Santa Who?
Santa Who? is a 2000 American made-for-television fantasy-comedy film starring Leslie Nielsen and directed by William Dear. The plot centers on Santa Claus developing a case of amnesia (specifically source amnesia) right before Christmas. As of 2009, it is shown in the 25 Days of Christmas programming block on ABC Family.
| Santa Who? | |
|---|---|
 Region 2 DVD Cover | |
| Written by | Debra Frank Steve L. Hayes |
| Directed by | William Dear |
| Starring | Leslie Nielsen Steven Eckholdt Robyn Lively |
| Music by | Joel McNeely |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Frank Siracusa |
| Cinematography | Derick V. Underschultz |
| Editor | Edgar Burcksen |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Production companies | Gleneagle Productions Hearst Entertainment |
| Distributor | Buena Vista Television (USA) Hearst Entertainment (Non-USA) |
| Release | |
| Original release |
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Plot
The film starts with Santa feeling ill and going out for fresh air on a flight in his sleigh. Because of bad weather, he falls out and lands in Los Angeles. After the fall, he is unable to remember who he is. An afraid-of-commitment TV news reporter finds him and uses him on TV to get audience while vowing them to find his family. In the meantime, Santa works in a mall. The TV newsreporter's girlfriend's son repeatedly tries to convince the adults that he is the real Santa Claus, which the adults refuse to believe.
Santa still remembers certain details about Christmas but is unable to remember how he knows them, as typically happens with source amnesia. All the while, Santa's elves are looking for him. Near the end, a couple thinks it could be their grandfather who has grown a beard, and take him with them. Instead, when it is proved he is Santa, the reporter regains his faith in Christmas and gains a family.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Leslie Nielsen | Santa Claus |
| Steven Eckholdt | Peter Albright |
| Robyn Lively | Claire Dreyer |
| Max Morrow | Zack Dreyer |
| Aron Tager | Grandpa |
| Tommy Davidson | Max the Elf |
| Darren Frost | Rupert the Elf |
| Karen LeBlanc | Lenny the Camera Person |
| R.D. Reid | Grady |
| Ted Atherton | George, Ch. 12 Manager |
| Stewart Arnott | Lusby, Claire's Boss |
| Carol Lempert | Ellen, Claire's Secretary |
| Roger Clown | Ray Engles |
| Elizabeth Brown | Nancy Engles |
| Laura DeCarteret | Sister Greta |
| Richard Fitzpatrick | Detective Lohenry |
Reception
Christopher Null of Filmcritic.com gave Santa Who? 2 out of 5 stars.[1]
References
- Null, Christopher (2001). "Santa Who? Movie Review, DVD Release". Filmcritic.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2014.