Heartland -- UPI Arts & Entertainment

NASHVILLE, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Following in the steps of Jimmy Stewart, Bing Crosby and Rudolph, Garth Brooks is hoping to take his place among Christmas classics, with his latest project, the film, "Call Me Claus."

"Call Me Claus," starring Whoppi Goldberg, aired Dec. 2 on cable's Turner Network Television. The video, which has Brooks providing original music, as well as serving as executive producer of the comedy, will be available in the stores on Dec. 11.

Brooks wants "Call Me Claus" to be a film that families watch year-after-year, he said during a recent interview in Nashville.

"My greatest hope for this film is that we get families gathering to watch it together, and that the music enriches the experience for them," Brooks said.

While the film stars Goldberg, the project is peppered with the distinct voice of Brooks as he sings the title track, a big-band swing tune. Perhaps the most memorable -- and fun -- song from the film is the remake of Louis Armstrong's campy R&B-flavored "Zat You Santa Claus?"

The songs from "Call Me Claus" are on Brooks' second Christmas release," The Magic of Christmas," which originally was released in 1999. The album was updated for its 2001 holiday release with the new music, but retains many of the original tunes, including "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and modern standards such as "Winter Wonderland," "Sleigh Ride," and "Silver Bells."

Brooks indeed may get his wish. "Call Me Claus" has all the makings of a holiday classic.

Goldberg stars as Lucy Cullins, a cynical television producer at the Shop-A-Lot cable network. When Cullins hires someone to play Santa Claus for the network's holiday programming, she ends up with an actor named Nick, who happens to be the real Santa Claus.

As it turns out, Nick is facing retirement from his Santa Claus gig after 200 years on the job, and must find a replacement before Christmas Eve or the world faces irreparable harm.

Nick's unlikely first choice for the job is Lucy, who he must convince to give love, joy and the spirit of Christmas another chance.

The film taps into all of the traps of the current culture, including materialism, cynicism and stress. More than one adult likely will feel guilty as he watches the career-obsessed Lucy go throughout her day.

For kids, the characterization of Santa and the elves is inventive, filling in some of the question marks as to how Santa can travel all over the world in just one night and how Santa's elves make all of those cool toys.

And, of course, there is a happy ending, so that the world is spared of catastrophic consequences.

"Christmas is everything for me," Brooks said. "It is a holiday where it seems that, for 24 hours, people take down the walls. Christmas has become one of the biggest money holidays, but right in the center of all of it is this 24 hours of being with your family, loving one another. Everything's all right for 24 hours, and that's how it should be, especially with the recent tragic events that have affected all of us."