Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Hey is it Christmas Already? No, it's not; why did I even say that? OK the only reason I'm reviewing this is because it is a remake and it is remake month. It is time for my review of Miracle on 34th street (1994).

The movie starts with a store called Cole's Department Store giving a Thanksgiving day parade. But the man being Santa Claus in the parade (Jack McGee) is drunk. So he get's replaced at the last minute by a man who claims his name is Kris Kringle (Richard Attenborough). He is so convincing that the woman in charge of the parade named Dorey Walker (Elizabeth Perkins) makes him the Santa Claus for the store. When doing his job, Kris tells people the best stores to find toys. The head of Cole's likes the idea and makes it the stores new gimmick. All the kids in town believe that Kris is the real Santa except Dorey's daughter Susan (Mara Wilson). Dorey's boyfriend Bryan (Dylan McDermott) tries to convince Susan that Kris is the real Santa by taking her to see him at the mall. When she sees Santa she realizes several things: first of all Kris has a real beard, second he can speak a lot of different languages,  thirdly his Santa costume seems authentic, and finally Susan sees him speaking sign language with a deaf girl.

One night Dorey and Bryan go out and get Kris to babysit Susan. Susan asks Kris for a New house, a Father, and a baby brother for Christmas. She says if Kris can get her that, he is the real Santa Claus. Meanwhile Cole's rival store Shoppers Express realizes that Cole's has became more popular. So Shoppers Express hires the man that Kris replaced in the parade to frame Kris for a crime. The man they hired insults Kris and Kris threatens him by raising his cane. But the man fakes getting hit and Kris gets arrested. Everyone is sad and knows Kris is innocent. So a court case is called to decide.

              ***SPOILER ALERT STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT THE END RUINED***

Bryan calls several people to the stands who say that Kris is the real Santa. But the opposing side calls several people (and a reindeer) who deny the existence of Santa. The next day it looks like Kris is going to lose but Susan gives The Judge (Robert Prosky) a Christmas card with a one dollar bill inside of it. On the bill the words "In god we trust" are circled. The Judge says that if the American government can print that there is a god then the same rules must apply for Santa Claus. Kris is released and Bryon and Dorey get married which means Susan has a father. Kris even buys Susan the house she wanted. The End.

                                      ***SPOILERS OVER KEEP READING***



I think this is a very good movie. Richard Attenborough's performance is a good portrayal of Santa Claus. The movie has all the heart of the original. But just one problem, at first it seems to be a normal family movie. But after Kris get's arrested, it get's really really dramatic. But one cheesy montage later it's back to being a normal family film. Other then that it seems to be a good film.

Changes From Original: The two stores are totally different in this version. The villain instead of the crazy psychologist is the head of a rival store. Personally I like the villain in the original better. The reason Kris is released is changed. I don't know which reason is better. The man that Kris replaces has a bigger role in this. In the original the girl just wanted a house not a house, a father, and a brother.

Which is Better: I think the original is better. While I do like this one I feel that the original did have more heart to it. The girl in the original did the character of cynical nonbeliever better (Mara Wilson came off as a bit too cutesie). So in my opinion I think the original is better.

THE TOP HAT LOVING TRIO