Review: I Am Santa Claus, Mick Foley's latest project
Posted: Dec 14th 2014 By: Paul O?Brien
Truth be told, I love Mick Foley. He launched my Blood Red Turns Dollar Green series when he didn?t have to, he was my favourite wrestler growing up ? hell, he even let me ?work the mic, brother? with him in Northern Ireland one night.
As far as human beings go, he is top drawer.
So truth continuing to be told, that?s why I felt so bad that I didn?t want to watch I am Santa Claus. I was delighted to see Mick so ?into? the whole Santa thing. For me it was like any lifestyle choice, as long as it made him happy and he was harming no-one else ? best of luck to him.
I just wasn?t that into it.
But the santa thing just grew and grew. So much so, I thought it scuffed an otherwise perfect ending to his HOF speech, I thought it took up too much of his Twitter time. I damn near started to hate the large shadow it was casting!
Until I saw the reason why Mick had Santa Claus everywhere.
I didn?t really expect I am Santa Claus to hit me like it did. The loneliness, the laughs, the searching, the tenderness and love, the sadness, the pity, the celebration. This documentary weaves from one Santa to other, one evolving story to another, from one white bearded person to another. All of them looking similar, all of them completely different.
You could imagine wrestling fans being easily interested in sub-cultures; I am Santa Claus nestles into one of the most fascinating sub-cultures I?ve ever seen ? The Santa Claus phenomenon.
The camera stays tight on the stories of primarily four men who are mixed up in huge sprawling business/vocation of being Santa Claus. In the documentary, director Tommy Avallone follows all four gentlemen through the build up to their magical time of year. Sometimes it felt like the cuts between stories moved too quickly and I didn?t have time to digest the funny or poignant moment that just happened, but overall this is skilfully handled.
Some of the santa?s have seen better times, some are in love, some are just working the day job like you and me. But all of them have a reason to want to transform themselves. If even just for a few weeks of the year. And it?s that reason, that question that drives the heart of the story.
This is a funny, touching piece that will keep you engaged from start to finish. It may even have the most affecting love story in all of 2014 film in there too.
So truth be told, I didn?t have a clue what Mick was talking about all year. I didn?t get why he was so ?into it.?
Now I know, and you should too.
I am Santa Claus is on Netflix now.
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
- 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
- 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
- 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27
- 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
- 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
- 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
- 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
- 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
- 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
- 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
- 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
- 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
- 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
- 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
- 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
- 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
- 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
- 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
- 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
- 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
- 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
- Jeff the Ref Jun 21st Today!
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