The stories of Christmas movies nearly always circle around the concept of a newfound holiday love or the epic tale of an underdog assisting Santa Claus on a crusade to save the festive day. However, a surprising, yet joyful, take on the idea came in the form of “The Santa Clause.”

Although it may not have been bursting with originality, “The Santa Clause” developed its own form of Christmas spirit by focusing on a different approach to the notion of Saint Nick. Rather than one man who was given the name as his own, the term Santa Claus is treated as a title ensuring the continuation of Christmas. This is where the main character’s fundamental ideals take route. From what occurs in the third movie, it can be assumed whoever wears the coat gains the title of Santa and they can affect Christmas traditions however they wish.

Scott Calvin, the main character played by Tim Allen, changes to fit the role of Father Christmas instead of remaining the cold-hearted businessman he begins as. In fact, the take on an average joe being forced into a fantastical setting in “The Santa Clause” is ingenious and comical. The stark contrast between a cold businessman in the toy industry versus the giving and compassionate craftsman known as Santa Claus is fascinating to the viewer. Not only is it entertaining to watch Calvin gain a new sense of humanity in his actions and personality, but it also helps the viewer better understand the character so clearly growing as a person on the screen.

“The Santa Clause” is able to portray its characters as real, unmovable people with beliefs so strong yet so easily broken. For example, unlike most Christmas films wherein the adults appear to either be completely incapable of realizing the magic taking place around them or easily accept this newfound development in record time, the main character’s sense of reality is distorted in “The Santa Clause.” It’s astoundingly realistic to how a person may constantly and devotedly remain in denial towards a situation taking place right before their eyes. Calvin incessantly insists he is not Saint Nick even when his own son pleads with him to realize the “dream” in the North Pole was a reality. It’s heartbreaking to watch Calvin struggle onscreen to accept his new status and in doing so loses the only one in his family to believe in him, his son. Calvin’s understanding of the world expands to include magic and wonder, but it requires the loss of his job, reputation and family.

The most magical moment of this film is when the main character takes upon the mantle of his role so wholeheartedly he paves the way toward the future of the series. Rather than remaining a bland character who could very well have transformed the North Pole into a company much like the one in his previous life, Calvin builds upon his personality and realizes the importance of Santa Claus and therefore crafts a new persona of himself who is joyful, jolly and kind. He learns to overcome societal expectations, shredding the selfish man he was before, and it’s amazing how his development is slow and realistic rather than fast paced in order to get to the actual holiday. The film does not focus on the importance of delivering presents, but rather on the importance of having an understanding family present during Christmas.

Perhaps the most striking portion of the film was the father-son dynamic so incredibly well structured throughout the movie. Calvin’s relationship with his son, Charlie, is obviously strained and showcased as such from the beginning of the movie. The tension is quickly established when the young boy practically begs his mother to take him with her and gets her to agree to pick him up early in the morning. The development of Calvin’s character as a father is depressing to watch as he struggles with the realities of divorce. His son’s own ignorance playing into a separation from his father being one of the most powerful scenes in the entire film. The family only grows more dysfunctional as Calvin grows more like Santa, and as his personality changes so does the movie’s focus on Calvin’s love for his son.

Through it all, “The Santa Clause” stands out among other Christmas movies because of the message it displays. Unlike others in its genre wherein they focus on the delivery of Christmas or what the holiday means to the public, “The Santa Clause” and it sequels focus on the importance of family. Christmas is almost a side story in the movie because its primary plot is the story of a father and son reconnecting and developing a stronger relationship because of the holiday.

“The Santa Clause” may not be the most fantastical when it comes to quality as it is an old movie, and some of the plot is questionable or unexplained such as how a fall off the roof can lead to Santa disintegrating. However, the story of Scott Calvin and his son Charlie struggling in an over realistic world with the idea of becoming Santa Claus overcomes all of the minor flaws. “The Santa Clause” develops a fantastic and magical world with interesting concepts. Overall, the film is perfect for a day in during the Christmas season.