Susan Granger’s review of “CALL ME CLAUS” (Turner Network Television)
Whoopi Goldberg as Santa Claus? Not exactly type-casting but in this two-hour, made-for-TV, family-geared fantasy, Whoopi plays Lucy Cullins, a crabby, cranky producer at the Shop-A-Lot Shopping Channel. Back in 1965, when Lucy was a child, she visited Santa at the local five-and-dime and asked for her daddy to come home from Vietnam. He did – but in a casket – and, ever since that deep hurt, she’s viewed the holiday season with deep bitterness. So when she auditions actors to play Santa on her station’s cheesy Kristmas Korner, she’s understandably cynical when the best of the lot turns out to be an old man named Nick who gives his address as the North Pole. Since Nick’s played by spirited Nigel Hawthorne (“The Madness of King George”) there’s more than just a twinkle in his eye as he explains to her that he really is Santa Claus and faces mandatory retirement after 200 years on the job. Lucy’s his chosen replacement and, if she doesn’t accept the job by Christmas Eve, the North Pole will melt and world will face the dire consequences. So the question is: can he thaw her heart in time? Directed by Peter Werner with songs by Garth Brooks (“Zat You Santa Claus?,” “Ready For Jesus”) and script by Sara & Gregory Bernstein and Brian Bird, it’s a wry, comedic holiday tale – with irreverent lines like “goblins are what happens when gnomes and leprechauns get drunk on the beach at night.” But the ageless, universal theme of kindness, forgiveness and love prevails, so on the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Call me Claus” is a hip yet heartwarming 7. It premieres on TNT Sunday (12/2) at 8 p.m. with encores at 10 p.m. and midnight. Additional playdates are scheduled on TNT throughout December. Jumpin’ jingle bells – the Christmas season is underway.
