![]() Though arguably made for a slightly older audience than The Santa Clause, this 2019 film draws on the same theme of preparing the new Santa in time for Christmas. "It's as predictable as an Advent calendar, but thanks to Kurt Russell's grizzly charms, The Christmas Chronicles at least gives us one of the movies' best Santas yet." - Dan Jolin, Empire And of course it also comes with a very important message about the importance of family. There are more adventures in normal society than the North Pole, but some of the antics they get up to are similar to things that happen in The Santa Clause. Although he might not need his hat as much as he lets on, he says he needs it a lot in order to get the kids (siblings who are having a tough time moving on from the loss of their father) to work together. Kurt Russell dons the iconic red suit for this Netflix original film (the first of two in the franchise) in which he loses his equally iconic hat when two kids stow away in his sleigh. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn in 'The Christmas Chronicles' Netflix The Christmas Chroniclesīest for: Fans of Santa stories that see him go on adventures with kids ![]() "Will Ferrell graduates to his first solo leading role with flying colors in Elf, a disarming holiday comedy about a clueless innocent who saves Christmas and fosters a renewed sense of family in his reluctant father." - David Rooney, Variety The two men could not be more different in personality or outlook on life, and the assumption is that Buddy's elf-ness is a delusion, but he still ends up teaching his family some very important lessons about togetherness and Christmas cheer, all while also making a romantic connection. But after finally learning he is human, he sets out to meet his biological father (played by James Caan) in New York City. In fact, in this case it's two-fold: Buddy the titular elf ( Will Ferrell) was raised by Papa Elf ( Bob Newhart) in the North Pole after he crawled into Santa's sack as a baby and ended up there unexpectedly. Santa ( Ed Asner) isn't as big a figure in this 2003 film as in most of the others on this list, but the father-son dynamic that is so prevalent in The Santa Clause certainly is. "It's a highly professional piece of Hollywood sentimentalism." - Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader But, as the title suggests, there's a little bit of magic that helps nudge some characters' beliefs in his direction. Whereas Scott has to learn to accept and embrace being Santa, here, it is the rest of the world who has to do so about Kris - to the point of him going to court to defend his identity. In doing so, he meets Susan ( Natalie Wood), who isn't sure whether she should believe he is the real deal, let alone that Santa is real at all. However, he is new to playing Santa in the Manhattan Macy's, a task he takes on because the guy originally hired for it is drunk. They're not identical of course - for one thing, Edmund Gwenn's Kris Kringle is not new to the gig. But it's worth watching again and considering the similarities to The Santa Clause. As one of the highest-rated holiday films overall, it is likely one you've seen already. Although this story has been told many times (including a 1970s TV movie version and a 1994 feature reboot starring Mara Wilson and Richard Attenborough), it is this 1947 original that takes the cake for most film fans.
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