Review: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

[Jerry Saravia]

THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE (2006)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Two stars and a half

My only expectation with "The Santa Clause" movies is to laugh and to
have a jolly good time watching Tim Allen dress up as Santa Claus (if
you think about it, he is the only actor that can wear that costume
and not look ridiculous). "The Santa Clause 3" is more of the same
and, despite a shortened, unfunny third act, it works and it has a
genial tone that is more pleasing in this day and age than you might
think.

Tim Allen is back as Scott Calvin aka Santa, more jolly than ever and
perhaps a little ego-driven (a fireplace is molded to resemble Santa's
mouth). Carol aka Mrs. Claus (Elizabeth Mitchell) is none too happy
because she is pregnant at the worst time of the year, Christmas,
which is when Santa and his elves work hard to make toys. So, not
unlike Scott's problems from the original where he was a divorced dad,
he is in danger of getting a second divorce because he works too hard
(he has to - he's Santa!) Since Carol is homesick and wants to see her
family, Scott brings her parents (Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret) along with
his ex-wife, Laura (Wendy Crewson), her yoga-worshipping, spiritually
composed husband, Neil (Judge Reinhold) and their daughter, Lucy
(Liliana Mumy). Scott's ex-wife's family already know he is the jolly
red-suited guy yet Carol's parents are clueless, and a little
perturbed that Scott's ex-wife is invited. Scott convinces his in-laws
that they are in Canada and that all Canadians look like elves (the
miniature hospital room and the elvish doctor should be signs that
Scott is lying).

In the midst of all this, there is the wild, wily, frosty Jack Frost
(Martin Short) who, to no one's surprise, wants to be jolly old Santa.
Apparently his idea of Santa is to change the North Pole into a
commercial theme park where his elves work as retail employees sans
creating toys, and he gets to perform songs with the kind of gusto
straight out of Broadway! Ironically, he gets his wish in the Hall of
Snowglobes and the less said about that, the better.

"Santa Clause 3" has some chuckles and laughs strewn throughout, but
the "It's a Wonderful Life" nightmare at the 3/4 mark turns into some
sort of anticlimax and is given short-shrift (not that the alternate
time line wouldn't end happily with the jolly red giant but it feels
extraneous). I just wish the filmmakers had more faith in their Jack
Frost premise and stretched it out, giving Martin Short the
opportunity to really let loose with some inspired chaos. Plus, the
most entertaining performance in the movie is from Alan Arkin, and one
wishes the filmmakers had more faith in his character's doubts and
concerns over hard-working Scott.

Still, for fans of the other "Santa Clause" movies, "Santa Clause 3"
will do just fine. There are some nifty cameos by Mother Nature,
Sandman, and the late Peter Boyle as Father Time. And for some good
laughs, there is the funny tyke Curtis, the Experimental Elf (Spencer
Breslin) who tries to coax Santa for some solidarity with the "help
me, help you" speech. The movie is harmless family entertainment but
it feels a little too short and precious for its own good.


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