The Santa Clauses (2022–2023) User Reviews

Watch till the end

[winsor5892 · 5/10 · 19 December 2022]

I have to say I didn't expect much and even though I loved the first one and will even watch the sequels annually, I knew this was a nostalgic creation to add more content for Disney+. I was surprised they brought Tim Allen back since he seems to be too conservative for Disney these days but I'm glad they did. It's corny, cheesy, and at times absolutely cringey, but I watched it until the end and I'm glad I did.

I enjoyed the last 3 episodes the best. They brought back one of my favorite characters and I liked the message in the end. I also enjoyed that some of the questions I had from the other movies were resolved here. It had a few parts that had me absolutely cackling. I didn't know a single elf actor and Noel really drove me nuts, but Betty was a solid head elf. Will I rewatch it every year? No, but that's ok. It gave me what I was looking for this year.

It Has its Moments, but its Also Pointless

[kjproulx · 5/10 · 15 December 2022]

The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2 are two of my favourite holiday films. I really don't like the third film very much, so I wasn't expecting much when I heard Disney+ would be releasing a mini-series continuation. Well, I'm glad I went in with low expectations, because it pretty much met them, with the exception of an episode that I actually thought was pretty great. This series wasn't good since the second film, and although there are redeeming things about this series, it ultimately shouldn't have been made. Here's why I believe this series was completely unnecessary.

Picking up many years after the events of the films, Scott (Tim Allen) has decided to take up his chance of retiring. Recruiting a new person as Santa and flocking off to live the city life with his family, things at the North Pole start to go very wrong and they must return. Other than some side plots with some newcomers, that's really all this series is. It was average at best, but one episode made me give the whole series a pass overall. It involves Santa learning about how the first film happened in the first place. That's all I will say in order to not ruin it.

The biggest issue this series has is the fact that it never feels like it's going anywhere. Once they left the North Pole to live their lives, I knew they would eventually have to return, but when they return and the series concludes, it all felt lazy and rushed. There wasn't much holiday magic throughout this series and not that much holiday music either. In fact, this series closes out with a pop song playing and it's not even a Christmas song. This entire series just felt off and it also felt like it had a distractingly low budget to boot.

In the end, I can't even really recommend it to those who enjoyed the films, because I don't feel that it lives up to them. With that said though, on its own, episode five is more than worth checking out. You probably don't even have to watch the previous episodes. It's a standalone episode that explores some neat ideas. If the entire series was more like that I would've liked it a lot more. I could complain for hours about the things that didn't work for me in this series, like Scott's real son feeling like a waste, Bernard there as just pure fan service or the fact that the series doesn't really seem to care about the fact that Tim Allen as Santa is what made the original films work so well in the first place. I enjoyed quite a few moments throughout this series, but it overall just feels pointless to me. All episodes are now streaming on Disney+.

I agree the show is pretty good

[wymankelly-32040 · 7/10 · 1 December 2022]

I watched the show and I don't understand how people who claim that they are fans of the movies thought this show was stupid. How can you form an opinion after watching the set up of the whole show. I give this show a 9 only because I found Noel to be very immature, very needy and too childish. So what if I don't like 1 character out of the whole cast.

For those who really enjoyed the movies as much as they say they did has done themselves a disservice not watching.more. I waited until after episode 4 to speak out. The show is well written, funny, heartwarming and really hits on a few issues.

How many people get exactly what they want and then they turned around and ruined it. Do we not remember what Jack Frost did to the North Pole. Come on. That's real life stuff someone making it to the top and then letting it go to their head. The writers did a great job with the story line and I felt myself yelling at the TV when the episode was over. I have to wait another week to see what happens next. I'm really curious.

Lastly for those reviews that talk about the show only attracting smaller children. Let me tell you I am 56 years old and I am excited to watch next week. Then I will be excited to watch the week after that.

Quite tearing a show apart until you know what it's really about. If.you live Christmas, the Santa clause movies and Tim Allen. Watch for yourselves don't read anything else until you know what the show is really about.

Thank you for making a really hood mini series about Christmas that is just hood clean family fun. I LOVE IT.

Painful to watch

[desireeyates · 17 December 2022]

The storyline deviates from the original premise pretty terribly.

Key take aways

• It's missing the other legendary characters (mother nature, sandman, father time, Cupid, Easter bunny)
• forest witch? Wtf. And that accent. Yikes
• we're the careers of Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Kal Penn really this desperate?

• David Krumholtz looks like he's had it rough but the explanation of him aging was decent.

• the only decent child actor in this was Elizabeth Allen-Dick (Tim Allen's real life daughter)
• most of the child actors were terrible, especially Devin Bright as Noel and Liam Kyle as Gary - terrible over acting by both and that stupid voice for Gary. This was the most painful part of watching this.

Redeeming qualities: Tim Allen was his usual funny part, and I liked Elizabeth Mitchell as feisty Mrs. Claus.

Fun watch, makes you miss the movies

[tsemasi · 7/10 · 21 December 2023]

I loved the first two Santa Claus movies. Tim Allen is consistently great, the series has potential. I love that they expand on the holiday mythos by including everything from winter witches , sandman, Easter bunny and Krampus. They could open up their own spin off series with some of those alone, especially with comedian/actors like Tracy Morgan and Flufdy.

My major issue with the show is the kid elves and just about everything to do with them. They're tolerable whenever they are background characters as they were in the movies, but when they take up screen time and imitate adult relationships, it's too much.

Gets Better

[marybethmichael · 7/10 · 9 December 2022]

The first couple episodes were blah but I stayed with it because I had nothing better to watch. I feel like I am actually being entertained now and am looking forward to the next episode release. Its nothing amazing but its decent family Christmas fare.

I saw some complaints about it being too right wing and there were a couple lines about not being able to say Merry Christmas anymore and how you can't call anyone naughty anymore but these moments were brief and weren't carried throughout the whole series.

I doubt it will become a classic but it does not rank below other Christmas streaming content.

Family Friendly Series

[lakings97 · 7/10 · 25 December 2022]

The Santa Clauses is a Disney+ series with Tim Allen reprises his role as Scott Calvin to be Santa again. In this series Elizabeth Mitchell returns as Mrs Claus raising their two teenage children in the North Pole. Calvin has been Santa for 28 years and at the tender age of 65 he is looking towards hanging up his jacket and enjoying his life with his family South of the Pole. After several interviews with various candidates that included Peyton Manning Santa decides his replacement would be Kal Penn. Unfortunately Penn's character has a different plan to deliver gifts year round instead of Christmas Day causing chaos where Christmas spirit starts to fade and the elves disappear. I would definitely recommend this family friendly series, it has already been renewed for another season.

Sometimes somethings should be left untouched.

[i_kiss_football09 · 4/10 · 4 December 2022]

Been looking forward to this since it was announced and have to say I've never been more disappointed.

The casting of characters such as Cal who cannot act at all. The acting of the supporting cast. The pure negativity of the family itself especially Mrs Clause.

You already know who is going to be Santa from the first Episode. Only Cobra Kai has had great success going from film to tv series but sadly The Santa Clauses haven't quite been able to pull this off.

Even Tim Allen doesn't have the same charisma as the character as a whole and it just feels very rushed.

They should've left it as it is and appreciate the 3 movies that came out.

4/10.

Magical nostalgic christmas series

[Pagalala · 8/10 · 23 October 2023]

I'm in my 30s and absolutely love The Santa Clause, it reminds me of my childhood Christmases.

This show isn't to be taken seriously, it's the perfect thing to put on telly when you're cosy in bed, surrounded by pillows with your candles on and hot water bottle when its dark and cold outside. It's light, silly and nostalgic and a nice little escapism from the real world as an adult. It also makes me super excited for Christmas!!

I like the occasional nods to the original movies and love that people my age have been with Tim Allen on his journey to becoming and eventually embracing the role of Santa which started 28 years ago, and now were coming back to real life with him after all that time. Really cute.

Ok series but I really think it's time to give Scott Calvin a break as Santa

[spencer-w-hensley · 6/10 · 20 December 2022]

The series picks up where the third film left off. I have never seen the third film and only watch the first two every Holiday season.

Anyways the series has some charm to it and it's nice to see Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell Eric Lloyd and especially David Krumholtz back as Bernard since he was absent from the third film.

The series has some laughs and creativity behind it but I think you are starting to see just how tired this franchise is getting.

The first film is a holiday classic, the second film maybe doesn't have the same classic status but it's enjoyable nonetheless and the third film is where things all went downhill from what I understand.

Although I never saw the third film I think it's safe to say this series is a marginal improvement over that if nothing else.

Another thing is the absence of Judge Reinhold and Wendy Crewson. They brought a lot of humor and weight to the first two films and it would have been nice to see them re-appear. Maybe the writers felt they couldn't write them in to the story.

It will be nice for fans of the film series to see the familiar characters again. But I really do think it's time for Scott Calvin to permanently retire as Santa Clause and let us rewatch his first two adventures as such every Christmas without anymore mediocre sequels.

It's a nice effort but really The Santa Clause franchise should have stopped after the second film. It's time to move on.

Was looking forward to it. Disappointed

[souplahoopla · 4/10 · 20 November 2022]

Now I never expected this to be some kind of masterpiece, of course not. But I used to love the movies, corny-ness n all, because they were funny and essentially heart felt. I've watched the first two episodes that are available so far and honestly it's shockingly bad. Where the movies traded off the corny-ness with sometimes blatant slapstick and sometimes tongue in cheek humour, this was just almost painful to watch. All the humour is forced, they've shoehorned cringe worthy music into it, and just made it generally heartless. And to say some of the acting is wooden does a disservice to trees. I will continue to watch and hope it redeems itself, but so far it's really disappointing.

I actually enjoyed it

[karenmranderson · 9/10 · 17 November 2022]

I'm honestly not sure what all these reviews are getting at. I'm a 30 year old woman that LOVED the first Santa clause movie (it's my favorite Christmas movie) and while yes it had some cringy moments I enjoyed the episodes. My husband even thought it was good he rated it 7 or 8/10. It's MEANT to be kinda cringy it's a Christmas show for gods sake. Some jokes were funny and we found humor in them as adults. I can see how kids would enjoy it as well. I feel like people here are expecting the entirety of a movie as opposed to realizing it's a series and we don't know where they are taking it yet. Go in with an open mind and understanding that there's still more episodes to come.

Fun Story Marred by Bad Acting

[matthewtessnear · 6/10 · 13 December 2023]

I have found the two seasons of the Santa Clauses fun and entertaining continuation of the three movies. And I understand that it's a Disney production that's intended to be goofy to an extent. However, the acting at points in this series is so bad that it can't be overcome. In the second season, Magnus Antas and his gnome Olga are comically bad. I love Eric Stonestreet from his time in Modern Family, but this is not his best work. It often feels like bad local theater acting to the point that it cannot be overcome. I watch because I love Christmas movies and shows, but there's a nagging feeling of disappointment with each episode.

Void of Heart and Overall Disappointing

[GigiVi · 2/10 · 16 November 2022]

The Santa Clause are some of my favorite Christmas movies, so although I was a bit hesitant of a new series, I was excited to see more of this world and the characters. However, I was incredibly disappointed upon watching the first two episodes. The writing is stiff and awkward. The new characters aren't interesting - they're very one-note and predictable. The pre-existing characters are poorly written and seem like hollow stereotypes of what they once were, as if the writers for these episodes couldn't fully grasp what made them compelling characters in the first place. It's very uncomfortable to watch. At one point, in the first episode, there's a short banter referencing current political topics, and that really does not feel like The Santa Clause. It's too modern, and not in the sense of showing what the real world is to the magical world as it was in the original trilogy, but being so modern (Buddy and Sandra being a hollow stereotype of what an adult views a modern teenager as) that it dries out the magic that the original had. This series isn't interesting to watch for the story. The only reason I watched the second episode was out of curiosity, not a love for the ongoing story and characters. Everything that the three movies had was stripped from this series. It's like this mechanical, dry emulation of it. It has no love, no heart - to be frank, it only exists as a nostalgic cash-grab, and they aren't shy of showing that. No effort was put into this - I'd say watch it out of curiosity if you'd like, but don't expect greatness.

Delightful in parts, drags in places, overall sweet enough for holiday series

[ajongmom · 6/10 · 9 December 2023]

Captures some of the delightfulness and humor in parts as the 3 movies (the best was the first two movies). Drags in places with the pacing and some of the humor falls flat, but overall, still delighted in places which was enough for a sweet holiday relaxing show with the family.

Nice to see / hear the holiday songs included. Santa's kids are rather flat in personality and the story line not as engaging as in the movies, but as a series, it slowly grows on the audience if you just still with the slow and flat parts of the jokes. Eventually ties up the loose ends, and does deliver the good feelings of a holiday series/show.

OK entry with Tim Allen still a good HO-HO-HO!

Mixed Feelings

[sshafrath · 6/10 · 17 December 2022]

After watching the entirety of the show, I am disappointed to say that I feel indifferent towards it. As someone who grew up on the Santa Clause movies, Christmas wasn't Christmas without them. I was looking forward to this show for that particular reason; for some childlike joy and Christmas happiness similar to how I felt as a child. However, the show felt dull in comparison. Much of the acting in the show was cringe worthy, and as a person who tends to push that to the side, it really bothered me. This show seemed to take away the magic of the first few movies with an overwhelming and overdeveloped backstory to the whole reason Scott was Santa Claus. There was no need to create such drama where it wasn't necessary, without going into it too much. Honestly, my favorite character always has been and always will be Bernard. I was devestated as a kid when he wasn't in the third movie, so his little 1-episode cameo made me quite happy. Probably half the stars I've rated this show we're obligatory for Bernard. He was the perfect hint of nostalgia that this show needed to save it from being completely terrible in my eyes.

Absolutely awful

[knxmodz · 16 November 2022]

I love Tim Allen but however we have waited since 2006 for pile of garbage this as completely wrecked the hopes of kids dreams Disney should be absolutely ashamed releasing this I much preferred when he was playing in movies and not making these ridiculous short series this is pure and utter rubbish Go back too what you good at Disney and Tim Allen should be ashamed too meany of people including kids will probably feel the same way waiting for long for a new Santa Claus movie was the hopes and joys of meany especially after the year everyone as had I'm sorry Tim Allen but you no you can do better.

A discrepancy on Santa's Age!

[dcw-79708 · 6/10 · 5 December 2022]

I have always been a fan of the Santa Clause movies ( 3rd one, not so much) I have a pretty good memory when it comes to things in certain movies, so when I decided to check out this new series I was surprised when I realized they got Scott Calvin's age wrong! That's when I went back and checked out the original and I was right! In the original Santa Clause (1994) it states that Scott Calvin is 38 years old, but in this new series it states that Scott Calvin is turning 65 yrs old and has been Santa Clause for 29 years, if you do the math 38 + 29 = 67! Someone needs to do their research and work on their math skills!

Disney Ruins Christmas

[thebusterjeep · 1/10 · 22 December 2023]

Leave it to Disney to dump on Christmas with their agenda. I am surprised they actually use the word "Christmas" at all.

Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell did their best to carry this poorly written series but even they couldn't make the plot very believable. Kal Penn was the worst choice for the character he portrayed. The "diversity" of the elves was laughable. The rest of the supporting cast seemed to phone it in.

There are some good moments and times you will laugh but overall you will cringe at the plot and wonder what the writers were thinking. If you are expecting the same experience you got from the Santa Clause movies, you are going to be disappointed.

Do yourself a favor. Pour yourself a big cup of Christmas cheer before watching.

It's not as bad as you think.

[GrymReefer · 8/10 · 17 November 2022]

Reading the little bit of reviews this had kind of got me disappointed, but I learned not to let that deter me from watching anything that remotely interests me. I went in curious as to see why people rated it so low but not surprisingly, I really enjoyed it! The previous Santa Clause movies were super fun to me so knowing there was gonna be a mini series with my forever Santa Clause, THE Tim Allen coming back kinda got me excited. I watched the first episode and it was good and then the second one was better! I mean, if you genuinely liked the movies, you'll probably like this too. I'm excited to see the rest and definitely will be watching the rest of it.

Mostly Fine

[HowlingSnail · 7/10 · 26 December 2022]

I say mostly fine because I enjoyed 5/6 episodes. I thought in general the show was well-written, with good jokes that fit the overall tone of the series. The cast were good, I really thought Betty was a good successor to Bernard and Curtis before her, and everyone else did a good job overall.

Now, what I didn't like. The 1 episode I object to is episode 5. In this, it's revealed that Scott Calvin is, despite what the previous 3 movies led us to believe, not the latest in a long line of humans who took up the role of Santa Claus. He is the first human Santa (what the previous ones were is never properly addressed), and was chosen specifically for some arbitrary reason of them wanting to raise human kids at the North Pole.

This of course raises plenty of plot-related questions, such as "If Mrs Claus is so important and specifically planned by Bernard, why did Bernard wait 8 years before mentioning it?". Questions such as why the Escape Clause exists at all, and why Jack Frost was able to trigger the Santa Clause. Where did all those snow globes come from in the 3rd film?

And of course, the fact is kind of ruins the themes of the movies, that Scott was a grumpy guy who randomly stumbles into this enormous responsibility, and uses it to turn his life around and that of his family. It's much better than the "chosen one" nature that this series wants to portray. I'm reminded of the Timeless Child twist in Doctor Who, where decades of continuity are retconned for the sake of a plot twist.

Personally, until something proves otherwise, I'm gonna go with the explanation that Bernard and the previous Santa were lying in order to give Scott a pep-talk, and that no, he's not the first human Santa.

Who is this for?

[mmikolas-00037 · 1/10 · 26 November 2022]

The classics that made Disney a household name (yes, all the ones with trigger warnings attached to them now) appealed to multiple generations at the same time, for many generations.

I simply don't see who a target audience would be for this production. It is full of flavorless attempts at humor that miss their mark for any demographic. There is nothing creative about the story. The writing is lazy. The acting is , for the most part, sub-par.

It seems that Disney is content to simply recycle the same old clichés with different characters and backdrops.

Truly disappointing that so much potential is continuously wasted by a once great creative giant.

Come on guys, this is pretty good!

[Jake11ratings · 9/10 · 19 November 2022]

'The Santa Clauses' does a great job capturing the whimsicalness and innocence that the first two movies had, as well as being just as funny. Though I won't go so far as to say it was better then the first movie, I'd say it's about on par with the second one, which is still good.

The acting is great, especially on the part of Tim Allen (Santa) and Elizabeth Mitchell (Mrs. Claus), and it was nice to see Eric Loydd reprising his role as Charle, who is now grown-up. Despite the apparent lack of Curtis and Bernard, the show introduces us to several very likable new elf characters like Edie, Noel, and Betty (the latter of whom are a couple, which I think is cute), as well as to Santa's other two children, Sandra and Buddy.

Plotwise, it seems pretty solid, and honestly, after seeing the first two episodes, it's got me dying to find out what's going to happen in the next ones. Also, judging by what I've been seeing so far, it seems they may even end up fixing a major plot hole from the first movie, which I think would be awesome.

As for a certain group of haters out there, I will say this; the man is entitled to his own political views, and though you might not agree with those views, that doesn't mean you can't still admire him for being the talented actor that he is.

Not bad, could have been better especially the horrible intro1

[i_derbyshire · 6/10 · 23 December 2022]

This series could have been basically been made into a film.

I had high hopes for this series though, especially as the Santa Clause 3 was awful. I thought this might might have been a redemption.

It was good to see original cast members in the series and the plot wasn't too bad however it was annoying and could be improved.

Please however get rid of that awful intro, it's just terrible.

Lastly it has a slow start and a quick finish. I feel like they ran out of ideas, either that or they just rushed it. Tim Allen played his character very well as always but would like to have seen more of Cal and his love interest and her curiosity of Christmas, overall 6/10.

Acting and writing is absolutely terrible

[GmadaT · 1/10 · 16 December 2022]

I have no idea how it's possible for the director to OK the performances and the script... the script feels like it was written by AI, and the acting from everyone involved absolutely terrible. Also why is every character trying incredibly hard to be funny and quirky? It doesn't stay true to the original feel of the original movies and somehow the CGI is worse than the CGI from 28 years ago Lmao. The original films were made with some much love and effort and this is a heartless cash grab with a awful storyline. And don't even get me started on the CGI cat thing..... like what? Such a shame they ruined this franchise.