Call Me Claus (2001)

Lucy's a producer on a home shopping channel. She hires the real Santa as Santa. He has to find his replacement as the real Santa in 4 weeks. Lucy is unknowingly the only candidate left.

Director:

Peter Werner

Writers:

Paul Mooney (story), Sara Bernstein (story)

Stars:

Whoopi Goldberg, Nigel Hawthorne, Brian Stokes Mitchell

Cast

Credited cast:
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Lucy Cullins
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Nick
Brian Stokes Mitchell	...	Cameron
Victor Garber	...	Taylor
Taylor Negron	...	Ralph
Frankie Faison	...	Dwayne (as Frankie R. Faison)
Alexandra Wentworth	...	P.A.
Melody Garrett	...	Mama
Robert Costanzo	...	Teamster Santa
Jazmn	...	Iesha
Bruce Vilanch	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicholas Edwin Barb	...	Boy Onlooker (as Nicholas Barb)
Allyce Beasley	...	Telemarketer
Meredith Bird	...	Meredith (voice)
Juan Carlos Cantu	...	Doorman

Storyline

When Lucy Cullins, a successful but cranky producer at a home shopping network, hires an actor named Nick to play Santa Claus on the network she gets more than she bargained for. Nick really is Santa Claus, and he faces mandatory retirement after 200 years on the job. Nick must find his replacement by Christmas Eve or the world will face dire consequences and he has his sights set on Lucy.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | destiny | 

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Taglines:

If She's Going To Save Christmas, She's Got Some Big Shoes To Fill.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

A pót télapó

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia TriStar Television, TNT, Red Strokes Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lucy calls Ralph by the wrong name during most of the movie, including Rakiki, Rashima, Residue, Risotto, Robespierre, and Rapscallion.

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Goofs

When Lucy's niece is singing her solo with the choir she has her hair pinned back in a ponytail. In the next shot she has it down in the front with barettes and then up again later.

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Quotes

Taylor: Santa Claus has left the building.

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Connections

References The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)

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Soundtracks

Zat You Santa Claus
Written by Jack Fox
Performed by Garth Brooks
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User Reviews

Good entertainment to be watched several times

I acquired this one on a DVD from the USA, the only place its available. I found the film most entertaining, thanks to the performances of Whoopi Goldberg and Nigel Hawthorn whom I had known from the BBC series Yes Minister. Indeed I was distressed to learn that he had died whilst I was in the course of reading other comments about this film. Whoopi Goldberg, I knew and loved in Ghost, Jumpin' Jack Flash and the Sister Act movies.

The storyline here is quite original, a little slow to get off the ground but that Christmas magic is there and I think we all, old and young, like films where Father Xmases, sleighs and reindeers are involved, especially if the reindeers have shiny/luminous noses.

I was most touched by the flashback to Whoopi's childhood where she had asked the same Father Xmas to bring her Daddy back, this was probably the most emotional part of the film. The rest was more lighthearted and the only aspect I did not like was the over commercialisation of Xmas where you have to sell sell and sell more ! However the magic of the film makes up for the rest of this. It's a nice DVD to have at home and to put on a couple of times a year !