The Age of Commercialism

Good concept, poorly executed.

A Masterpiece!

Blistering performances.

I loved this movie and of course I had and still have a major thing for the late Nigel Hawthorne who is so charming and handsome even at 72 in this film. His portrayal of Santa Claus is so genuine and heartfelt , you really just want to hug him. The plot of him looking for someone to replace him as the new Santa is cute. He finds Whoopi Goldberg and he must convince her that she is the one. . I'm shocked that this movie did not get a theatrical release ,while a movie as awful as ELF with the abysmal Will Ferrell did. It's kind of sad to know that Nigel Hawthorne had been fighting cancer for months and still did this movie as sick as he was. Without Hawthorne this movie wouldn't have been worth watching.He pushed to promote it and get it released and then he sadly passed away the day after Xmas that year. Wonderful movie and should be given a re-release at Xmas time in theaters.

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 !

I think it should've been released into cinemas rather than made for TV...instead, this year - we got Elf! What's with that?Although this film is rather slow paced, it's funny in all the right places and without trying too hard. A heartwarming (sometimes heart wrenching) story that includes a fantastic cast. Whoopi Goldberg (great as ever in her role as Lucy Cullins), Nigel Hawthorne (as the most convincing Santa Claus I have ever had the honour of seeing in a movie) and Victor Garber (in a wickedly comical role!). I watched it for the first time this morning and I want to watch it again and again and again!

CALL ME CLAUS is a good holiday movie that pretty much is a combination of 4 classic Christmas movies: A MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, IT'S AWONDERFUL LIFE, THE SANTA CLAUSE, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. It concerns the plight of the real Santa Claus (Nigel Hawthorne) trying to find a replacement for himself after 200 years of delivering gifts to kids every Christmas. He finds her, in the form of a cranky home shopping network executive named Lucy (a wonderfully sarcastic Whoopi Goldberg). Lucy is understandably confused when St. Nick asks her to be the next real Santa. Though the premise is a bit far-fetched (it's a Christmas movie, so it's ok for it to be wacky!), the best highlight for this little gem of a movie are the performances. Whoopi Goldberg is terrific as Lucy, and Nigel Hawthorne is delightful as he portrays yet another Santa Claus who proclaims that he is the real McCoy (and he IS!).