The Santa Clause 2 *** (2002, Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold) – Classic Movie Review 1886

Fancy another seasonal caper? Eight years on from the 1994 funny original The Santa Clause, the whole cast returns in 2002, and most especially Tim (Home Improvement) Allen is back as Scott Calvin, the divorcee father who has taken over as Santa. Now he has to leave a substitute in charge at the Pole when his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) needs help.

But when the new substitute Santa causes chaos by redefining the meaning of naughty and nice, can Allen’s Scott Calvin bring his magic back at the Pole and save Christmas? And then Allen finds a new Santa Clause that says he must find a new wife by Christmas Eve or his contract as Santa will be void.

This welcome sequel is certainly amusing enough, even if it is not quite the seasonal comedy cracker classic that the first one was. And, again, it is the drily droll Allen who makes it into a winner. Wendy Crewson once more plays his ex-wife Laura, Eric Lloyd  plays his son Charlie and Judge Reinhold is Laura’s new husband, Dr Neil Miller. And David Krumholtz plays Bernard the Elf. Also Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell, Kevin Pollak and Molly Shannon join the cast.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause followed in 2006.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1886

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