O Papai Noel Trapalhão

It looks like Disney is starting to understand that animation is not the only entertainment people desire! This is a pretty good little flick! I can not say this movie is outstanding, but it is enjoyable (in fact it is pretty funny).

Leslie Neilson is wonderful as usual and Max Morrow is very charismatic and great chemistry between the two. A very enjoyable movie. Lots of laughs for the whole family.

Fairly good Christmas yarn in which S.C. has an accident which robs the old boy of his memory. He is aided in his recovery by a cynical newsman, a starry eyed little boy, and a cadre of dedicated elves intent on not seeing Christmas go down the tubes. Kids would probably go for this more than I did.

The afternoon TV schedules seem to clog up from mid-November on with usually made- for-TV Christmas movies. This one I found a pleasant enough watch, even if Leslie Nielsen in switching from an airplane to a sleigh, isn't the first person I'd think of to play Santa Clause. The story's formulaic enough, with an orphan kid growing up to be a festive curmudgeon, even in his day job as a roving TV reporter on the look out for happy, "and we end tonight with..." stories. Because Santa apparently ignored his childhood letter asking him for a family, he won't commit to his pretty co-worker single-parent girl-friend and her young son.

However when old Santa falls out of his sleigh right on top of his car, gaining amnesia in the process, from there you can pretty much predict the minor twists and turns in the plot before the expected happy ending shows up. There's a sub-plot of a fairly eccentric bunch of elves trying to track down their boss in time for the Christmas deliveries, but the main fun is how humbug Peter re-connects with his inner child and in so doing makes things right in his private life.

The lead boy and girl are nice enough in their lovey-dovey parts and even the kid playing the young son holds back the sentimental-come-smart-aleck routine so commonplace with child actors in films like this. Neilson tries reasonably hard but with little in the way of comedic lines to deliver, comes across almost anonymously, especially hidden under a bulked up Santa costume and of course snow-white beard. You almost think it's a contract stipulation when he loses his beard for a time late on just so you can see it's really him.

The effects are okay and there are lots of nice Christmas decorations in the background to push home the festive feel-good factor.

Like I said, the film was pleasant, undemanding seasonal entertainment. Half way through there's a mini roll-call of Christmas classics like "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street". "Santa Who" is well below the quality of those two evergreens, but its heart is in the right place and from where I was sitting filled up this particular spot in the schedule well enough.

Starting off I will say Leslie Nielson seemed a better fit as Santa in all I want for Christmas, though having said that his performance her is still warming and nice. And although a little cheesy in places its a nice watch. So one day while flying in his sleigh Santa suddenly falls out because elf and safety was on a break. He gets amnesia and forgets his Santa and it's down to a little boy and family to get him back on track. Of course theres always an evil person and the elves are silly but all in good fun. I just think this was overall a nice Christmas movie to watch that had a good cast and fun moments.