By Bradley Redder
The Santa Clause has always been for me that movie that signals Christmas is here. Well, maybe not literally always, but at least since I was in 6th grade and watched it a minimum of once per day every day in December… Minimum meaning, yes, there were days when I watched it twice, sometimes three times in a single day. That seems insane to me now, but the fact remains: Christmas just isn’t Christmas without revisiting The Santa Clause.
Revisiting this film annually as an adult has been a much different and (surprisingly) rewarding experience. As a kid, I just saw the funny gags and overwhelming Christmas spirit, which are still there in abundance, but now, whether due to my growing up and developing a better understanding of human relationships, or perhaps having sat through the last fifteen years of depressingly sanitized family films, I see The Santa Clause as a really sharply written film that not only acknowledges that some kids may have messy home lives, but merges that reality with a welcome dose of fantasy to create a holiday film with just enough honesty to balance out its heavy sentimentality. Continue reading ‘The Santa Clause’ – 12 Days of Christmas Movies
thecinematictangent.com 