December marks the time for hot chocolate, eggnog, snuggling up with your loved ones by the fire and watching your favorite holiday films. 

We each tend to have our own opinion on what the best holiday films are. Perhaps The Grinch or The Polar Express but in my opinion, the absolute best movie to watch during this holiday season is The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen.

In the movie, a divorced businessman (Scott) who works for a Toy Company is thrown into the world of being Santa Claus late one night after hearing suspicious sounds on his roof.

Scott is very successful in terms of business, but is having troubles in his family. This time of the year is one for spending time with family, so its important that this character is still figuring out the meaning of family.

It is revealed that instead of Santa Claus being one “person” it is more like a spirit or idea.  According to The Santa Clause if something is to happen to the current Santa then whoever puts on the suit is the new Santa.  

Scott is a little unwilling at first, but with the help of his son, he puts on the suit and ends up in Santa’s sleigh.  The sleigh takes Scott and his son to the North Pole where they meet Bernard, an elf.  Bernard explains the Santa Clause to Scott, which he thinks is ridiculous.  After falling asleep in Santa’s bed, Scott and his son end up back home where Scott thinks it was a dream, except he still has on Santa’s pajamas.

Scott decides to try and forget about the whole thing and go on with his life as normal.  His son Charlie however, goes on about how his dad is Santa Claus to his mother and eventually tells his whole classroom during “Bring your dad to work day.”

This leads to more problems throughout the household as Charlie’s mother, Laura, believes that Scott needs to talk some sense into their son, while Scott doesn’t believe it is that big of a deal.

Throughout this time Scott is slowly taking on more Santa like characteristics: larger belly, white hair, massive beard, love for sweets.  This is affecting his life at work, eventually getting voted off of the board and it strains his relationship with his ex-wife to the point where Laura takes him to court and files for full custody over Charlie.

At the end, this leads to a police search for Scott as he “abducted” his son. When Charlie shakes the snow globe he got from Bernard, Bernard appears and takes them to the North Pole.  Scott sets out the deliver presents to the world with Charlie, but as they get to Laura and Neal, Charlie’s step-dad, home Scott is promptly arrested.  The North Pole sends for a special squad of elves called “The E.L.F.S” who specialize is saving Santa Claus.  Scott shows Laura and Neal that he really is Santa Claus and brings the two presents that they never got when they were kids.

This Movie truly shows how no matter what the spirit of Christmas will persevere and in the end bring those together who are going through troubles, whether between each other or internally.  The Santa Clause is a funny and sweet spin on the story of Santa Claus.