History YMMV / SantaClausConquersTheMartians

** The menacing polar bear is obviously just some dude in a cheap costume (or, [[TyopOnTheCover as the opening credits put it, "custume"]]).

* SpecialEffectFailure: The man in the polar bear "custume" must be seen to be believed.
** Torg the Robot is possibly as sad, if not worse than the polar bear. He too, also has to be seen to be believed.

** Dropo is played by Bill [=McCutcheon=], who went onto play Uncle Wally on ''Series/SesameStreet'' and Owen Jenkins in ''Film/SteelMagnolias'', along with a prolific Broadway career that included a Best Featured Actor in a Musical [[UsefulNotes/TonyAwardWinners Tony Award]].

** As the [=MST3K=] episode pointed out, Torg’s {{Leitmotif}} sounds like the theme for Series/{{Jeopardy}} in a minor key.

** As the [=MST3K=] episode pointed out, Torg’s {{Leitmotif}} sounds like the theme for GameShow/{{Jeopardy}} in a minor key.

** Dropo is played by Bill [=McCutcheon=], who went onto play Uncle Wally on ''Series/SesameStreet'' and Owen Jenkins in ''Film/SteelMagnolias''.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Why yes, one of the Martian children is indeed played by Pia Zadora.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:

* {{Padding}}: The entire sequence of going to see Chochem is 4 minutes and 30 seconds in length, and it feels absolutely ''interminable''. The ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' broadcast wisely cuts it down, with Bomar and Girmar getting into bed segueing right into Chochem's advice after the commercial break.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Why yes, one of the Martian children is indeed played by Pia Zadora. It’s a point [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 the crew above the Satellite of Love]] constantly point out.

* WhatAnIdiot: The Martians have voice-activated technology for their doors, and have been able to create devices that receive Earth television transmissions... yet no one on Mars seems to have ever invented locks, which would have kept Droppo from stowing away in the ship's radar box and prevented Voldar from sabotaging the toy machine.
** Voldar, Shim and Stobo inadvertently kidnap ''Dropo'', simply because he ''put on the suit''. What's more, Dropo is able to escape, simply by ''switching two light bulbs''.
*** Not only that, but for no reason at all, Dropo ''goes along with it'' by keeping the costume and beard on and saying nothing but "Ho, ho, ho!" instead of dropping the disguise and confessing that he isn't Santa. Then again, he may be worried that they'll dispose of him ''that much faster'' if he did that.

*** Not only that, but for no reason at all, Dropo ''goes along with it'' by keeping the costume and beard on and saying nothing but "Ho, ho, ho!" instead of dropping the disguise and confessing that he isn't Santa.

** The United States is presented as having its own "Space Force". Decades later, a certain [[Creator/DonaldTrump highly controversial president]] would suggest establishing a new branch of armed service called just that.

* EarWorm: Good luck ever getting "Hooray for Santy Claus" out of your head.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeWiki: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdprrh9Gw8U Hooray for Santa Claus]] is an insanely catchy song featuring a children's choir.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Santa is a MagnificentBastard that knows exactly what's going on the whole time and plays along just for laughs.

* SnarkBait: The only movie to be mocked by Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000, WebVideo/CinematicTitanic ''and'' Podcast/{{Rifftrax}}.

* HarsherInHindsight: The Martians' initial conflict of their children never knowing fun and essentially being born as adults when information is beamed into their brains from birth, as well as being addicted to Earth TV, became more socially relevant when modern-day children can be given smartphones and tablets at very young ages, are often pressured to grow up too fast and have little, if any time for fun and games.

* AngstWhatAngst: Santa doesn't ever seem phased by his predicament, instead treating it like a free trip to Mars. Even after Voldar attempts to toss him into space, he explains the whole thing away as a mistake, but his tone implies [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow he's fully aware Voldar was out to kill him]] but doesn't care because he doesn't think Voldar's a real threat.