Call Me Claus (2001)
When Lucy Cullins, a successful but cranky producer at a home shopping network hires an actor named Nick to play Santa Claus on the network, she gets more than she bargained for.
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This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.
Expected more
Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Eight stars as although its the usual story; bad tempered person who hates Christmas for personal reasons blah blah blah, there are some laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately the laughs are few and far between and the film could have been so much better with some original aspects to the story, instead of incorporating others into it.Whoopi Cushion is not the best actress and at one point her performance is pretty cringe worthy. There are some feel good moments and I had a few tears in my eyes, but its a story told over and over again and we know the outcome. Loved most of the film, the shopping channel's take on Christmas was brilliant. Hated the fact the makers couldn't spell the niece's name properly (Ieesha, for Ayesha - what!) and her awful rendition of Oh Holy Night (hear my vocal exercises as I sing!) totally spoilt it. I've added a spoiler alert to this review but we know the outcome as soon as the niece says 'oh auntie you must come to the church Christmas eve I'm singing solo'
I loved this movie and of course I had and still have a major thing for the late Nigel Hawthorne who is so charming and handsome even at 72 in this film. His portrayal of Santa Claus is so genuine and heartfelt , you really just want to hug him. The plot of him looking for someone to replace him as the new Santa is cute. He finds Whoopi Goldberg and he must convince her that she is the one. . I'm shocked that this movie did not get a theatrical release ,while a movie as awful as ELF with the abysmal Will Ferrell did. It's kind of sad to know that Nigel Hawthorne had been fighting cancer for months and still did this movie as sick as he was. Without Hawthorne this movie wouldn't have been worth watching.He pushed to promote it and get it released and then he sadly passed away the day after Xmas that year. Wonderful movie and should be given a re-release at Xmas time in theaters.
I think it should've been released into cinemas rather than made for TV...instead, this year - we got Elf! What's with that?Although this film is rather slow paced, it's funny in all the right places and without trying too hard. A heartwarming (sometimes heart wrenching) story that includes a fantastic cast. Whoopi Goldberg (great as ever in her role as Lucy Cullins), Nigel Hawthorne (as the most convincing Santa Claus I have ever had the honour of seeing in a movie) and Victor Garber (in a wickedly comical role!). I watched it for the first time this morning and I want to watch it again and again and again!
The movie starts out slowly, but, gently evolves into a tale of overcoming past pain and disappointment. As with most Christmas stories the premise is sort of limited but has a great ending. Destined to become a classic, in my humble opinion.