Santa Clause, The

Variety Leonard Klady

This is a hip, likable spin on the seasonal icon told with a deft mixture of comedy and sentimentality.

TV Guide Staff(not credited)

Nevertheless, The Santa Clause is a charming, if mild, fantasy, distinguished by a gentle directorial touch that strikes a deft balance between dramatic and fantastic elements.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Aimed at kids, but written with parents in mind, The Santa Clause balances the sugar with the spice, which Allen sprinkles on just right.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

All of the film's technical and creative contributions are top-notch, but as it should be, it's the people who win us over. [11 Nov 1994 Pg. F10]

Washington Post Desson Thomson

The personable star of the TV series "Home Improvement" turns this Walt Disney film around. He may not be as effervescent as, say, Robin Williams, but he's full of understated, ticklish charm.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The Santa Clause (so named after the clause on Santa's calling card that requires Scott to take over the job) is often a clever and amusing movie, and there's a lot of fresh invention in it.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

As holiday heartwarmers go, The Santa Clause is an amusing stocking stuffer, a sitcom-superficial novelty that jingles many of the same bells as last year's "Mrs. Doubtfire". [11 Nov 1994 Pg. 12.D]

ReelViews James Berardinelli

The Santa Clause isn't an unmitigated disaster, but it's also a whole lot less impressive than it could be.

Austin Chronicle Hollis Chacona

Actually, this souped-up sled is a perfect vehicle for TV star/comedian Tim Allen and, despite its formulaic chassis, he takes us through a few interesting twists and turns.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Watch for the ''Mrs. Doubtfire'' syndrome: In Santa drag and padded for laughs, Scott demonstrates how to be a more sensitive, more funsy parent than boring old Mom.

The New Yorker Michael Sragow

Tim Allen's talent for dry regular-guyness fails to kindle Disney's sappy big-screen Yule log.

Time Richard Schickel

The Santa Clause presents us with an Anti-Claus, Tim Allen of Home Improvement, hard-edged, discomfitingly frenetic and spritzing cheerless one-liners.

Empire Staff(not credited)

The film drops from obvious comedy into a ready melt slush which no amount of make-up and special effects can rescue.