Call Me Claus

2001

Call Me Claus

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43%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 4,160

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Call Me Claus Photos

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Movie Info

As a child, Lucy Cullins asked Santa Claus to bring her father home from Vietnam. But when her dad returned in a pine box, the embittered Lucy decided that Christmas -- and every other holiday for that matter -- was a humbug. Now all grown-up (and played by Whoopi Goldberg), Lucy is the hard-as-nails producer for the Shop-A-Lot Channel, a home-shopping cable service. While auditioning actors to play Santa Claus for a hokey Yuletide informercial series, Lucy hires a twinkly eyed old gentleman named Nick (Nigel Hawthorne), who, unbeknownst to everyone but the audience, is the genuine, bonafide "Ho Ho Ho" man himself. Facing mandatory retirement at age 200, Nick must find someone to take his place as Santa Claus for the next two centuries. The person he chooses in none other than Lucy Cullins -- and if she doesn't accept the job, the North Pole will melt, wreaking havoc upon everyone in the world, whether they're "naughty" or "nice." Originally conceived as a vehicle for a black man, Call Me Claus was reshaped as a showcase for Whoopi Goldberg when the actress signed on as co-executive producer. Also in the production lineup was country & western singer Garth Brooks, who penned a handful of new songs for the occasion. Call Me Claus debuted over the TNT cable network on December 2, 2001.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Comedy, Kids & Family
Directed By:

Peter Werner
Written By:

Brian Bird
In Theaters:

Dec 2, 2001 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Dec 11, 2001
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

Red Strokes Entertainment

Watch it now

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Cast

Whoopi Goldberg
as Lucy Cullins

Nigel Hawthorne
as Nick

Brian Stokes Mitchell
as Cameron

Victor Garber
as Taylor

Jasmine Guy
as Iesha

Taylor Negron
as Ralph

Frankie Faison
as Dwayne

Alexandra Wentworth
as P.A.

Melody Garrett
as Mama

Robert Costanzo
as Teamster Santa

Ed Gale
as Benson

Jazmn
as Iesha

Tinashe Kachingwe
as Young Lucy

Richard Moll
as Brooding Santa

Bruce Vilanch
as Himself

Allyce Beasley
as Telemarketer

Patti Tippo
as Barmaid

Grant Vaught
as Little Boy

Karen Robert Jackson
as Jeff

Juan Carlos Cantu
as Doorman

Michael Francis Kelly
as Military Man

Henry G. Sanders
as Minister

Kip King
as Rabbi Rosenfarb

Alex Dean
as Woman No. 1

Nicholas Edwin Barb
as Boy Onlooker

Steve Murphy
as Elvis Santa

Masasa
as Receptionist

Carter Spohn
as Charity Santa

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Critic Reviews for Call Me Claus

All Critics (4) | Top Critics (1)

With Brian Stokes Mitchell and Victor Garber also trying a little too hard.

Feb 2, 2018 | Full Review…

John Leonard
New York Magazine/Vulture
Top Critic
Predictable, dated holiday film is refreshingly multiracial.

Jul 8, 2014 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Andrea Beach
Common Sense Media