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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.