Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

  • Review Date: December 7, 2011
  • NR
  • Genre: Classic
  • 2007
Review

Common Sense Media says

Classic Christmas movie is a winner for families.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this classic holiday movie is a must-see for families. The story is filled with cheery messages about caring for others and sharing our gifts, with a little touch of empowerment by way of Kris's determination to do the right thing, even when it means arguing with a mean and misguided mayor. Parents and kids alike will delight in the story's take on how established Christmas traditions (Santa's red suit, gifts under a tree, and the date of Christmas itself) came to be. There are some tense moments between Kris and Winter before the holiday spirit warms the warlock's heart, but only your littlest tots might be temporarily frightened by them.

  • Educational value2
    The movie tells a version of the story behind Santa's fame, explaining how popular traditions like putting gifts in stockings and Santa's Nice List came to be.
  • Positive messages5
    The story's themes include kindness, generosity, and sensitivity to others' needs. A villain experiences of a change of heart when he's on the receiving end of a kind act, and, despite a few pitfalls, the deserving heroes prevail to spread joy and happiness.
  • Positive role models5
    Kris and his family and friends do what they do to make others happy with little thought of themselves. They do break established rules to do it, but even kids will understand that those rules were unfair and inspired by the mayor's selfishness.
  • Violence & scariness1
    No violence, but Winter starts out as a curmudgeonly and occasionally menacing-looking character before softening into a kind-hearted friend.
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What's the story?

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN! features the voice talent of Fred Astaire as the story-telling postman/narrator, S.D. Kluger, who chronicles Kris Kringle's (voiced by Mickey Rooney) journey from humble beginnings to the iconic symbol of Christmas. Left as a baby on the doorstep of the grumpy mayor of Sombertown, Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees), who promptly turned him away, Kris found a happy home with a family of elves who raised him as their own and taught him their toymaking trade. Hoping to share the fruits of their labor with the townspeople, Kris sets out to deliver the goodies to the kids of Sombertown, but he finds his efforts thwarted by Meisterburger's law banning toys from the town and his passage blocked by the mountain's coldhearted Winter Warlock (Keenan Wynn). With a little Christmas magic and a lot of help from his friends, Kris is determined to get his toys into the hands of good boys and girls, laying the groundwork for an annual celebration of giving for the world.

Is it any good?

 

This classic tale has long been a part of families' holiday rituals, and deservingly so. It chronicles the origin of a number of Christmas traditions -- hiding gifts in stockings, Santa's entrance through chimneys, how reindeer fly, why Santa lives at the North Pole, and so on -- all while delivering uplifting messages about the real meaning of the season of giving. Even the story's "bad guy," Winter, experiences a change of heart because of Kris's generosity, which reminds viewers that spreading joy can have far-reaching effects.

It's impossible to watch this movie and not be amazed at how animation has changed since this was crafted in 1970. Wooden models and stop-animation technology are so vastly different from today's 3-D, hi-def visual experience, but this classic style has a soothing effect that somehow suits the comforts of the holidays perfectly. If you only watch one Christmas movie with your family this year, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town! should top your list of candidates.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the meaning of Christmas. Why do you celebrate Christmas? How does your family's culture or religion influence how you celebrate? What traditions do you enjoy with your family during the holiday season?

  • Kids: In what ways can you help other people in your community? How can you put your skills to work to make other people's lives better? Why is it important to be aware of others' needs? What rewards do you get from doing a good deed?

  • What did you think about this movie's animation? How does it differ from the shows you're used to watching? Does the fact that its style is older detract from the story at all? Does it add to it?

This review was written by Emily Ashby
Teen, 14 years old
December 8, 2011
AGE
4
 
Great Christmas special and family-friendly
This Christmas special is a must-see for families. It has great messages and positive role models, and has very little inappropriate content for little kids. Violence: The Winter Warlock might be scary and menancing to the youngest kids, but he soon changes to a more light-hearted character. Sex: Nothing other than a brief kiss between Kris and Jessica.
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This review was written by Emily Ashby
Topics:magic and fantasy
Studio:Classic Media
Directors:Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass
Cast:Fred Astaire, Keenan Wynn, Mickey Rooney
Genre:Classic
Run time:48 minutes
DVD release date:September 4, 2007
MPAA rating:NR
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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