This film is exactly what it purports to be: the story of five men who were suddenly, inexplicably seized with the Christmas spirit and undertook the wacky, specialized work of being Santa Claus. All five Santas have various challenges -- one is coming to terms with being a gruff jerk for most of his life, one has had a good run for many years and is now poverty-stricken and living with his daughter, one, raised in the Bible Belt, is now struggling with a long-distance same-sex relationship, and another is living the seeming good life in Southern California while being wound very tight around the axle. Oh, and the fifth one is heavy metal hero and shock wrestler Mick Foley, who is perhaps the sweetest of the sweet Santas. If you are expecting something as dark as "Bad Santa," this isn't it. If you are expecting something as scrubbed up as a made-for-TV movie, this isn't it. If you are willing to suspend your disbelief (it is Christmas, after all) and go with the film, you will love it. And you'll see the Christmas spirit shining through!

I'm always a bit fascinated by these documentary type movies which take you inside the lifestyle of real people. I've watched them about mail order brides, living with sex dolls and a raft of others.This one.....well let's just say it's different!We have a gay Santa, a nearly destitute Santa, a grumpy Santa, one who's even changed his name to Santa and then we have the legendary, hardcore wrestler, Mick Foley who wants to be Santa!These guys all seem to have their hearts in the right place (not sure their mind is fully there!!!) and seem to absolutely love the whole Santa belief, to the point it's taken over their lives. The only sane one appears to Mick which is surprising given the number of blows he's taken to his head! Oh, and the other they have in common is their insane eating habits which will see them in an early grave if they don't control their urges and food intake.An interesting insight into an interesting group of guys and their lifestyle. The highlight however is the transformation of Mick into a fantastic, and truly believable Santa.Good for a laugh....

Executive producer Morgan Spurlock (famous for "Supersize Me", "The Greatest Story Ever Sold" and other documentaries), along with the longest list of producers and associate producers I've ever seen, have brought us a film about guys who portray Santa. The film crew spent an entire year following four men who have dedicated their lives to becoming Santa Claus and one who has recently decided to become Santa. So, while these guys get paid to portray the fat man only a small portion of the year, they eat, drink, sleep and think Santa all year long. All this and much more is seen in this non- narrated film that simply lets these men talk about their craft as well as do mostly normal everyday things--such as going shopping, house hunting and spending time with friends.I love documentaries, so when I saw this brand new film about men who dress up as Santa, I was eager to see it. However, in some ways I really wish I hadn't. While there was some really interesting content (such as a cool version of "Deck the Halls" by Twisted Sister and seeing pro wrestler Nick Foley becoming Santa), some of the film featured too much information and I felt like a bit like a voyeur or a guy who accidentally walked in and found grandpa naked! After all, as a kid or even an adult, you don't want to think about Santa's sex life or see Santa getting drunk and becoming a bit profane! But here, it's a warts and all look at five Santas! As for me, I just didn't want to think of one Santa as a swinger or another attending a Bear and Cub convention. It reminded me of my old students who were so fond of saying..."T.M.I." (too much information)! Well made, yes, but also a bit tough to watch and, at times, a tad slow.

We have documented an entire year in the lives of five real-bearded professional Santa Clauses to find out what the rest of the year is like for a man who perpetually looks like Jolly Saint Nick. In the process, they are shown for who they actually are: flawed, flesh and blood men who feel an overbearing responsibility to protect the integrity of the spotless, untarnished reputation of the Red Suit.This documentary is incredible. While most mall Santas are probably just older men from the community who want to give a little something back, this documentary sheds light on the hundreds of other Santas who take the lifestyle to a greater extreme. And the focus on just a handful of the more unconventional really makes this something to see.We have a man struggling with making ends meet who turns to work as Santa, although he does not seem to have the heart for the job (and if this film is any indication, he has terrible eating habits). And then we have the gay Santa who poses for some questionable magazines. Oddly, although this guy sounds like someone a good Christian may not want associating with their children, he is presented as the most caring and sincere of any of the guys in this film. More than anyone else, he embodies the Santa persona.And then there is Mick Foley. Although the name will be familiar to many, the man might not be. Seeing his kindness, his love of children is inspiring. At times things seem a little bizarre (his 12-year old son apparently still believes in Santa), but his exploration of the transformation process is incredible.