“The Santa Clauses, Disney's revival of The Santa Clause franchise, has the potential to be a welcome gift or the TV equivalent of an old fruit cake.”
There are pros and cons.
There are pros and cons.
It doesn't present a problem when studios don't allow the press and critics to view an entire series before writing about it. The first few episodes should give you a good idea of what to expect if the show is a success. Early on, it becomes clear that if it isn't worth watching, that's not worth it.
There are contents.
The small portion of The Santa Clauses that is provided for review makes it difficult to decide whether to recommend or warn about the show.
Tim Allen reprises his role as Scott Calvin, the former toy salesman who became Santa, in the Disney+ series. After years of serving as the sleigh-riding, gift-giving, elf-managing icon of Christmas, Scott and his wife Carol find themselves pondering what comes after life at the North Pole when Scott starts to suspect he's nearing the end of his term as jolly old St
Scott ends up wrestling with the decision about who to choose and whether or not Santa will still be around.
The Santa Clauses offers a similar vibe in that it continues to revel in the silliness of Santa Claus lore while attempting to opine on all the usual Christmas movie themes: the importance of family, the dangers of allowing commercialization. The franchise has leaned more into its silly side and become more slapstick than saccharine, earning more negative reviews.
The Santa Clauses is the goofiest entry in the franchise so far, and Allen jumped back into Santa's suit and sleigh with ease. The cast of actors playing elves, Scott's other family members, and various figures jockeying to become the new Santa are all entertaining. Most of the time, it is a sweetly ridiculous romp.
With the franchise returning after a 16-year hiatus, it stands to reason that it has had plenty of time to ditch the old, recycled gags, read the room, and come up with a more modern, timely spin on what looks to be the last chapter of Allen's Santa Claus The first two episodes suggest that time may not have been well spent.
Many recent successful franchise revivals have won new and old fans over by making it relevant in ways that feel new but still hold the charm of the original show or film. The Santa Clauses feels timely, but not in the way you would think.
The Santa Clauses doesn't shy away from pepper, whether it's the influence of Allen or the creator of Last Man Standing.
Allen's Santa Claus parrots a right-wing talking point when faced with the idea that people don't care about Christmas. It doesn't take long for this particular version of Santa Claus to feel like he's spent too much of the Christmas season watching Fox News.
With only two episodes left, the series plans for its right-wing Santa are almost certain to make or break the show, depending on which side of the ideological divide you fall on.
The plight of Allen's cranky, conservative Santa Claus will be used by The Santa Clauses to tell a story about the need for change within ourselves and in the way we view Christmas.
Kal Penn plays Simon, an inventor andentrepreneur, in the first episodes of the series. The idea of Penn becoming the new face of Santa Claus in the show's first two episodes feels like a bold pivot for the series.
The inability of Allen's Santa to see beyond the classic imagery of the holiday becomes an issue with Mitchell's character, a Mrs. Claus who bristles at her portrayal in classic Christmas art and repeatedly wonders why her title doesn't come with a first name
The Santa Clauses may end up being nothing more than a hard-right turn for the franchise, and whether this is all set up for Allen's Santa to learn the error of his ways and evolve is unknown at this time. It is difficult to believe that Penn would be okay with that kind of spin on the subject matter, but with Disney only offering press and critics two episodes to go on, the studio seems intent on keeping that particular secret.
The first two episodes of The Santa Clauses are on Disney+.
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