’ish.
I can’t tell one from the other, is he in Harry Potter?
Yep, he’s the “supposed” bad guy in Harry Potter. Personally, I think Harry Potter is the bad guy in those movies, but that’s like, dude, just my opinion.
I couldn’t get through these movies , like LOTR, limited tolerance for goblins…
This time, I agree with you. But I had issues with the HP books, so I wasn’t surprised i had issues with the movies.
Are you contrary on purpose when it comes to popular movies, or is it just a side affect of being a Master of Ironing?
Contrary? No, I just like a satisfying movie that works without half the story leading up to something else…
Man, you should do some reviews on the HP franchise too then! I have no clue what you’re referring to though.
In regards to HP, had you read the books before tackling the movies, or were the movies your intro? I was going to assume that the movies were your intro, but I’ve seen enough in your reviews, and comments, to know that you’re a pretty solidly grounded fellow in the book world, so I can’t make that assumption. Which I find refreshing…
Not read the books because I’m a grown up, but the films were all the same and rife with pixies…
Glad you’re not a Literature snob or anything 😉
hahahahaaa.
What are you laughing at? No reason for adults to read books for kids, like Clifford the Big Red Dog, right?
Clifford is a monument in Literature. Those books rival Dickens!
At least we can agree on that, he’s a big red fictional masterpiece!
Absolutely. Common ground amidst a sea of dissension 😉
Glad we had this chat…
Well, you do realize I’m just saying this to stall for time while my mini Moores get into position, right?
“More battles have been lost because of words”
~somebody famous
Oh, I get it, your army of Charlie’s Angels are all mini -Moore’s? Nice.
Yes, words are best avoided, my future blogs will be emojis only…
😉
I’d forgotten that Demi was in Full Throttle; must be Santa induced deletion…
Sounds like a perfect movie to get into the Christmas spirit! I mean, what’s not to like: McDonalds, horrible blue screen effects, obvious stuffed reindeer…this is awesome! 😊 I’m going to drop what I’m doing, and get right on this film! And before I forget my manners: Merry Christmas!
(PS: If that wasn’t sarcasm, I don’t know what is…😂😂)
It’s my third time with this movie, it’s destroyed my will to live…
Pssh, don’t you worry: just go ahead and take up some ironing: you will feel better in no time😊
If only there a blog dedicated to ironing…
There is…..it’s within arm’s reach😀😀
I’ll check it out! Would love to see one…
Oh no you don’t. You have us, your team of commenters who love you.
That’s very kind ! I love the comments, they keep me going through films like this!
I hate Christmas movies, like Christmas Albums, they are corporate money grabbers full of puerile mush purported by actors who should have more integrity and film makers of dubious repute. So saying LOVED Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles and can’t wait for Mel Gibsons ‘Fatman’!! 😀
I was SURE this would be a NOPE
Yes, that was one of my LONG NOPE’s.
I think the chances of my ever watching this movie are approaching zero. But I appreciate the time you put into it.
I’ll do the heavy lifting for us all in terms of casting a critical eye over hot dumpster fires like this…