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Post by StevePulaski on Dec 11, 2010 12:08:10 GMT -5
 Justin in I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Rating: ★★★½ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus has been my favorite Christmas movie since the fateful year of 2005 when I first saw it on the PAX Network. Before going to ION, PAX would show movies I believe every Friday night and during the month of December, obviously they would show Christmas films every Friday. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus was one of the movies and tuning into it about fifteen minutes late, I still enjoyed it and it never gets old. The film may be panned by audiences who call it "cliche", and I don't recall it ever going to theaters in its release year 2001. I taped it off of TV in 2006, and finally bought a DVD in 2008. Ever since 2005 it has become a ritual that I watch this film at least once in the month of December to not only to commemorate the holidays, but as well as my childhood. Some films can't go one year with out a watch, and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is one of them. Whenever I pop this in the player, or watch it on ABC's 25 Days of Christmas I get a flashback to when I first watched it and even memories of my first Christmas. The four stars not only goes to the film, but it's ability to send me back to the past... The plot: an eight year old boy named Justin (played by both Cole and Dylan Sprouse, respectively) feels bad for his friend Bobby who's parents are constantly arguing and fighting. The parents announce at the Thanksgiving dinner they will be getting divorce. Justin sneaks out of bed to find his parents arguing with his dad leaving and fears the same events will happen to him. He sees Santa (his father) come in the door and kiss his mother. Justin snaps a picture and now he has the best evidence any eight year old can have. Justin talks it over with his friend Bobby who says if he behaves badly, Santa won't come to his house and stay away from his mom. The father then goes away on business so the kid can't tell his father about his evidence. The whole film is Justin trying to kick down every mall, Salvation Army, and school Santa there is to prevent him from going near his mother. As well as establishing cleverly inventive traps. The traps resemble Home Alone to an extent, but they keep them minimal so it's not like a flat out copy. One of my favorite scenes is the chase between the mall Santa and Justin. Somehow I wanted to reenact that scene in real life when I was little - that never worked out too well. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is more than meets the eye. Don't think because it's not as famous as Scrooge, It's a Wonderful Life, and Charlie Brown that it's not as good. To me, it's my favorite Christmas film and one of the few reasons I look forward to the Holiday season. Movies have come a long way, and for this to be one of the few bright sides about the Holidays is a very unusual thing. Nothing but smiles, memories, and laughs when I turn this gem on. Starring: Corbin Bernsen, Connie Sellecca, and Cole and Dylan Sprouse. Directed by: John Shepphird. |
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Post by Handsome Devil on Dec 11, 2010 15:19:57 GMT -5
I think this review might be a case of "I love a movie, so clearly it's good."
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Post by nopersonality on Dec 11, 2010 19:53:22 GMT -5
Does that mean... you've seen the movie? I'm always willing to check something like this out before I pan it, but more than anything it's ABC's track record that would raise my eyebrow. I love that they want movies with Jenny McCarthy, Tori Spelling, and Shannen Doherty as headliners (it's so trashy in a light-hearted way / Christmas movies always beg to indulge in a little so-bad-it's-good) but they're Christmas Junk Collectors. No doubt about it. So, if a serious filmmaker had a truly ambitious film they wanted to show to the world and just so happened to use a Hollywood it-kid as its' star... I'm not sure they would ever agree to settle for having it shown on ABC-Family.
Anyway, the film on DVD seems to be wholly absent from Netflix.
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Post by StevePulaski on Dec 11, 2010 20:13:20 GMT -5
I think this review might be a case of "I love a movie, so clearly it's good." I don't know, but I really enjoyed the hell out of this movie then and now for more reasons than it being the plot. I love the film yeah, but I love the effect it had on me. Just the fact that I still am obsessed with it to this day leaves me shocked. To NP, for some reason Netflix doesn't carry the film. There's a new DVD (I think a re-release, I'm surprised it got two releases), and an old one from like 2002 (I have that one). I'd try checking local listings, but if you really want to see it, buy it. I can't wait to hear how you lampoon it truthfully. You and Dirk. |
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Post by Handsome Devil on Dec 11, 2010 21:55:50 GMT -5
I think this review might be a case of "I love a movie, so clearly it's good." I don't know, but I really enjoyed the hell out of this movie then and now for more reasons than it being the plot. I love the film yeah, but I love the effect it had on me. Just the fact that I still am obsessed with it to this day leaves me shocked. Well, it must've dome something right if it had such an effect on you, so I will check it out. 4 star films are rare, so I was just a bit skeptical. |
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Post by StevePulaski on Dec 11, 2010 21:58:41 GMT -5
I don't know, but I really enjoyed the hell out of this movie then and now for more reasons than it being the plot. I love the film yeah, but I love the effect it had on me. Just the fact that I still am obsessed with it to this day leaves me shocked. Well, it must've dome something right if it had such an effect on you, so I will check it out. 4 star films are rare, so I was just a bit skeptical. I don't know if anyone else will like it on this forum. It's my kind of film, and it really deserved a four. |
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Post by nopersonality on Dec 11, 2010 23:23:41 GMT -5
I think most people have several different kinds of films for them. Some films just fill us full of happiness. For me, it's The Worst Witch. I LIVE for that movie, could watch it any time of year, and I love every single thing about it. Nobody else's idea of bad could touch that film. It's a masterpiece in my eyes and a beloved classic for many other people. But, also, a lot of people really look at it in awe of another sort. They can't handle the cheese.
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Post by StevePulaski on Dec 11, 2010 23:35:55 GMT -5
I think most people have several different kinds of films for them. Some films just fill us full of happiness. For me, it's The Worst Witch. I LIVE for that movie, could watch it any time of year, and I love every single thing about it. Nobody else's idea of bad could touch that film. It's a masterpiece in my eyes and a beloved classic for many other people. But, also, a lot of people really look at it in awe of another sort. They can't handle the cheese. That's exactly how Kissing Santa Claus is for me. Except watching it year round. That's something I can't do. |
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Post by nopersonality on Dec 11, 2010 23:37:18 GMT -5
Well that's because: Happiness is fleeting. It lasts but a short while. But themes of horror and ugliness are with us all the live long day- any day of the year.
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Post by StevePulaski on Dec 11, 2010 23:38:26 GMT -5
Well that's because: Happiness is fleeting. It lasts but a short while. But themes of horror and ugliness are with us all the live long day- any day of the year. Well, I was talking about since it's a Christmas movie you can't watch it year round. But I agree about the Horror part  . |
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