FAQ

Mystery Date is indeed a real board game that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s, respectively; and has seen numerous re-releases, thanks in part to its inclusion in pop culture (including this movie).

It's possible that Laura grew up in the era when the game was popular and that's why she wanted it for Christmas when she was Charlie's age.

"Hollywood Wives" is indeed a real book.

According to a ScreenRant article on the character's ages, Charlie is eight years old.

When Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) inadvertently kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, he is forced to take Santa's place.

The script for The Santa Clause was written by screenwriters Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick. The success of The Santa Clause gave rise to two sequels: The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) as well as a television series on Disney+ titled The Santa Clauses (2022).

On Christmas eve, Scott Calvin and his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) hear noises on the roof. Scott goes out to check and sees Santa on the roof. He yells something to Santa, and Santa slides down the roof, drops to the ground, and is apparently dead. Scott searches for an identification card in Santa's clothes and finds one that reads, If something should happen to me, put on my suit. The reindeer will know what to do.

If you were watching closely, you might have noticed the old Santa waving to Scott when he picks up Santa's ID card and walks away. The old Santa wasn't dead; he was simply transferring the job to a new Santa. Undoubtedly, the elves knew all about it. Their job wasn't to mourn the old Santa but to whip the new Santa into shape.

Sharp-eyed viewers have noticed pointy-eared elves in a number of people places, e.g., in the beginning scenes when the children are looking into a store window, in the final scenes when the children are crowded around the house of Laura (Wendy Crewson) and Neil (Judge Reinhold) Miller watching Santa leave, and even in Charlie's classroom. Explanations offered by viewers include; (1) they were planted to keep an eye on Scott, (2) they are the ones who spy on kids and make "the list", (3) they report to Santa regarding the amount of Christmas spirit in the air, and (4) it's their job to determine which toys are going to be the most popular that season.

It is a poem called "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" or, more commonly, "The Night Before Christmas", attributed to Clement Moore (or maybe Henry Livingston). The poem can be read online here.

Three and counting. So far, the following have been identified: (1) the tool belt he tries on at the North Pole, (2) the guy driving the truck that Scott passes in the sleigh is Tim's buddy, and (3) Scott saying "Ho ho ho!" in the style of Tim Taylor.

Number 4 - When he holds up the Santa pants, he says he hopes the person living in the house is a tailor (Taylor).

Scott gets apprehended by the police, but Charlie and four elves with an attitude break him out. Scott returns Charlie to his mom and Neil. Laura begins to believe that Scott really is Santa, but Neil is still skeptical. Not even when Bernard the Elf (David Krumholtz) shows up does Neil let go of his claim that Scott is delusional. As her Christmas gift to Scott, Laura burns the custody papers, and Santa takes off to make his rounds, dropping presents for Laura, Neil, and Charlie as he flies off. Neil receives an Oscar Meyer wiener whistle, and Laura gets her long ago wished for Mystery Date game. Not more than 10 minutes later, Charlie shakes his magic snowball and Santa returns, even though he was on his way to Cleveland. By now, Laura and Neil both believe that Scott really is Santa, and Laura allows Charlie to go along for the ride ...just so long as Santa doesn't take Charlie over any oceans.