A Very Special Episode of TFNC...Guest Starring...JAY MIMS!!!!!

Hello Gentle Readers,

So, for the record, The Forgetful One is one of my top 3 favorite Scotsmen. The other two being David Tennant and John Barrowman.

However, for the record I have to mock him a wee bit. See, when I asked him what post he’d like I said “Since your blog focuses on movies, how about I review a Christmas film. Your choice: Miracle on 34th Street (Classic), Santa Claus The Movie, or Ernest Saves Christmas?”

To which he replied “Santa Claus The Movie? You mean, The Santa Clause (legal pun) starring Tim Allen?? If so, Tim Allen!!!”

I just don’t have the heart to tell him this is a real thing.  

So, without further ado, here’s a Mimsey review of “The Santa Clause” starring TIM ALLEN!

Truly a god among men. Also insert Captain Hammer joke.  

Some background here, I actually remember seeing this film when it first came out in theatres in 1994. This was pretty much the high-period for Tim Allen, as he also released his first book around this time.

It offers humor AND good advice.   

So, this flick ended up being #1 at the box office meaning that Allen had a #1 New York Times bestseller, a #1 hit show with Home Improvement and a #1 hit film. 1994 was a good year for the Tool Man.

2007 not so much.

The flick opens with what has to be the best Christmas party short of Die Hard as Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has just had a very successful run with a line of toys. Yes, SC the Toymaker.    

Foreshadowing!

The only downside is that Tim Allen, yes I know he has a name but screw it. The guy grunts, barks, and acts a fool…this is Tim Allen ya’ll. So, Tim “The Tool” Allen has been neglecting his son, Charlie, played by Eric Lloyd. For a minute there I did a double-take to check to make sure this wasn’t the kid from Episode I. It isn’t, but I do admire the guy for agreeing to play the same character in both Santa Clause sequels.

It’s more work than this dude has done. 

So, Charlie is dropped off at his father’s house by Mom and Stepfather, because apparently Tim’s wife found a better tool.

And that tool’s name is Judge “I’m game for Beverly Hills Cop 4” Reinhold.

The Mom is played by a lady who I thought was the same Mom from Mrs. Doubtfire. It’s not, but I do give the lady props for murdering Macaulay Culkin in The Good Son.

I’d do it too.

It’s Christmas Eve and Tim Allen proves the case for sole custody as he nearly burns the house down in an attempt to make dinner, and then takes Charlie to the apparent home for all divorcee dads, Denny’s. No, seriously, there’s like three other dad’s at this restaurant. Are we just proving all men are incompetent at cooking?

Maybe. 

After a wonderful meal of whatever the Japanese businessmen, who apparently think doing business in America on Christmas Eve is a swell idea, aren’t eating, it’s back to Casa De La Tool Man. The story is appropriately “Twas The Night Before Christmas” because obviously a Santa Claus story is not going to have ANY bearing on future events.

Obviously!

And after explaining what “There arose such a clatter” means, because that’s what the kid from a broken home is going to ask about. The obvious plot convenience. Certainly not “When are you and Mommy going to get back together so I can get away from the Tool?”

It’s off to bed! When suddenly, and I know this will be a surprise to you, THERE IS A CLATTER! Charlie wakes up his dad, and Father and Son immediately rush out to see why a noise is on the roof. Because THAT’S the best idea. Not call the cops. Not turn on some lights. Nope, stroll into the snow in your boxers.

For the record, I did a Google search for “Santa Clause Tim Allen underwear” and this came up. Just putting it out there. 

Tim Allen surprises a man on the roof…look, I’m just going to jump in here and say it. Tim Allen kills Santa. There’s no other way to explain this, and I hate even saying it. Yes, I wrote a murder mystery about someone killing not one but MULTIPLE Santas, and I still find the idea troubling.

Available wherever books are sold!. 

So, The Tool Man kills Santa, climbs onto the roof, and finds Santa’s sleigh. With Charlie’s encouragement, Tim then takes the suit (Santa conveniently disappears, because murder is always better when there’s no body), and jacks Santa’s ride. He then wears the suit and has to start delivering the toys.

 It’s going to be better for all of us if you just roll with it.  

After spending the night delivering the toys, Tim is taken back to the North Pole where he meets that dude from Numb3rs.

 For the stoners he’s also that guy from Harold & Kumar. For the geeks he’s Mr. Universe from Serenity. For the stoner geeks he’s that guy from Harold & Kumar.

Bernard the Elf (played by the ruggedly handsome David Krumholtz), explains to Tim that he is now under contract for the rest of his natural life, bound by an iron-clad clause to work for a sinister and mysterious organization that solely wants to move product to the unwitting children of the world.

Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.

Tim gets a pair of pajamas and is allowed to sleep off his shock, while also being hit on by an elf who, up until I looked her up, I would have sworn was Angela from Bones.

If only.

The next morning The Tool Man awakens thinking it’s all a bad dream. OR IS IT! Over the next few months, Tim starts to gain weight, grow a beard, and isolate himself from his friends.

I can relate.

Tim’s slow and inevitable transformation into Santa Claus (or George R.R. Martin) begins to worry his wife, played by Wendy Crewson who, HOLY SNIKEYS WAS IN AIR FORCE ONE!!!!

This is George R. R. Martin finding out he gets lobster AND to meet Harrison Ford. Or just lobster. Seriously, that is a happy looking dude. 

So, like the sensible and loving parent, she yanks visitation from Tim Allen like a magician with a table cloth. Around Thanksgiving Scott drops by to see his son, which is kind of a surprise because he doesn’t really seem like that great of a Dad. This just makes Charlie love him more, shockingly, and it’s Charlie’s undying love that spurs Tim Allen to accept his role as Santa Claus. Sexy David Krumholtz shows up to whisk The Tool Man and Charlie off to the North Pole.

Because this is the face of a man you should trust around small children.

The kidnapping of her son leads to Mom calling the police, as you should, and leads to the HILARIOUS set-up of everyone gunning for Santa Claus.

This leads to Santa being put into jail, the elves having to rescue him, and Tim Allen having a pretty emotional moment with his son. In all honesty, the ending, specifically when Santa convinces Mom and her new boy toy that he is the real deal, is probably one of my favorite moments in Christmas movies. Santa delivers presents to Mom and Judge Reinhold, and we fade out on the man blowing a weenie. 

 Not a metaphor AT ALL!

There’s a cute button with the kid summoning his dad back thanks to a magic snow globe, and father and son ride off into the night to make millions of children happy.

And into a terrible sequel!

All kidding aside, I love this flick. I love Tim Allen, I love the family dynamic, and I didn’t even mention Peter Boyle as The Tool Man’s boss. Mostly because the guy is completely forgettable in the role. I just like to pretend Tim’s talking to one of Boyle’s many much better roles.

There’s a ton of deep stuff regarding fatherhood, the impact divorce has on family, and on the role of a man in modern society. There are some truly sweet moments, a lot of heart, and a fairly good performance from everyone involved. Even if it didn’t star Michaela Conlin.

Missed! Opportunity!

Jay Mims is a great wingman, believes in miracles, and has a life ambition of casting The Forgetful North Carolinian in a movie. He accidently adopted his neighbor’s cat, who he named Eartha Kitty, has a love-hate relationship with a lizard named Bob, and may have adopted a second cat Meowthezar. Jay’s roommate is a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve. He writes books and is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter. His next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free to email him here.

What’s more American then free? Jay Mims is celebrating Christmas in July by giving out 5 (count ‘em FIVE) prizes! Enter to win below!

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