Nato – Tim Allen (The Santa Clause)
Alright, I know this pick is most destined to be pushed aside, but I’m honestly drawing from my childhood here. And yes, before you start screaming “but he didn’t even play the REAL Santa Claus,” it still counts for me because he had to fill in. Santa for a year, Santa for a decade, Santa for eternity…you’re still Santa! So yeah, I’m going to get a little nostalgic this Christmas season because I’m slowly losing my childhood innocence, as the Christmas season is turning into more work and less fun. The worst part this year isn’t that Santa paid for my new tires, the worst part is that I was actually excited. Is this what happens when you turn into a boring old adult?! So screw off, The Santa Clause is a Christmas movie I grew up on, and I refuse to let go just yet.
So yes, OK, back to my favorite Santa, Tim Allen. Who better to fill the shoes of our joyful delivery man then Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor, everyone’s favorite grunting father/home improvement show host/Galaxy Quest cast member – wait, no, that would be Alan Rickman, but that’s besides the point. Tim Allen has forever been the nice guy, the clean sitcom dad all ages could enjoy, a good guy to be looked up to – a gentle man so to speak.
The whole idea is after Allen’s character Scott inadvertently “kills” Santa, some magical legislature slowly turns Scott into the merry fat man despite any efforts to prevent his holiday metamorphosis. Now I’ll admit, at first, thinking of Tim Allen as Santa doesn’t sound so spectacular, being a more slender and younger individual than usually associated with Santa, but as time goes on, Hollywood magic really sells the part. As his gut grows, the hair turns white, and the beard fills out, Allen turns out to be a pretty darn convincing Mr. Claus, down to rosy red cheeks and a twinkle in his eye.
Not only that, but I picture Santa with a sense of humor, and Allen absolutely brings that to his portrayal as well. Sure, he starts out sarcastic and skeptical, shrugging off his dilemma as less magic and more coincidence, but when he finally embraces the Santa mentality, he warms your heart as a Santa with personality, melting away any chilly exterior convincing you Santa can only be played by someone the same age as your grandpa.
Maybe Allen isn’t the best Santa per say, but growing up, he’s who I wanted Santa to be. Funny, lovable, jolly, personable – but Allen had a characteristic older actors could not, a spark so to say. A bit more spry, a bit more professional looking – I’m not sure, but all I know is I loved Tim Allen in The Santa Clause, and I still love his role to this day.
