The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

Scott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for nearly ten years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus.

Director:

Michael Lembeck

Writers:

Don Rhymer (screenplay), Cinco Paul (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Allen	...	Scott Calvin / Santa / Toy Santa
Elizabeth Mitchell	...	Carol
David Krumholtz	...	Bernard
Eric Lloyd	...	Charlie Calvin
Judge Reinhold	...	Neil Miller
Wendy Crewson	...	Laura Miller
Spencer Breslin	...	Curtis
Liliana Mumy	...	Lucy Miller
Danielle Woodman	...	Abby
Art LaFleur	...	Tooth Fairy (as Art Lafleur)
Aisha Tyler	...	Mother Nature
Kevin Pollak	...	Cupid
Jay Thomas	...	Easter Bunny
Michael Dorn	...	Sandman
Christopher Attadia	...	Engineer Elf #1

Storyline

Scott Calvin has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best Santa ever. But he's got problems, such as a mysterious weight loss, and then he discovers that his son Charlie has landed on this year's "naughty" list. Desperate to help his son, Scott heads back home, putting a substitute Claus in charge of the North Pole. But when the substitute institutes some strange redefinition of naughty and nice that put Christmas at risk, Scott must return with a new bag of magic to save Christmas.

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Plot Keywords:

santa claus character | the easter bunny character | playing american football | father time | race against time | 

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Taglines:

What's Christmas Fun without some Reindeer Games?

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Disney's official site

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Santa Clause 2: The Escape Clause

Filming Locations:

Kitsilano Secondary School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$29,008,696, 3 November 2002

Gross USA:

$139,236,327

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$172,855,065

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Outlaw Productions (I), Boxing Cat Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Tim Allen and Molly Shannon, who are featured in the restaurant date scene, also appear in other Christmas movies apart from this franchise. Tim Allen starred in Christmas with the Kranks (2004), and Molly Shannon had a supporting role as one of the Whos in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).

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Goofs

The toy soldier that threatens Abby has its arms raised in one shot, at its sides in the next, then raised again.

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Quotes

Elf Center: Ready, hike!

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Crazy Credits

About 30 seconds after the credits begin to roll they begin to show a scene where Carol has transformed into Mrs. Claus and the puppets are dancing to the music playing over the credits.

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Connections

Spoofs The Sum of All Fears (2002)

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Soundtracks

Santa Claus Lane
Written by Bridget Benenate, Matthew Gerrard, Jay Landers, and Charlie Midnight
Published by Walt Disney Music Company (ASCAP), and Music of Windswept Pacific o/b/o Five Card Music and Friends of Seagulls Music Publishing
Shahasu Music and WB Music Corp. o/b/o Itself & G Matt Music
Performed by Hilary Duff
Courtesy of Buena Vista Records

User Reviews

From a fan of the first, this is a major disappointment...

Any film that regards The Toothfairy as The Moleinator is in serious trouble. But that's not the only problem with "The Santa Clause 2" -- the problem is its lack of freshness and enjoyability. The first film was a real Christmas treat; funny, ocassionally rather surprisingly witty, and always with a tender side and a refreshing Holiday spirit.

The second vehicle -- though filmed eight years apart from the first -- seems like a cash-in, and nothing more. Santa (Tim Allen), a.k.a. Scott Calvin (look at the initials), is as happy as can be. He's been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and the children have been happier since he became Santa. (Who takes these polls?) But as Christmas draws closer, Scott realizes that not only is his son, Charlie, on the Naughty List, there's a second clause in the contract that states he must become married to "The Mrs. Claus" in 27 days, or he'll be history.

The head elf, Bernard, along with the help of another fellow elf (Specer Breslin, "The Cat in the Hat"), duplicates a fake Santa to watch over things as the real Scott goes home to tend to family matters. But the new Santa Claus is an evil dictator who comes to work in Hitler's outfit and demands that all children be given coal. It's the funniest part of the movie, apart from when Evil Santa says to Good Santa, "You are a sad, strange little man," which is of course a little Disney in-joke. (Tim is mimicking his own Buzz Lightyear character from Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story.")

"The Santa Clause 2" got a lot of good reviews that called it an enjoyable and charming little movie, but I missed something. The first film was something both kids and adults alike could equally enjoy. Allen was funnier, the film was funnier, and it was much more charming than this. And for a film made eight years earlier, its special effects are superior. (At the end of "2," Scott hangs off the back of Evil Santa's flying sleigh and...it simply has to be seen to be appalled by.)

There's a major plot hole in the entire idea of Santa Claus existing in our world that need not be pointed out by me -- and I won't, in case there are children reading this. But whereas the first film had fun with the notion of Santa Claus being real, "The Santa Clause 2" bashes it all over the head. Charlie cries at one point because his dad has "the best job in the world" but he is unable to tell all his friends. Boo-hoo. The thing is, "The Santa Clause 2" takes the idea of Santa Claus too far. It's not fun anymore. Just watch the first -- and far superior -- film instead.

Another thing: The first film seemed very down to earth, very simple and fun. This movie is all over the place. A television show director made "The Santa Clause 2," and it's very evident that this is so. The movie is too sporadically daffy and serious and not at all inspired. I still remember seeing the first film and being delighted by its sheer heart. This movie doesn't really have one.

I like Tim Allen's dry ironic humor because I think he knows how to make good use of it. He used it to perfection in "Home Improvement," used it even better in "The Santa Clause," voiced the witty Buzz Lightyears, and then appeared in a string of flops, including "Big Trouble" and "Who is Cletis Tout?" Here's to "Toy Story 3" -- if Pixar ever manages to break away from Disney and its stupid no-more-sequels contract.

2/5 stars.

• John Ulmer