“I Am Santa Claus” brings WWE Superstar Mick Foley’s Christmas dream to life!
Synopsis:
“I Am Santa Claus” documents an entire year in the lives of five real-bearded professional Santa Clauses to find out what the rest of the year is like for a man who perpetually looks like Jolly Saint Nick. In the process, they are shown for who they actually are, flawed, flesh and blood men who feel an overbearing responsibility to protect the integrity of the spotless, untarnished reputation of the “Red Suit.” “I Am Santa Claus” is a documentary that poses a question about a ubiquitous holiday figure that few parents ever ask themselves; ‘Whose lap is my child sitting on?’
In 2005 I met WWE Superstar Mick Foley in New Orleans where I had a beer and bowl of red beans and rice with him. I was surprised at what a genuinely nice guy he was dealing with a ton of notoriously overbearing fans. Almost 10 years later I met him again at a comedy special where he revealed his love of Santa Claus and desire to be him. It was fitting given Mick’s jovial personality and obsession with the holiday. Just last week I noticed a documentary on Netflix that reinforced his love. “I Am Santa Claus” explored his and others’ journey on becoming Christmas’ iconic character. And I have to say that it was one of the most entertaining documentaries and holiday films that I have watched this year.
Cinematics(Plot, Acting, Cinematography, etc.)
When making a documentary one of the key factors is to explore the story from all angles. “I Am Santa Claus” explores the lives of 4 very different people attempting to take on the role of Santa Claus. While Santa may be an iconic character known only for his positive surface traits, this documentary explores the underlying characteristics of people portraying Santa. Throughout the film you see the hardships of those people as well as many other characteristics that some may not consider to be “Santa-like.” From their day jobs, family life, and even sexuality, “I Am Santa” explores a side of Santa that we’ve never seen before.
While the underlying characteristics of these people may raise the shocking intrigue, the documentary continues to follow an overall theme. When it comes to Santa, all of these characters have the same message regarding Santa’s purpose which is spreading love and joy. It’s a continual balancing act throughout the film exploring the personal lives of the characters and weighing that against their intentions of becoming Saint Nick. Are they genuine with their intentions of becoming Santa Claus? Do they have an underlying agenda? Or do they just want to spread the joy that this character has brought to them? These questions are the building blocks of this documentary and have you pondering throughout and after the close of the film.
Entertainment Value
From the flow and diversity of “I Am Santa Claus” it is filled with entertainment. Having 4 different unique characters to follow, it provides a rich perspective of whose lap your kids are sitting on. While all of these people aspire to be the same character, they are all uniquely different when it comes to their personal lives.
“I Am Santa Claus” brings an equal balance of drama and informative intrigue while also maintaining the spirit of the holiday season. While it may hold more entertainment value during the holiday season, this documentary is something that maintains a level of intrigue during any season.
Rewatchability
Documentaries tend to be low on the “rewatchability” scale due to their informative nature. Once you’ve received the message there isn’t much value to watching a documentary a second time. In the case of “I Am Santa Claus” I will say that there is some “rewatchability” value. There are laughs to be had and still some intrigue to enjoy with others prior to and during your holiday season.