The Santa Trap (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

John Shepphird

Writers:

Steve Jankowski (writer)
John Shepphird (writer)

Release Date:

13 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

A blunder has landed Santa in the slammer. Can the family who put him there spring him in time to save Christmas?

Plot:

A community has mixed feelings over Santa's permanent residence in their small town.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas

Cast

Shelley Long	...	Molly Emerson
Robert Hays	...	Bill Emerson
Stacy Keach	...	Max Hurst
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Homeless Woman
Alana Austin	...	Carla
Sierra Abel	...	Judy Emerson
Brandon de Paul	...	Mike Emerson
Sonny Carl Davis	...	Officer Bobby Buckley
Martin Klebba	...	Elf Ranger One
Steve Monroe	...	Officer Calhoun
Paul Butcher	...	Brian Spivak
Corbin Bernsen	...	Chief Tom Spivak
Dick Van Patten	...	Santa Claus
Talbot Perry Simons	...	Clifford (as Woolf Simovitch)
Cork Hubbert	...	Elf One

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

La Quinta, California, USA

Company:

Tag Entertainment

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: While sneaking through JFK hospital, the Emersons pass in front of an x-ray view box. Four of the eight chest x-ray films are hung sideways.

Elves armed with silly string are just a part of this fun movie!

Bill (Robert Hays) and Molly (Shelley Long) have moved their family from the northeast to the desert southwest. It was supposed to be a good career move for Bill but he is working lots of extra hours. Molly is having trouble getting her home business growing and laments the change in climate. With the Christmas holiday near, both Bill and Molly are worried about money and missing out on a "white Christmas". On top of that, son Mike has been telling his younger sister, Judy, that Santa does not exist. Judy won't hear of it and makes a "trap" (string and contraptions) to catch Santa when he arrives at their house, which he does! Santa (Dick Van Patten) is a jolly old soul but that does not prevent Bill from thinking he is a burglar and he has Santa arrested and thrown in jail. With children everywhere waiting for Santa to visit their homes, will Kris Kringle be able to deliver his goods? This movie started rather slowly but finished quite nicely. The plot line is fun and the cast is a dream, as Stacy Keach, Corbin Bernsen, Amanda Pays, and Adrienne Barbeau also make their appearances. Children will love to see the elves in the movie, as they not only look genuine but use silly string to get their way when dealing with the police force! Production values and costumes are nice, too. All in all, why not make it a tradition to watch a couple of new-to-you Christmas films each year? And, by all means, start with this one, for it has humor and good messages to extend to every viewer.