Grunt Work

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Ching-Ching-Ching! It’s those jingle bells (or so Truman says with his sound effects) indicating that it’s time for us to cover The Santa Clause! Tune-in for our in-depth breakdown of the beloved Christmas film that launched Tim Allen as a massive movie star.

Plot (Wikipedia)
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), a successful toy salesman, prepares to spend Christmas Eve with his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd). Scott wants Charlie to maintain his belief in Santa Claus, despite not believing himself. Scott’s ex-wife, Laura (Wendy Crewson) and her psychiatrist husband Dr. Neal Miller (Judge Reinhold) both stopped believing in Santa at a young age and feel that Charlie needs to do so as well. On Christmas night, Scott and Charlie are awakened by a noise on the roof. Scott investigates and finds a man standing on the roof, whom Scott startles into slipping and falling to the ground. The dead man’s body disappears and leaves behind a red suit and business card stating that if anything were to happen to Santa Claus, whoever is responsible would have to put on the suit and continue from where Santa left off. Ensured by the card that “the Reindeer will know what to do” and to please Charlie, Scott dons the suit and spends the rest of the night delivering gifts before the reindeer take them to the North Pole. Once they arrive, Bernard (David Krumholtz), the head elf, explains to Scott that because he put on the suit, he is subjected to a legal technicality known as “The Santa Clause”, meaning that he has agreed to accept all of Santa’s duties and responsibilities, and gives him eleven months to get his affairs in order before reporting back to the North Pole on Thanksgiving. Confused and overwhelmed, Scott changes into the pajamas provided to him and falls asleep.

The next morning, Scott awakes in his own bed and believes that the events of the prior night were a dream until he sees that he is still wearing the pajamas that were given to him. Over the course of the following year, Scott undergoes a drastic transformation; he begins to gain a large amount of weight, especially a round, pudgy, jiggly belly. Also developing a thick beard that grows on his face in spite of attempts to shave it, and his hair whitens and proves immune to dyeing. Scott’s altered state brings Laura and Neal to the assumption that Scott is deliberately attempting to confuse Charlie, and they successfully petition a judge to suspend Scott’s visitation rights. Devastated, Scott goes to Laura and Neal’s house on Thanksgiving. Desperate to help his father realize how important he is, Charlie shows Scott a magical snow globe that Bernard had given him, finally convincing Scott that he is Santa. After Scott asks Laura and Neal a minute to talk to Charlie alone, Bernard appears and transports him and Charlie to the North Pole. Believing that Scott has kidnapped Charlie, Laura and Neal contact the police.

At the North Pole, Scott sets out to deliver the gifts with Charlie in tow. However, upon arriving at Laura and Neal’s home, Scott is arrested. The elves send a rescue team to help him escape from jail. Scott returns to Laura and Neal’s house and manages to convince them that he is Santa, and asks Charlie to spend Christmas with them as they are his family too. Laura burns the court papers banning Scott’s visitation rights and tells him that he can visit anytime. Bernard then appears and tells Charlie that if he shakes his snow globe at any time, his father will appear. Before leaving, Scott gives Laura and Neal two Christmas presents that they never got as children (which caused their disbelief in Santa). Shortly after he leaves, Charlie summons Scott back home with the snow globe. Laura agrees to let Charlie go with Scott for a short ride in the sleigh. Scott embraces his new role as Santa and leaves with Charlie to deliver the presents.

This week on Grunt Work: Nights…

Truman and Landen continue their discussion of their favorite movies of 2019 with their top picks #5-3.

Gain access to our Grunt Work: Nights episodes for as little as $1/mo. over on our Patreon!

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