The Santa Claus Nobody Asked For

The Couch Critic

"Send us a Text!"

Missing the magic but packed with '80s nostalgia, the 1985 film "Santa Claus" takes center stage in this solo episode of The Couch Critic. Your host Nathan dives into this peculiar Christmas movie that Katy wisely opted to skip, and for good reason!
What begins as an apparent retelling of the St. Nicholas legend quickly spirals into one of the strangest Christmas films you've probably never seen. With David Huddleston as the titular character, the film boasts an impressive supporting cast including Dudley Moore as Patch the elf and John Lithgow as the villainous toy manufacturer BZ. Despite this star power, the movie fails to deliver holiday cheer, instead offering viewers a disjointed narrative filled with questionable plot choices.
Nathan breaks down the film's bizarre elements—from the implied death of Nicholas and his wife in a blizzard to their mysterious resurrection at the North Pole, exploding candy canes, and an ending where Santa essentially kidnaps two children without legal process. The review highlights how Lithgow and Moore's interactions provide the only saving grace in an otherwise tedious viewing experience. With a Christmas rating of 4/5 (purely for being about Santa) but a dismal overall score of 2/5, this movie proves that not all holiday classics stand the test of time.
Tune in next Tuesday when Katy returns to join Nathan for a review of Albert Finney's "Scrooge," and don't miss Saturday's episode covering "Final Destination: Bloodlines." The Couch Critic is your destination for honest movie reviews where every film gets its close-up!

Chapters

1. Intro to The Couch Critic (00:00:00)

2. Reviewing Santa Claus (1985) (00:00:30)

3. The Weird Plot & Characters (00:01:44)

4. Final Rating & Verdict (00:04:22)

5. Next Episodes Preview (00:07:34)