It kind of sucks if you don't want to be santa...

Don't kill Santa then, you jerk.

I guess I always looked at is as having a sort of fate element to it. Scott was not leading a happy life as it was, though he may have thought he was. Ultimately becoming Santa Claus made him incredibly happy and brought him closer to the person that was most important to him. I don't know that the first Santa would have fallen off the roof at just anyone's house. Know what I mean?

Yeah but also keep in mind that Scott Calvin only read the back of the card, and not also on the front of the card. You know the clause part that was running on the sides and top and bottom that Bernard had to read to him. He asked him if he read the card he said he read the card, but he didn't say that he only read the back. So it is more Scott's fault that he ended up forced to become the new Santa. Since I bet he didn't even think to also read the front where he would have read that clause. Here is what was on the card that he had failed to notice

The Santa Clause: In putting on this suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all rights to any previous identity, real or implied, and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus, in perpetuity until such time that the wearer becomes unable to do so, by either accident or design.


Now I bet if he had seen this part, it would have been different, cause he might have thought he would just be done after that night and never have to do that again. It teaches you to always read the fine print. So it is not Bernard's fault that Scott didn't read that, it is Scott's own fault as to he only read the back of the card. And if he had read it and I know I said it before, then I am sure he would have refused to put the suit on, and he wouldn't have taken the new job that would only get him out of it by either accident or design which who knows what they mean by the latter part.

Here is the part of the card that Scott did read

If something should happen to me, put on my suit; the reindeer will know what to do.

Which is what anybody with not much of a brain power might only read a little bit of a contract read he is getting something good that he might only get once, and doesn't read the full print signs it and for all they know that could be signing up for something for life. Or something that could turn out to be bad, like a robber could be a lot smarter give him something to write that he might be pretending to be there for another job when he is really there to rob the place.

I've always thought of the "wrong guy" becoming Santa scenario more like this: what happens if a complete scum bag becomes Santa and wants to remains a scum bag? If some drug addict, spousal abuser conked Scott Calvin in the head the next Christmas, Bernard and the gang are in for a surprise when the sled and the new Santa descend into the North Pole. Bernard's guilt speech of "then there will be millions of disappointed children" won't work on such a guy. In the alternate universe where this is real, the folks at the North Pole, in possession of all their magic, came up with a really poor system to replace Santa. Every Christmas Eve, when Santa departs, it's anybody's guess as to who is coming back.

"some aspire to greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them".

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I remember seeing this movie when I was 10 (around 1996) and I found the entire concept very cruel and at the end I was left very disappointed and with a deep feeling of injustice. I never watched it again lol XD

I agree. On the upside, though, it also kinda seemed like maybe there was a "spell" on him or something - some kind that forces you to suddenly like being Santa, whether you initially wanted to or not. Remember his sudden Santa Clause/Elf enthusiasm when he attended his business meeting. And he said, "I don't know what got into me," to his boss. I guess in a way it'd be kind of merciful - I mean if you have to do something I guess you may as well enjoy it. But still.