The Santa Clause 2 (DVD)

...often these films can transport the inner child in us to a special, curtain drawn place for just a couple of hours. This is made even better when you catch a Christmas movie that engenders all that goodwill that comes with the seasonal territory. Here’s a movie that can capture a moment.

With Christmas comes pester power where seasonal movies pitched at the younger audience engender an annual round of "Please take me to see it ...
...time, we stumbled across the trailer for Santa Claus 2 whilst watching Harry Potter's latest incarnation. Skilfully crafted there were just enough images to get the kids to salivate and force a promise from their unsuspecting parents to take them, which, of course, I duly did (being the nice dad that I am).

This particular genre is unique with it almost having a category all too itself. You know all of the elements will be there whilst ... more

It may well be that I have a garage full of children’s videos/DVDs. You will have guessed that by now but often these films can transport the inner child in us to a special, curtain drawn place for just a couple of hours. This is made even better when you catch a Christmas movie that engenders all that goodwill that comes with the seasonal territory. Here’s a movie that can capture a moment.

With Christmas comes pester power where seasonal movies pitched at the younger audience engender an annual round of "Please take me to see it mummy/daddy." On our original visit to the cinema back at release time, we stumbled across the trailer for Santa Claus 2 whilst watching Harry Potter's latest incarnation. Skilfully crafted there were just enough images to get the kids to salivate and force a promise from their unsuspecting parents to take them, which, of course, I duly did (being the nice dad that I am).

This particular genre is unique with it almost having a category all too itself. You know all of the elements will be there whilst almost automatically cross-referencing any new offerings to the monoliths of the past i.e. Miracle on 34th Street and the James Stewart fuelled It's a wonderful life. It's all about Father Christmas, snow falling and all of those lovely Yuletide messages about love and giving whilst under the influence of eggnog and a sprig of mistletoe.

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Principal Cast:

Tim Allen ~ Scott Calvin/Santa Clause/Toy Santa
Elizabeth Mitchell ~ Carol Newman/Mrs. Clause
David Krumholtz ~ Bernard
Eric Lloyd ~ Charlie Calvin
Judge Reinhold ~ Dr. Neal Miller
Wendy Crewson ~ Laura Miller
Spencer Breslin ~ Curtis
Liliana Mumy ~ Lucy
Danielle Woodman ~ Abby
Art LaFleur ~ Tooth Fairy
Aisha Tyler ~ Mother Nature
Kevin Pollak ~ Cupid
Jay Thomas ~ Easter Bunny
Michael Dorn ~ Sandman

Running Time: 105 mins
Cert: U
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If you haven't seen the first movie then, briefly, Santa Claus dies falling off Tim Allen’s middle-class suburban American roof. Unfortunately, Santa expires but not to worry because Tim takes up the mantle of successor thus ensuring the enduring tradition of delivery billions of gifts in one evening is carried on for the foreseeable future.

The sequel picks up a few years on. All is well in Santa land somewhere in the North Pole. However, this is not the case back in the States with Santa's son - Charlie - displaying dysfunctional behaviour in High school. Shock upon shock, Santa is told by his erstwhile elves that not only has his son been struck of the nice list (and surfaced on the naughty one instead) but an overlooked clause (get it?) on his original Santa contract means that he needs to find a bride before Christmas Eve. Alternatively, he risks returning to his original mortal state thus, once again, depriving the world of a free supply of material possessions to enjoy before returning them to Marks & Spencer in the New Year.

With time running out and Allen rapidly de-santifying, he goes west to sort out his duel problem but who will keep the toy factory going in the lead up to the big night? Well, courtesy of a kind of sci-fi B-movie machine, a doppelganger of Santa is manufactured to look after operations in the not so grim but ever so cold North (Why is it always cold up t’Narth?). A successful outcome means the duplicate Santa can take charge even if he has got a rather plastic complexion together with a distinctly UPVC backside. This provides the sub-plot as Santa 2 goes haywire introducing a militaristic regime into Santa Land whilst the nice Santa tries to sort his offspring out whilst finding a suitable Mrs Santa (Hope you followed all of that).

Michael Lembeck directs although his track record mainly involves TV work so it's hard to pin down any productions to compare this one too. The depth of feeling required to navigate this particular story is hardly Oscar winning stuff so maybe it's a gentle introduction into the world of movie making for the man from Brooklyn. Special effects are present in sizeable festive portions to re-create the magic of Christmas along with giving the audience a white bearded sense of well being just in time for December 25th.

Cinematography is jointly down to Adam Greenberg and Craig Haagensen who conjures up a white wash world of snow and ice whilst adopting adventurous camera poses to take account of the stunt scenes needed alongside the more pedestrian passages.

Music comes from George S Clinton and strikes just the right chord whilst a variety of yuletide classics find their way in between lines.

Tim Allen strolls through the lead, his combination of gentle wit and effortless guile serving to convince as an amiable Father Christmas although he's never a million miles away from Buzz Lightyear as suggested by a line towards the end from the plastic Santa twin "You are a strange, little man." I have to admit to liking Allen's on-screen charm although I can never get to far away from his role in Home Improvement either replete with mildly funny gags that you don't necessarily laugh at but bring a wry smile to one's face. He strikes up some reasonable chemistry with the all too obvious future Mrs Santa (Elizabeth Mitchell) even if it was enough to attract a 5-year-old <ewww> from my lad during the magical mistletoe scene. Mitchell turns from hard-faced school principal to fun loving future wife just a little too quickly for me but then we only have 28 days for Santa to satisfy the overlooked clause so maybe it's all part of the festive favourite's magic?

Judge Reinhold and Wendy Crewson make up the numbers as Allen's ex-wife and psychiatrist husband whilst Eric Lloyd seems ponderous as the attention-seeking teenager who simultaneously tries to impress his new girlfriend whilst making a statement about the lack of Christmas decorations present in his school via various misdemeanours involving spray paint.

As you'd expect, this one is firmly pitched at a family audience looking for that feel good factor at Christmas time.

Best scenes included:

 The magic horse-drawn carriage ride involving Scott (Santa's alternative persona) and Carol the school principal.

 The seemingly J M Barrie inspired secret Santa scene at the faculty Christmas party where the participants get toy gifts that take them back to their childhood times (loved the robot boxers whose heads come up when receiving a knock out punch)

 The sleigh fight towards the end involving both Santa antagonists struggling at several thousand feet.

 Most of the scenes with the reindeers got laughs, in particular, those scenes involving Comet (a rather irksome creature that grunts and farts) and Chet the antlered newcomer to the reindeer set up.

To be honest, this film hasn't really got any one strong message rarely managing to get above the surface of children's entertainment. The script looks to cement the already overcrowded market of telling folks that Christmas is a time for giving, re-enforcing the concept of the perpetual Santa laughing merrily and dispensing joy wherever he goes.

Santa Claus 2 won't go down as a classic but it's harmless fun for that time of year and a pleasant enough distraction for those with kids. Watch it with that in mind and you won't go far wrong.

Thanks for reading

Marandina

More info at: http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/santaclause2/main.html

DVD available for £16.99 on Amazon (£8.99 used)
Santa Clause (the first movie) is available for £6.99.
Alternatively shop around via Ciao links etc.

Technical info on DVD:
Release Information:
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
DVD Release Date: November 17, 2003
Run Time: 100 minutes
Edition Details:
• Region 2 encoding (Europe, Middle East & Japan only)
• PAL
• ASIN: B0000DZRFB
• Catalogue Number: D888761

 

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