47 years ago, things were very different. 1947, the year of the original, cried out for such a movie. In a world weary of war and eager to address something insubstantial at last, Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, and Natalie Wood created a cheerful tale about Kris Kringle, a kindly old man whose mission was to kindle belief in the spirit of Santa Claus. The notion appealed to a culture newly ready to be charmed. So the fault in this movie lies not with the actors or the writing, but with the people who decided to dress it in contemporary clothes.
Movies reflect the culture of their times.
What worked then almost never works now. For those of you who plan to go anyway, look forward to Richard Attenborough as a very fine Kriss Kringle. He is wrapped in a gentle vulnerability that seems to come from an earlier time. You may also enjoy Mara Wilson as Susan, a full-blown five year old skeptic.