The Santa Clause (1994)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it's firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films.
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Cast
as Scott Calvin
as Dr. Neil Miller
as Laura Calvin
as Charlie Calvin
as Bernard
as Mr. Whittle
as Det. Nunzio
as Ms. Daniels
as Elf--Judy
as Susan
as Waitress
as Little Girl
as Elf at North Pole
as Elf in Hangar
as Elf--Larry
as Bobby
as Principal Compton
as Kid Two
as Kid Three
as Ad Executive
as Waiter
as Dr. Novos
as Ruth
as Ballet Girl
as Fax Kid
as Mailman
as Bobby's Dad
as Judge
as Quintin
as Malone
as Newman
as Elf One
as Elf Two
as Santa In Street
as 1st Officer
as Child One
as Child Two
as ELFS Leader
as Tinsel Man
as Desk Sergeant
as Sharpshooter
as Fireman
as Veronica
as Japanese Businessman
as 2nd ELFS
as 3rd ELFS
as 4th ELFS
as 6th Santa
as Coffee Cop
as Neighbor
as Truck Driver
as Japanese Businessman
as Japanese Businessman
as Japanese Businessman
as Japanese Businessman
as Puppet Punch
as Puppet Judy
News & Interviews for The Santa Clause
Critic Reviews for The Santa Clause
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (14) | DVD (4)
A genial, lightweight entertainment.
This is Allen's movie debut, and it's easy to see why his show is a ratings smash. There's an effortless quality to his humor, but it's also got a quietly urgent edge to it.
I was surprised to find The Santa Clause rather easier to take than anticipated.
Like most modern fantasies, The Santa Clause isn't very clear about the rules governing Scott's new powers.
Tim Allen's talent for dry regular-guyness fails to kindle Disney's sappy big-screen Yule log.
You can get the same emotional and imaginative kick staying home and rereading your Christmas cards.
Audience Reviews for The Santa Clause
A divorced adman for a toy company finds himself in quite a jam after a rooftop mishap on Christmas Eve sees him become Santa Claus, much to the delight of his son Charlie, and the absolute befuddlement/horror of his co-workers, ex-wife and her new man, a skeptical psychologist. This mostly holds up pretty good, and Tim Allen is pretty funny, but the cheesiness of a lot of it wears thin after a while. I do like this movie, and the effects are well done, but this is neither one of the best nor my favorite holiday films. The concept sure is fun, though, and the music is quite swelling and wonderful at times.
Super Reviewer
The Santa Clause is a fun kids movie with a few jokes adults will enjoy, its not really a Christmas classic but its fun many people can enjoy.
Super Reviewer
As a Christmas film, The Santa Clause for me anyways didn't work. I felt that the film was a dud. Of all the Christmas themed movies, The Santa Clause is one of the worst. I feel that the film hasn't aged well, and though it's a great film to watch as a kid, later on you realize how stupid and pointless this film really is. I don't like the film now, and I find it to be too bad to actually enjoy today. I can think of many Christmas films that are better than this one. Tim Allen usually is pretty funny, but in this film, he seems tired and bored. The film didn't hold up for me, and I found it quite forgettable after viewing it a few times. The film is not as terrific, spectacular or original as everyone claims it to be. For a family film, it's mediocre; there are better films out that the family can enjoy on Christmas. I just felt that the idea behind the story lacked something really great to make this film work. The film hasn't stood the test of time, and the material on-screen is tired and old, and gets annoying after a few viewings. I'll stick with Scrooge and A Christmas Vacation, thank you very much. At least those films have stood the test of time, and are always entertaining, but the Santa Clause is tired, annoying and poorly acted. A pretty bad Christmas film, I honestly don't see what the fuss is about.
Super Reviewer
The Santa Clause Quotes
| Judy: | Seeing isn't believing; believing is seeing. |
| Judy: | Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing. |
| Laura Calvin: | Here's Neil's mother's number. |
| Scott Calvin: | 1-800-SPANK-ME? I know that number. |