Archive for November, 2011

Walt Disney Pictures, Outlaw Productions (I), Boxing Cat Films

Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholtz, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Liliana Mumy, Danielle Woodman, Art LaFleur, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Pollak, Jay Thomas, Molly Shannon

A little bad news for Scott Calvin, aka Santa Claus (Tim Allen). Hidden in the small print on the business card he found in the first film when the previous Santa met his demise is a bit of tiny print known as “The Mrs. Clause”. This condition says that Santa has to take a wife. Unfortunately Scott has only 30 days to find a suitable spouse, and in the meantime his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) is in a little trouble in school. But there’s no way for Scott to take care of those details and take care of preparations for Christmas at the same time. So the guys decide to create a duplicate “plastic” Santa that copies the original to take over the workshop while he’s taking care of business. The problem is that the artificial Santa decides to take over the whole operation.

Word was around the studio that this sequel was coming out a year or so sooner, but that Tim Allen put the brakes on the project in order to buff up the script, as he felt it was sub-par. Well, I’m not sure about this, but this sequel is every bit as good as the original. Funny in parts, but with a lot of heart, this is a really special Christmas comedy romance. This film brings in some other mythical creatures of wide fame, and they have a small part, but a critical part in the story. There are some really wonderful and memorable scenes in this film. The sleigh ride and the High School faculty party are two that stand out and hold up to repeated viewing. Tim Allen is very good in this film, as in the last one, and does a fine job. It’s magical and charming, and loads of fun, and another of the best Christmas films of all time. ALl 3 “The Santa Clause” films are being shown again this year, so take the chance to catch them if you get the opportunity. They are fine films, for sure.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Outlaw Productions (I)

Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Peter Boyle, Eric Lloyd, David Krumholtz, Jayne Eastwood

Scott Calvin(Tim Allen) is a divorced Dad who is struggling with his ex-wife Laura(Wendy Crewson)’s dorky new fiance, Dr. Miller(Judge Reinhold)and a small kid Charlie (Eric Lloyd). Scott is spending Christmas Eve at home with Charlie when a noise on the roof makes the run outside and startle Santa into slipping and falling to his death off the Calvin’s roof. When Scott puts on the Santa suit, he finds that he has been recruited as the new Santa to replace the one he accidentally killed. That’s the Santa Claus. Scott has one year to put his things in order so that he can live full time at the North Pole. The trouble is that Charlie wants to tell everyone that his dad is Santa which causes everyone to think he’s got mental problems. Furthermore, Dr. Miller is a psychiatrist and trying to convince a little kid that the North Pole doesn’t exist, especially when he’s been there! Scott has a lot of getting used to things, but from the looks of it, he may just pull it off.

This is one of the classiest of the (fairly) recent Christmas films. It sparked 2 sequels (so far) and is a very well know and much loved Christmas story. This is one of the funniest of the three, and seeing Scott trying to fit into the role is pretty clever. No matter what he does, he keeps growing a beard and gaining tremendous amounts of weight. But aside from being funny, it also has a lot of heart, especially the relationship between Scott and Charlie. If there’s anyone out there who has never seen this film, it’s a must see, and if you have, it’s probably time to catch it again. It’s one of the best Holiday films ever, and certainly one to be appreciated again and again.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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Movie Rentals Releasing Tuesday November 29, 2011

  • The Smurfs
  • Friends with Benefits
  • 30 Minutes or Less [Click Here for Eds Review]
  • Our Idiot Brother
  • One Day
  • Cave of Forgotten Dreams
  • Seven Days in Utopia
  • The Art of Getting By
  • Another Earth
  • The Future
  • Snowmen
  • Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Author: EdG

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** The Christmas Cottage (2008)

Sterling Media, Birch Grove Films, Firm Films

Jared Padalecki, Marcia Gay Harden, Peter O’Toole, Aaron Ashmore, Richard Burgi, Geoffrey Lewis, Chris Elliott, Richard Moll, Kiersten Warren, Gina Holden, Edward Asner, Chelan Simmons, Tegan Moss, Nancy Robertson

Most of us know Thomas Kinkade (Jared Padalecki) as a great painter. But the year is 1977. In this story he is a student who comes home from UC Berkely to Placerville and finds his mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is in danger of losing her home. Young Thomas and his brother take on work. In the process he learns some lessons about love and friendship and loyalty. Artist Glen Wessler (Peter O’Toole) is his mentor and takes the lead in the project to save the house while helping Thomas to find his style and technique which led to his famous work.

This is a touching heartfelt Christian film, and it’s a Christmas movie, so you can expect it to be very saccharine. That it is. But what do you expect for a Christmas movie? There are a lot of sub plots going on, so it’s pretty busy, but the prime relationship between Thom and his mentor Glen is the most significant. Peter O’Toole is very good in his role, and he gets better and better as the film goes on. He is very good. Jared, as Thomas Kincaid is also very good. Basically the whole story is a lot of fun, and it’s very touching. I enjoyed this film quite a bit when I first saw it in 2008, and watching it again was very worthwhile.

Throughout there is a light hearted humor to the film, and we find a lot to laugh at. But as it winds down, it goes straight to your heart and Peter O’Toole brings it to an amazing level. This is one that you don’t want to miss.


EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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** Fred Claus (2007)

Warner Bros. Pictures, Silver Pictures, David Dobkin Productions

Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Banks, Ludacris, Rachel Weisz, John Michael Higgins

Nicholas Claus (Paul Giamatti) had an older brother Fred (Vince Vaughn). Now Fred was happy to have a little brother, but unfortunately Nick was perfect and Fred just couldn’t keep up with him. Then when they made little Nick a saint, it was more then Fred could handle. So he went off on his own, shunning the family business and basically hating everything that had to do with Christmas. But one of Fred’s scams gets him in serious trouble, and he needs to humble himself to ask little brother for a loan, but Nick only will give him the money if he comes up and earns it by working at the North Pole for a few weeks. Of course he’s going to try to win him over, much to the chagrin of everyone else including Mrs. Claus. But there’s more going on as well. In an attempt to help Santa, and miserable old guy named Clyde is trying to close down the North Pole for good, and he’s trying to use Fred to sabotage Santa. Can Santa and Fred come together and learn enough from each other to save the workshop?

This is one of my favorite fairly recent Christmas films. It was missed by many people because it appeared to be too silly, but it’s really got a lot of heart. I loved Paul Giamatti as Santa. He really did a great job of playing the jolly old elf. Also, Kevin Spacey was really good. If there is a weak link, it’s probably Vince Vaughn, as he has a one dimensional character for sure. He’s pretty much played the same guy in every movie he’s been in, but in this one it kinda works. He’s a decent guy who just has never been able to compete with his stunning little brother. We can feel his pain. With other actors such as Miranda Richardson, Rachel Wisz, Kathy bates, and Ludicris, how can you go wrong? (Ludicris is really hysterical as DJ Donnie, rock master of the elves workshop)

I really enjoyed this film when I originally saw it in the theater way back in 2007, and it was nice to watch it again. I really enjoyed it.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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