I know most people consider this a misbegotten misfire of a comedy. Most people absolutely don't see it as a heartwarming Christmas movie. And I totally get that reaction. The movie is very sour and misanthropic; after all it quotes Leviathan. The comedy it contains is very much the comedy of errors and peculiarity of existence. It is not so much laugh out loud funny as bizarre, damaged, human. But it works for me. It has the randomness and meanness I see in life; coupled with the characters trying to make it all right because Christmas requires us to be jolly and the whole enterprise just rings true to me.

Tim Allen was perfectly cast in this. Not only is his performance very touching and real but the intextuality of him being in the Santa Clause movies makes the tone of the film work. Luke Grimes is super hot in this as Eric and I just love his everyman performance.

This is a Christmas movie for misanthropes that just love Christmas.