The Santa Clauses Premiere Review

The following is a spoiler-free review of the first 2 episodes of The Santa Clauses, premiering this Wednesday on Disney+

It’s been 16 years since audiences have explored the world of The Santa Clause and 29 years since Tim Allen’s Scott Calvin first donned the red suit from the previous Santa who fell off his roof. From that moment several decades ago, fans have been treated to some pretty fun (and loose) storytelling in the realm of the North Pole and what makes it tick making it no surprise that Disney would eventually reexplore that universe in an effort to mine more from it, this time in the form of an episodic streaming program with The Santa Clauses.

Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been Santa to the world for several decades and in the past few Christmases, it has become apparent to him that retirement from this once-in-a-lifetime job is a very real possibility on his horizon echoed by his family who expresses an interest in what lies beyond the North Pole. This leads Scott to begin the search for his successor from a list of candidates both within his own family as well as possible external hopefuls giving him the opportunity to choose who should follow him rather than falling off a roof to keep the cycle going.

So far, The Santa Clauses takes its time centering on this plot point as much of the first episode is reintroducing audiences into the Santa Clause universe and what made it so special those many years ago. This is achieved to varying degrees, however, what remains one of its strengths is its ability to populate its world with entertaining characters, both returning and new ones. After settling back in, the series attempts to move the narrative forward by having Scott wrestle with the thought of no longer being Santa and whether or not his tenure has made an impact on the world which grows in concern as Christmas spirit dwindles each year.

Another strength on full display is its humor. Personally, the Santa Clause films have always had a special place in the hearts of countless audiences not only for possessing charm and being one of the perfect watches during the holidays but because of some of their hilarious moments and memorable quotes. That being said, The Santa Clauses is not quite on the same level, however, it does a decent job at capturing much of the spirit of the previous film thru several laugh-out-loud moments that are sure to have many looking forward to more.

In terms of production quality, The Santa Clauses is not on the same level as that of the films but it is somewhat understandable being on a streaming platform rather than a wide theatrical release. This disparity works to the series’ benefit as it dedicates more time for Scott’s search for his replacement rather than trimming that part of the story to accommodate a specific running time. Whether or not that choice will pay off remains to be seen but for now, seeing more characters on screen who would otherwise not be seen nearly as long or if at all is a definite plus.

The best example of this is Elizabeth Mitchell’s Carol Clause and her persistent fight against the Mrs. Clause stereotype that has been widely accepted by the world, instead wanting to show that she is different from the elderly spinster relegated to the background. It’s a plight that offers many of the aforementioned humorous moments and line deliveries and one which the series should continue tapping into. Meanwhile, the release strategy for the series creates some cause for concern with the first 2 of its 6 episodes dropping this week and the remaining 4 episodes dropping individually over the following weeks. While the content of each episode provides a solid enough story, releasing them all at the same, or even two at a time would be a better method for keeping or even attracting new fans.

In the end, The Santa Clauses achieves a major goal by returning to its previously established universe by telling an entertaining and relevant story with characters that viewers will enjoy spending time with. It’s lighthearted in its approach and provides promising storylines that will keep returning fans interested throughout. Allen, Mitchell and Co. fall right back into the roles that made the franchise such a joy to watch as it offers an interesting story that early on feels as if it will provide a worthy conclusion to the Santa Clause that audiences have come to know and love.

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Critics w/o Credentials

Trying my best to get all thoughts about TV and Film out of my head and onto the interweb.