I was initially traumatized by the idea that the married parent and step-parent were the better option for the kid, because the single parent was a dreamer with his head in the clouds and completely detached from reality. At the time, I was that single parent with my head in the clouds, and I felt my son's stepmother was viewed as the better mother. During my first viewing of the film, this idea was all I could think about, and it defined my first impression of the film.
During subsequent viewings, I was less traumatized by what initially bothered me and more irritated by how annoying the kid was. He vacillated between being really smart and really stupid. For example, he invented all these brilliant safety features and gadgets for Santa's sleigh, yet he thought being incredibly vocal about his dad being Santa Claus would actually help his situation. Another thing that happened as a result of this movie, which completely annoys me, to this day, is that people somehow thought that the proper spelling of his name was Santa Clause (with an "e" at the end).
I am watching this movie right now. I think this is maybe my fifth or sixth viewing. I really love the story and the way it answers all the questions surrounding the idea of Santa Claus and how he has been able to live for so long and get the job done every year. I love the ending, when the doubting parents get the presents they never got as children. But the kid still totally annoys me. Honestly, his obsession with Santa does seem too obsessive. He certainly calms down by the time "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3" come around, and I enjoy both sequels much more than the original.
In the end, blogging about it has helped me release some steam, but it hasn't helped me to enjoy the first movie any better. I still have my head in the clouds, I still believe in Santa Claus, and I think I would love to be Mrs. Claus. However, I don't think I will ever completely enjoy "The Santa Clause".
Merry Christmas, one and all!
Teah
