The classic 1970s animated short is a fan favourite for the festive season, from its stop-motion animation to the catchy Snow Miser and Heat Miser songs, but moviemakers went ahead and tried a live-action remake, directed by Ron Underwood (Tremors, City Slickers, Mighty Joe Young, Pluto Nash). Basically Santa Claus (John Goodman) is not feeling very well, but more than anything he has become disgruntled with the commercialism of Christmas, he thinks that children no longer believe him. Santa decides to quit, to cancel Christmas and not deliver toys and presents this Christmas Eve, despite arguments with Mrs. Claus (Delta Burke), and two of his elves, Jingle (Eddie Griffin) and Jangle (Ethan Suplee). They decide to provide Santa with proof that children still believe in him and the spirit of Christmas, so the elves head to the United States to find a child with Christmas spirit. Before reaching South Town, they have a setback, the jealous, competitive Miser Brothers are arguing about their control of the weather, Snow Miser (Michael McKean) controls the cold conditions, and Heat Miser (Harvey Fierstein) controls the warm weather. The elves find little boy Ignatius "Iggy" Thistlewhite (Dylan Minnette) who believes in Santa and the true spirit of Christmas. But Iggy's father, Mayor Thistlewhite (Robert C. Treveiler), will only believe the elves' story if they can bring snow to South Town on Christmas Day, this has not happened in the southern town for many years. The Miser brothers will not compromise to make sure that this can happen, but Mrs. Claus brings in Mother Nature (Carol Kane), they will have to agree to this, or face the wrath of their mother. Santa decides to go to the city himself, that is when he realises that children really do believe in him, and the spirit of Christmas, his faith is restored thanks to Iggy. So, on Christmas Eve, Santa flies his sleigh around the world, delivering toys and presents to everyone, and he indeed brings snow to South Town, Santa is happy to be back to work, and looks forward to next Christmas. Also starring Chris Kattan as Sparky and Laura Schlessinger as Dr. Laura. Goodman had played Father Christmas twice already in TV and film, so he seems comfortable, Griffin and Suplee add some titters as the bumbling elves, apart from that the other cast members aren't really worth mentioning, this remake keeps to the same basic concept as the original, but it has nowhere near the same charm, the songs are not enjoyable, and new stuff put makes it really messy, a disappointing seasonal fantasy. Adequate!

An abomination so heinous, so repulsive, so reprehensible that the excess amount of bile that my body doesn't process because of my missing gall bladder creeps up my esophagus thinking about it.I speak of the atrocity that was recently aired on CBS - The Year Without A Santa Clause. Not the beloved Rankin/Bass production, but a live action piece of televised diarrhea. John Goodman as santa, Delta Burke as Mrs Claus? Harvey Fierstien as Heat Miser?!!!! Dear god in heaven what have they done?...... What have they done? ( I was saving that for when the US was nuked ah la Jericho, but this is worse... far worse).I'll admit that curiosity made me tune in. I'm human. But Randy from My Name is Earl as Jangle? A black Jingle? Dancing girls in the Heat Miser/Cold Miser numbers? When did a bump and grind ( over and above the Victorias Secet Fashion Show) become a part of Christmas tradition? The claymation Misers didn't need it. No they didn't. They were pure entertainment. I'd rather the controversy of devil/angel that kept it off TV for so many years to a musical number from Solid Gold.Someone needs to bury this, and bury it deep. Its a national disgrace. You want insurgents to surrender- tape their eyes open and force then to watch this over & over. It will make them beg to be degregaded at abul grad.The tragedy of this is that it was 2 hours. I only watched 20 minutes before I was diving for the puke bucket.

Yes, I gave this a 2. I wasn't able to pay attention to the whole thing, so I wanted to be fair.1) Was the dubbing SUPPOSED to be off during the film? If you have ever watched a kung-fu movie, then you have some idea of what the dubbing was like. In the beginning of the movie, the dubbing was twice as bad. The voice over work was TERRIBLE. I think film students could have done better after they've partied all night.2) The special effects were TERRIBLE. I swear, I could see wrinkles in a few of the back drops. The effects seemed to be very outdated. The elves didn't really have pointy ears either.3) Skimpy costumes. This was supposed to be a movie for kids, right? Well, black leather and bikinis don't really fit in a Christmas movie, I'm sorry. I would say it had no magic at all.The TV guide review said that this movie didn't capture the magic of the original. I would say it had no magic. I could go on, but I keep twitching when I think of the movie. It was very slow, and unwatchable. Watch it if you must, but it's not really so bad it's funny. It's just plain bad.

didn't like it at all was not what i expected it ruined a classic and the story was way off as the Iggy's dad was not the mayor and it was in fact Mrs Claus who went to mother nature not Santa himself and the characters were all wrong it did not have one good point in the who thing they even managed to ruin the snow miser and heat miser songs it was a major disaster i changed the channel and never went back too see it may now Hollywood will leave well enough alone but I'm not holding my breath anyways it was a waste of air time some might find it amusing but i did not and it was awful hopefully it will never air again but I'm not holding my breath on that one either