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The Year Without a Santa Claus (NR, 2006)

common sense media says

Woeful Santa brings little holiday cheer.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the Santa Claus in this made-for-TV movie is discouraged by the increasing materialism of Christmas and his belief that no one believes in him anymore, which makes him awfully grumpy for most of the movie and causes him to lash out verbally at others a few times. The humor here is mostly based in the characters' quirky personalities (like a head elf just itching for his chance to step out of Santa's shadow), so little kids will probably miss a lot of it. Families looking for a show filled with jolly elves, Christmas tunes, festive decor, and lots of holiday spirit won't find much of that here.

Positive messages: The show uses extreme examples to poke fun at the materialism of Christmas. Santa is stern and grumpy throughout most of the movie. The religious aspect of Christmas is absent from the plot.
Violence & scariness: Some mild comic fighting, including a playful boxing match between brothers where a few characters get knocked around, but there's no lasting injury.
Sexy stuff: Some females are scantily clad.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Many scenes include brandless toys (goth dolls, laser-shooting action figures); characters visit a video arcade at one point. One main character carries a hand-held TV much of the time.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: An adult chugs a beer in front of a young boy, and a man in a Santa suit drinks from a flask while tending to a donation can on the street.
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More on The Year Without a Santa Claus

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the importance of showing appreciation. Why is it important to get recognition for a job well done? When have your kids felt that their efforts haven't been appreciated? Kids, when do you think parents felt the same way? Families can also discuss how this movie compares to the book that inspired it, or the animated Rankin-Bass movie that first adapted it in 1974. What portions of the book were changed for the movie? Why do your kids think they made those changes? Did they make the story better or worse? How so? Do you like stories like this with animated characters or live ones?

What's the story?

What's the story?

In this live-action movie, Santa (John Goodman) is frustrated that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost forever. His head elf, Sparky (Chris Kattan), also seems sucked into materialism. Discouraged, Santa decides to take the year off. But while he's making plans to pack up and move with Mrs. Claus (Delta Burke) to Mythopolis -- a retirement community for mythological figures -- two of his elves set out to find someone who can convince Santa that the Christmas spirit is alive and well. They travel to South Town, U.S.A., to find young Iggy Thistlewhite (Dylan Minnette), who is trying to revive the true spirit of the season in his hometown.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Despite boasting such a stellar cast The Year without a Santa Claus is a disappointing mix of a slow plot, poor writing, and subpar visual effects. Chris Kattan's presence is definitely a high point, and his hysterical portrayal of a deviously ambitious elf looking to make his mark on Christmas often carries the scenes he's in.

Families with tweens and teens might enjoy the character-based humor this movie offers, but if your kids are little, they'll probably be turned off by the grumpy, sarcastic Santa and general lack of holiday spirit that exists for most of the show.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Home Video
Director: Ron Underwood
Cast: Chris Kattan, Delta Burke, John Goodman
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: December 8, 2006
DVD release: December 8, 2006
MPAA Rating: NR
MPAA explanation: not rated
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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kid, 12 years old
13
 
the good santa must escape from prison with bad drugs all over his trap
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teen, 14 years old
13
 
the good santa must escape from prison with bad drugs all over his trap
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

kid, 11 years old
13
 
the good santa must escape from prison with bad drugs all over his trap
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was this review useful?
helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

kid, 12 years old
13
 
there was a not very happy year the good santa was in prison without any thing to help to escape with drugs all over his trap
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

teen, 14 years old
13
 
there was a not very happy year the good santa was in prison without any thing to help to escape with drugs all over his trap
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

kid, 11 years old
13
 
there was a not very happy year the good santa was in prison without any thing to help to escape with drugs all over his trap
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

kid, 12 years old
13
 
one year there was no good santa only santa that gived out drugs and wine with a killer something in
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

teen, 14 years old
13
 
one year there was no good santa only santa that gived out drugs and wine with a killer something in
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)

kid, 11 years old
13
 
one year there was no good santa only santa that gived out drugs and wine with a killer something in
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
animefan
teen, 16 years old
10
 
The true magic of 'The Year Without a Santa Claus' is missing from this live-action remake.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (7)
mrbookworm01
teen, 13 years old
7
 
Fine for kids, but not really good
I've watched this on ABC Family and I got so bored, I didn't watch the whole thing. It's pretty boring, and doesn't have much appeal. From what I saw, I saw Santa was grumpy and complaining about his job, and doesn't show the personalities of the other Santas that are in other Christmas specials. It's fine for kids, but they probably won't like it. Violence: Some mild slapstick violence and peril, but nobody gets seriously hurt. Sex: Some women are apparently shown to be clad. Drinking: A character apparently drinks beer in front a young kid and a man in a Santa costume apparently drinks from a flask.
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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