The Santa Clause 2 Review
Posted by Ashish on 11.04.2002
Tim Allen returns as Santa in this fun little Christmas-time film that should hit a homerun with its target audience...
The Santa Clause 2
Release Date: November 1st, 2002
The original Santa Clause became a hit with kids and families to the tune of $145 million (domestically), and has established itself as a “regular” Christmas-time film. With Christmas 2002 quickly approaching, Disney decided to cash in on the 8 year old franchise and deliver a sequel.
Tim Allen returns here as Scott Calvin, the reigning Santa Clause. Now that he is completely into his role as Santa, he is informed that it is time for him to find a wife, after all, his contract included a Mrs. clause, har har. Santa has also seemed to neglect his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), since taking over the reigns of Rudolp and co. and, shockingly, Charlie shows up on the “naughty list” after becoming a vandal of sorts. So, while the first film was about Scott Calvin transforming from a normal man to Santa, this film focuses on Scott “Santa” Calvin returning to his status as dad to set things right with his son while also searching for a wife. This film, surprisingly, has a few parallel running plots that often create a very hectic atmosphere.
Obviously Tim Allen is not going to take home any Oscars for his role here. But the fact is, this is a simple, goofy, fun film that parents can take their kids to during the Christmas season and have a good time, and that is what it is all about here. The film is geared to garner laughter from the kids and it should succeed without much difficulty. Allen has a certain charm that allows him to shine in roles geared to kids, just as he did in his sitcom (Home Improvement), the first Santa Clause, and the Toy Story franchise.
This movie has some nice jokes and scenes, including a hilarious meeting between the key figures of child mythology (the Tooth Fairy, Mother Nature, etc). It is a film that you can’t really help but have a good time at. Kids will enjoy it for what it is, and older members of the audience will smirk at the innocent fun.
One of the funniest new developments here is the second character Allen plays, a clone Santa replica of himself that fills in for the him (the real Santa) while he is off bonding with his son and looking for a wife. If the real Santa does not find a wife by Christmas Eve, the clone takes over for good. The Clone Santa runs the North Pole in Nazi/sweatshop fashion that leads to many of the films best gags, including an attempt at putting every kid on the “naughty list” and putting together an army of wooden soldiers.
Eric Lloyd does a solid job of stuffing the character of Charlie Calvin, Santa’s son, with juvenile aggression that comes from life without his father around. Elizabeth Mitchell is also solid as Carol, Charlie’s school principal and one of Santa’s potential love interests.
The 411: The Santa Clause 2, at its heart, is just a nice little Christmas film that should have no problem satisfying its target audience and becoming a Christmas time classic, much like the original. Tim Allen brings great warmth and charm to this role and the film includes some funny, creative scenes that will get big laughs out of kids and innocent smiles out of adults. With its G rating, parents should have no trouble taking the kids to this one and having a good time. Just remember one thing parents, accept this movie for what it is and let the kid in you out, don’t over-analyze.
