The Santa Clause [VHS]
Divorced toy company executive Scott Calvin (Tim Allen ofHome  Improvementand theToy Storymovies) is pleased to have his son  Charlie for Christmas, though the boy himself isn't happy about it. But when  Santa Claus accidentally topples off the roof of the house and falls with a thud  in the snow, Scott finds himself taking the merry old elf's place and earning  new respect in his son's eyes. When the night ends, the reindeer take them to  the north pole, and Scott discovers that by donning the fabled red suit, he's  inadvertently agreed to become the next Santa Claus. The next morning he wakes  up in his own bed and thinks it's all a dream--only Charlie remembers it with  crystal clarity. Scott now has to deal with his suspicious ex-wife (Wendy  Crewson,Air Force One) and her psychiatrist boyfriend (Judge Reinhold,Beverly Hills Cop), who both think he's playing tricks with Charlie's  mind, and also with his own out-of-control body, which is putting on weight and  growing a prodigious beard.The Santa Clauseprobably won't supplantIt's a Wonderful LifeorMiracle on 34th Streetas anyone's  favorite holiday film, but it's an enjoyable, straightforward family film,  anchored by the affable charisma of Allen.--Bret Fetzer