The hosts analyze the low budget of the Santa Claus III movie and express their desire for more information. They discuss the Christmas spirit and Tim Allen's connection to it. The significance of a childhood trauma and its connection to capitalism in the movie is examined. The Santa Claus movies are explored, focusing on the mythical elements and the secularization of Santa Claus. Connections are drawn between characters in the movie and real-life political figures. The hosts bid farewell, sharing holiday wishes and discussing the picturesque scene of frozen landscapes.
44:02
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Quick takeaways
The Santa Clause franchise explores the contradictions of consumerist society and the commodification of Christmas through its thematic elements and storytelling.
The depiction of the North Pole as a commercialized tourist attraction in 'Santa Clause 3' serves as a metaphor for the tensions between capitalism and the true spirit of Christmas in the real world.
Deep dives
The Burden of Dreams: The Making of Santa Claus III
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the production details and budget of the movie Santa Claus III. They are puzzled by the low budget of $12 million, considering the star power of Tim Allen and the film's theatrical release status. They speculate about the cost-saving measures, such as filming on a soundstage instead of on location. The hosts express their curiosity about the actual budget and consider reaching out to cast members for answers.
Analyzing the Santa Claus Franchise
The hosts provide a summary of the entire Santa Claus film series, highlighting the main plot points and characters. They discuss the thematic elements of each movie, and how the films explore the contradictions of consumerist society and the commodification of Christmas. They also critique the storytelling and pacing of the third movie, noting missed opportunities to delve into deeper themes and conflicts. Overall, the hosts navigate the tension between the magical and commercial aspects of the Christmas season depicted in the Santa Claus franchise.
The Demystification of Christmas
The hosts delve into the ideological implications of the third movie's depiction of the North Pole under Jack Frost's rule. They analyze how Jack Frost turns the North Pole into a commercialized, demystified tourist attraction, stripping away the traditional enchantment associated with Christmas. This serves as a metaphor for the tensions between capitalism and the spirit of Christmas in the real world. They draw parallels between the Santa Claus franchise and the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, where both leaders navigated the contradiction of capitalism while presenting different stories about its meaning and impact.
The Legacy and Future of the Santa Claus Franchise
The hosts conclude the episode by discussing the future direction of the Santa Claus franchise. They speculate about the potential plot and themes of the new Disney+ show, 'The Santa Clauses,' noting the need to embrace diversity and pluralism while maintaining the magical elements of Christmas. They express excitement about exploring the adaptation of the franchise to the current socio-political reality, reflecting on the evolving perspectives on Christmas and the ongoing tensions between commercialism and the true spirit of the holiday season.
We kick off 2024 by raiding the fridge for some holiday leftovers. It's become an annual tradition on this podcast to try to extract ideology from Tim Allen's "Santa Clause" franchise. With THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE (2006), we hit the motherlode.
Michael and Us is a podcast about political cinema and our crumbling world hosted by Will Sloan and Luke Savage.
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