2022 is brimming with Christmas movies like Violent Night, which stars Santa Claus in an action-packed role. In some ways, these films harken back to the classic 1990s, when Santa was more than just a character who delivered presents to children on his flying reindeer. The Santa Clause and its sequels are among the films that come to mind instantly. The franchise released three films between 1994 and 2006, and for the first time in 16 years, Scott Calvin, our favorite Santa played by renowned actor Tim Allen, is returning with a new series.
The Santa Clauses, an upcoming Disney+ series, is a direct continuation of the original trilogy The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause 2, and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell (Carol Calvin), and David Krumholtz ((Bernard the Elf)) are reprising their roles as the original cast members of the franchise. Elizabeth Allen-Dick, the on-screen and off-screen daughter of Tim Allen, Austin Kane, Devin Bright, Matilda Lawler, Rupali Redd, and Kal Penn, are also joining the cast as new members.
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Disney Plus recently released an official trailer for The Santa Clauses. Let’s take a closer look!
The Santa Retires (Didn’t Know He Could Do That)
The trailer opens with Santa’s dazzling arrival the night before Christmas when he transforms a magnificently adorned wall of a random house into his own teleportation portal. A father reads to his daughter at the same time, “It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.” Santa had no idea that his unexpected entrance terrified everyone in the room.
When a girl asks him who he is, in a surprised tone, he responds casually, “I’m Santa Claus.” Later, we see Santa delivering presents to everyone and occasionally slipping out on rooftops — who knows if he’s okay.
Santa, aka Scott Calvin, announces his retirement as Santa Claus in front of his family after fulfilling his Christmas duties. The reason for his retirement is revealed later, as he wants to live a simple life and experience the world as ordinary people do. As the family becomes enthused about the new peaceful journey, they plan a long and lovely trip to give Scott Calvin a non-Santa life experience.
Santa’s Beautiful Vacation Ends With a Twist
Disney+
Scott Calvin, together with his eager children and wife, sets out to do the things they’ve previously planned, and they appear to be enjoying themselves. However, Scott is having some difficulty adjusting to his new life. The following scene demonstrates why it is difficult for him to return to normal life after being Santa for so long.
As he attempts to mingle with new people, he finds himself in unusual circumstances. For instance, he orders a coffee under the name of Santa rather than Scott Calvin, making things even more difficult for the waitress. Furthermore, he is spending Christmas with his family for the first time in his life, but it quickly turns out to be a disappointment when a new crisis arises.
Christmas Is in Crisis, Santa to the Rescue!
Scott’s responsibility as a retired Santa is to find a suitable replacement. Unfortunately, he didn’t see it coming, as the new Santa he recruited turned out to be a problem. When he learns about the situation from the Elves that live at the North Pole, he realizes that it is nothing to scoff at. Apparently, the new Santa is destroying the Christmas spirit, and as the elves have said, “When the last of the light goes out, it could be the end of Christmas.”
As the trailer cuts to the following scene, we see elves panicking due to the unexpected crisis, and Scott explains to the family that he retired too soon and why he needs to return to the North Pole to save Christmas. When the family learns that the elves are disappearing, they offer to assist him, which he reluctantly accepts. The next set of shots and cuts takes us through a series of random action scenarios loaded with quirky comedy. The family helps Scott in various ways, and when he encounters an old friend, they seem to have found a way to make things right.
The trailer raises a few questions as well as some noticeable points, such as how the magic of Christmas is fading as the children who Santa Claus once cherished grow up and stop believing — which is perhaps why Scott is retiring after 30 years as Santa.
Unfortunately, his retirement is short-lived by new troubles, and we have yet to learn the identity of the new Santa. Much like the modern era’s Christmas, The Santa Clauses trailer has shown us what it means to enjoy Christmas while depicting its culture with a touch of sweet humor.
The Santa Clauses will premiere on Disney+ on November 16, 2022, with the first two episodes, “Chapter One: Good To Ho” and “Chapter Two: The Secessus Clause.”
