ftwildernessguy
<font color=green>I have a linen closet at home fu
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2003
- Messages
- 6,586
Once again, we have a holiday film whose theme involves a stranger coming into town to rekindle the Christmas spirit and show everyone the true meaning of the holidays.
The mom - a single mother balancing a career with raising a child. I applaud the author for having the foresight to include this character. At the time the original film was done, this was not a common situation in the US, and certainly not one that would be popular in a film. Today, this situation is not only more common, but more accepted by society. In need of an update - the child is not only left unattended while mom is at work, but when mom comes home, she sees a note to find her daughter is across the hall in the apartment of the new single guy in the building that no one knows. This reeks of child neglect and potential abuse.
Alfred - the simple minded maintenance worker who likes to play santa for the orphanage. Screaming for a rehab. Today, Alfred would be the mild mannered serial killer ala CSI.
Macy's and Gimbels - Despite the continued presence of Macy's, does anyone under 30 even remember Gimbels? They've been out of business for at least 20 years. Perhaps Santa could work for Walmart, and work at undermining sales at competitors in an effort to help Walmart move into new markets and put established stores out of business. Or he could be a Mall santa, and instead of sending children to competitors, he could plant the seed in the little tykes' ears to stimulate slow sales in the mall - "Instead of a bike, wouldn't you like a 42" LCD TV? They have a nice one on sale at Best Buy."
The new house - we all know how unrealistic this is in the present real estate market. If the parents did qualify for a mortgage, would they really give up their rent controlled apartments in the city to move to the suburbs, with the associated high property taxes and lack of public transportation, not to mention home maintenance?
The drunken santa - How out of date can you get. Substitute a homeless crack addict and the update is complete. Think Bad Santa type.
Finally, Santa himself - About the only thing you don't need to change. A forgotten, kindly, elderly man in a nursing home that everyone thinks is crazy. No change needed to bring this up to the 21st Century.
The mom - a single mother balancing a career with raising a child. I applaud the author for having the foresight to include this character. At the time the original film was done, this was not a common situation in the US, and certainly not one that would be popular in a film. Today, this situation is not only more common, but more accepted by society. In need of an update - the child is not only left unattended while mom is at work, but when mom comes home, she sees a note to find her daughter is across the hall in the apartment of the new single guy in the building that no one knows. This reeks of child neglect and potential abuse.
Alfred - the simple minded maintenance worker who likes to play santa for the orphanage. Screaming for a rehab. Today, Alfred would be the mild mannered serial killer ala CSI.
Macy's and Gimbels - Despite the continued presence of Macy's, does anyone under 30 even remember Gimbels? They've been out of business for at least 20 years. Perhaps Santa could work for Walmart, and work at undermining sales at competitors in an effort to help Walmart move into new markets and put established stores out of business. Or he could be a Mall santa, and instead of sending children to competitors, he could plant the seed in the little tykes' ears to stimulate slow sales in the mall - "Instead of a bike, wouldn't you like a 42" LCD TV? They have a nice one on sale at Best Buy."
The new house - we all know how unrealistic this is in the present real estate market. If the parents did qualify for a mortgage, would they really give up their rent controlled apartments in the city to move to the suburbs, with the associated high property taxes and lack of public transportation, not to mention home maintenance?
The drunken santa - How out of date can you get. Substitute a homeless crack addict and the update is complete. Think Bad Santa type.
Finally, Santa himself - About the only thing you don't need to change. A forgotten, kindly, elderly man in a nursing home that everyone thinks is crazy. No change needed to bring this up to the 21st Century.
