For a fleeting moment, the 1990s flirted with being the decade of luxury, an era of all-out glamor not seen since the heyday of Hollywood. Grunge rose and fell, lights faded on neon biker shorts, a generation outgrew its polka-dot scrunchies, and, seemingly out of nowhere, pop culture was all too interested in 1930s-40s put-together chic. You can see it on the debut seasons of Frasier, Friends and News Radio or the Coen brothers' Hudsucker Proxy, among many other places. They're all pop culture artifacts from an era when blinding, over-the-top prints were in and earthy tones were in. neon!) were the true successors to the early 90's aesthetic and we would all ride that killer wave into the new millennium.
But that 18-month wave of vintage nostalgia gave us more than just Chandler's downright ridiculous Art Deco-inspired ties and Jimmy James' flowy double-breasted suits. He gave us a fresh take on Miracle on 34th Street, one that brought all the elegance of the 1947 original to life in vivid color, serving as a timeless snapshot of a truly unique moment in time. It's been just over 25 years since the remake hit theaters, and not only has the style of the film aged gracefully, but the film itself as well. Miracle on 34th Street is an upscale Christmas classic that deserves to be revisited every holiday season.
Director: James Crow
Writer: James Crow
Stars: Dani Thompson, Lucy Pinder, Ewen MacIntosh
Now, am I leaning towards Miracle on 34th Street because I saw it in theaters when I was 10 and rewatched it every year since, as the film immediately became my family's irreplaceable Christmas Eve movie? Of course. But I'm also incredibly biased towards Christmas as a holiday, concept, and basis for one's existence, and I wholeheartedly proclaim that 1994's Miracle on 34th Street has never failed me when looking for a dose of holiday cheer. The film not only features arguably the greatest live-action Santa Claus of all time, played with zany authority and genuine warmth by the legendary Sir Richard Attenborough, but features a pre-practice Dylan McDermott, an Elizabeth Perkins post-Flintstones, and a post-Mrs. Doubtfire Mara Wilson among the stellar cast of her, star-studded. And, going back to the reason for this seasonal article, they all look great.
Perkins plays Dorey Walker, a mother who calls to tell her daughter, played by Wilson, that Santa Claus doesn't exist. While that parenting decision is questionable in the world of a Christmas movie, the way they're designed and lit is unquestionable.
That family doesn't believe in Santa, but they believe in seeing each other together. You know who else is a stealth style icon in this movie? Santa Claus.
Santa, or rather Kris Kringle, is not far behind! His beard is trimmed, his coat is perfect, he's a vision of vintage perfection. But nothing compares to what the wardrobe department did to Dylan McDermott. Now, McDermott doesn't need much, if any, help to be incredibly handsome. But cast him as lawyer and incredibly snooty quasi-boyfriend Bryan Bedford?
But the real star of the whole movie isn't McDermott. He is, rightly so, the Attenborough Santa. This is not a St. Nick that's decked out in Party City polyester. No, he's wearing what is without a doubt the best and most accurate portrayal of the jolly old elf to ever appear on film.
I know he's actually John Hammond, a dinosaur freak dressed as Santa Claus, but this costume and Attenborough's performance are enough to convince me that he's the real deal. With every scene, from the ASL "Jingle Bells" moment to his outburst in court ("That's it! No! It's true!"), Attenborough creates a Santa that is both inspiring and flawed. He feels, more than the deus ex machinas of other Christmas movies, like a real character, and all of that is enhanced because he looks very much on the money. Also, if he's seen the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street every year for the past 25 years like I have, then you'll know why "in the money" is a pretty clever idiom for this post. No problem.
My appreciation of Sir Attenborough brings me to my most important point: beyond the beautiful looks of this film, there are some truly beautiful performances. Perkins adds an inner warmth to his ice queen, and Wilson is at the peak of her precocious girlish powers. It can truly be argued that Wilson gives the best child performance of all time in a Christmas movie, as the script calls on her to do everything from complicated laugh lines to conveying the existential struggle going on inside her heart over whether or not.
Watch Nightmare on 34th Street 2022 Movie Trailer
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