Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

So much average

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

The 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street was updated by writer and producer John Hughes already flying high with his Home Alone films and he manages to snag Richard Attenborough who was coaxed out of acting retirement a year earlier by Steven Spielberg for Jurassic Park.The original is regarded as a classic in America but not as well known in the UK and here I could see this film in its own merits.Hughes has followed the story of the original film with a department store executive Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) and her young daughter Susan (Mara Wilson) who do not care much for the spirit of Christmas. Dorey hires a venerable old man Kriss Kringle (Richard Attenborough) at the last minute when the usual Santa is found drunk. Kriss quickly becomes popular even if it means by always telling the truth that he directs people to rivals stores for toys because it would be cheaper there.The store is subject to a hostile takeover from a rival and part of the shenanigans means that Kriss believes that he really is Santa Claus and finds himself in court to be declared insane.The film is a decent family drama and although updated for a more cynical age which includes more disbelievers and non-nuclear families it does have plenty of festive spirit that families would enjoy but is never spectacular.The film turns on the revelation contained on a dollar bill but personally if I had written the film I would had just told the Judge to look behind him. Most American courtrooms have the Judge sitting in front of the words 'In God we trust!'

This remake wasn't as magical and full of Christmas spirit as I hoped it would be. Unfortunately, the movie was kinda boring and dull instead of being sweet and fun to watch and enjoy. Elizabeth Perkins was good in it though, and was well casted in her lead role. So that's one plus to it. The little girl that stars in the flick was pretty good, not the best though. But I didn't have a real big issue with the casting overall. It was the lack of substance and weak script I took issue with here. The script and dialogue is kind of dull and lack luster in this movie. It's not a god awful film, but it's certainly not the magical Christmas ride you might expect. It is family friendly though, with the exception of a couple of bad words. So if you want a Christmas movie that's OK for the kiddos, then this might be for you. But in my opinion, this movie just wasn't that good, it had some potential, but I feel like it squandered that good potential. 4/10 for Miracle on 34th Street.

Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) is the producer of the Christmas parade for Cole's department store. Kris Kringle (Richard Attenborough) is shocked at the drunken Santa in the parade. Dorey quickly puts Kris Kringle in to replace the drunk. Her daughter Susan (Mara Wilson) doesn't believe in Santa because her mother explained it all to her. Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott) is Dorey's boyfriend. Dorey hires Kris Kringle as the store's Santa who becomes popular for recommending shoppers to other stores. Susan is taken with the new Santa and starts to believe that he's the real deal. There is a rival store Shopper's Express which tries to sabotage Kris Kringle by getting him arrested.There is the great Richard Attenborough and a cute little girl. There is nothing wrong with the acting. The script is a little dated. Some of the simpler elements seem charming in the original but seem naive in the modern version. This one has very little to offer other than Attenborough. Also for some reason, they got rid of the post office plot line. The mailbags piled into the courtroom is probably the most compelling scene in the original.

This 1994 Attenborough-Perkins-McDermott re-make is a mixed bag, but overall I like it. I look forward to seeing it every year.PROS:1 - Mara Wilson very nicely plays the part of little Susan, a child old-beyond-her-years.2 - Attenborough is thoroughly touching as a Santa burdened by the troubles of the world, but soldiering on. His set scenes (e.g., with Perkins, and the little deaf girl) are quite moving. He trumps Gwenn here, but this is a post-modern interpretation, and may not appeal to those expecting a traditional, but less deep, interpretation. Edmund Gwenn really set the standard for Santa as a holly, jolly elf.3 - I like the more heavily-emphasized "romantic comedy" aspects. Perkins and McDermott make an attractive couple. (But sometimes Perkins is a little too jaded. Showing a bit more vulnerability under her facade of toughness would have helped in one or two scenes.) But overall, as a man and woman who are destined to be together, I thought they worked well.CONS:1 - The "evil business man" is very disconnected from the plot, overly dramatic, and clichéd. He is the "devil" here, but none of the key characters knows that. 2 - The trap set for Kris is a little too realistic.3 - The outed Santa is a little too evil.4 - Jane Leeves is practically missing on screen. 5 - I don't like Santa movies that mix references to the Legendary Figures with Church history. Pick one explanation and stick with it. And since this is supposedly a more adult version of the tale, the references to the Legendary Figures and magic really strike a dissonant note.I imagine that the early script meetings for this remake focused on "modernizing" the key conflict and pushing the "rom-com" aspects. In that regard, they succeeded quite well. But in so doing, they lost some of the sappy heart of the Gwenn-O'Hara-Payne version.The 1947 Gwenn-O'Hara-Payne version is relentlessly upbeat and comedic, with just a few downbeats to establish a little bit of conflict and dramatic tension.This 1994 version adds more (and deeper) down notes. I find the result interesting and more mature. It is enjoyable but not quite fully satisfying. And I suspect it won't be everyone's cup of tea.6/10