There's lots of magical visuals and exposition of how Santa got his start before the plot begins, but that's okay in this underrated Christmas spectacle. David Huddleston is really good as Santa, reminding me a bit of Grandpa Walton with his devil may care attitude, except when he hears "The Nigh Before Christmas" and has to go on a diet because of the bowl full of jelly reference.

He's a lover of the struggling children in his regular human life, and through a heavenly miracle given eternal life to bring joy to children everywhere for centuries before he finds conflict. The only progression comes through feisty elf Dudley Moore who wants to move into the 20th Century by speeding things up a little Henry Ford style.

A magical ride through Manhattan on Christmas Eve had Santa befriending an urchin and nearly flying into the world trade center. I've never seen the New York City skyline surrounded by so much blue screen, and it's gorgeous. This sequence must have seemed like a rollercoaster ride in the theater and for that alone should have attracted a bigger audience.

The trip to the current day leads to the modern commercialism of the holiday with the introduction of John Lithgow's manufacturer character, a classic Christmas villain with a coal stocking for a heart. He looks even more malevolent than he did in "Buckaroo Banzai". Teeth extensions make him appear really creepy. Moore decides that he's had enough of Santa's old fashioned ideas and decides to branch out by meeting up with the snarling Lithgow.

Probably one of the few movies dealing with Santa to have a bit of a spiritual context with the sudden appearance of a heavenly light that indicates that God has chosen the jolly man to be his liasion to children, and ultimately, a test of human greed. Judy Cornwell is sly in her quiet smirking as she keeps Santa in line, while Burgess Meredith is very regal as an aging elf who is sent down to give Santa his powers. Having never seen this before (and watched as a double bill with the even better "Elf"), I was pleasantly surprised how touched I was as well as entertained. The film seems to be ahead of its time in several ways which could be why audiences didn't get it at the time.

Well I've seen this movie several times as a kid and I thought it was great. It's a typical children's movie and I thought it had something magical about it. One of those movies where afterwards you go to your room and - being a kid - imagine that the candy cane you're holding in your hands is glowing. Compared to other Christmas movies I think this one is better than many.

What a beautiful film with an AMAZING Santa. Exactly how the north pole should be! A magical film for a magical time of year!