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	...	Self
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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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Having the real Santa Claus play himself for a successful business is also a plot element from Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and its 1994 remake. In the latter film, Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Santa Claus is played by Richard Attenborough, who directed Nigel Hawthorne in Gandhi (1982).

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Goofs

When the church congregation is outside when 'Santa' flies away, in between shots, the veil on Mama's hat alternates from being covered in snow to just having a few flakes.

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Quotes

Member of the congregation: Hey everybody. You're not gonna believe this, it's snowing outside. This is amazing, it hasn't snowed in Los Angeles - never.

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Connections

References Hawaii Five-O (1968)

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Soundtracks

Call Me Claus
Written by Lisa Sanderson, Jenny Yates & Garth Brooks
Performed by Garth Brooks
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User Reviews

It's pretty dated now

Only watched this recently, over 17 years since it's release, and boy is the CGI so dated ! Some of the sets are poor and the storyline is obvious from the start ie to find a new Santa before elf armageddon ! Whoopi plays an ok role as the grumpy Shopping Channel exec, tasked with bringing in the cash over Christmas period. However, the standout role is that of Nigel Hawthorne as Santa, who plays the poignant and comedic lines with equal aplomb. If I'd seen this when it first came out, I'd probably given a higher mark even though it's a poor The Santa Clause plotline.

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