A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Santa Clause 2

Date Viewed: 1/5/02

Details:

Tim Allen

Elizabeth Mitchell

David Krumholtz

Eric Lloyd

Spencer Breslin

Liliana Mumy

Art LaFleur

Aisha Tyler

Kevin Pollak

Jay Thomas

Michael Dorn

Director: Michael Lembeck

Score: 1/4

The Review: The original Santa Clause movie (1994) was created around a single curious concept: that Santa Claus was not an individual, per se, but an office -- an office whose mantle might be assumed by separate people, successively, over a long period of time. You could think of this as the popular mythos corresponding to Piers Anthony's seven volume "Incarnations of Immortality" science fantasy series -- where the roles of Death, War, Time, Nature, Evil, etc are indeed incarnate, periodically become vacant, and are rotated slowly to (generally unsuspecting) new officeholders, who then acquire the powers of the office. Tim Allen was the excellent selection for the softhearted big boob who would pick up Santa's coat and wear it; the details of what he was committing himself to were detailed as one of the "clauses" in the unsigned implicit agreement buried on a business card in Santa's duds. The first movie was clever and fun and fresh, even as a single concept pun.

Alas, enter "sequel syndrome": Santa Clause 2 is not able to continue the sparkle of its namesake, nor can it compete in humor. It still has Tim Allen, and he remains its strongest asset. The nature of the hidden second clause (the "Mrs clause") is interesting and non-fatal. The eight year delay allows his son to grow up and be the reason for Santa to leave the North Pole: he's a teenager troubled by his inability to tell anyone what job his father has. However, the essential problem is both the imagining of, and the implementation of, an evil Santa clone. Sorry, that's too strong -- he's not quite evil: let's just say overly rule-bound, adherent to the letter of the law, avoiding the spirit, and immune to the advice of elves. (This deserves a Swiss Teutonic ethnic joke, but I will refrain.)

There are some hilarious scenes and some poignant ones, and at least one (the teachers' Christmas party) is both. The Shania Twain sound-alike solo is excruciating, acutely embarrassing, rather funny, and reminiscent of Cameron Diaz's karaoke scene in My Best Friend's Wedding. On the other hand, the transformation of the school's principal is quite something to watch; in just a few days, Mitchell becomes an amazing and alluring catch (a little eye-candy for any baby boomer Dad's or Uncle's in the audience). And the movie offers up just the right smidgen of "Christmas spirit" and antidote to my seasonal curmudeonry, without the ten-pound sledge hammer of It's a Wonderful Life or yet another Christmas Carol.

Early in the movie, the concept of mythos and "office" is extended, with tongue firmly protruding through cheek, to an annual meeting of Mother Nature (Tyler), Santa, Cupid (Pollak), the Tooth Fairy (LaFleur), the Sandman (Dorn), the Easter Bunny (Thomas),... you get the picture. As character actors in drag, it's a short scene but a lot of fun. And it's good to see an interesting idea (and Piers Anthony) being recognized, even if un-credited and taken over the top. It makes you wonder if there will be a semi-sequel coming soon entitled The Tooth Fairy Godfather Chronicles (there must be a better pun buried in there somewhere, but I'm still looking for it).

"Eat your green vegetables, or you'll grow pointy ears."

7-Jan-03

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