Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is officially Santa Claus, and after the events of his first Christmas season he adores his new job. But things are changing, and like with everyone else, Santa Claus is tasked with some new difficult obstacles to overcome. The Santa Clause 2 brings back that pesky clause that now tells Santa that he must get married before Christmas–which is right around the corner–or he can no longer hold the mantle of Head Elf. In addition to his plights regarding marriage and his career, his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), has found himself on the naughty list, and while Santa has checked it twice, it seems that the person that he loves most has put himself in a precarious situation. Santa’s life has never been more stressful; is the big man up to the task?
It’s been eight years since the release of The Santa Clause, and Allen, in his first major film role, took the world by storm. He was endearing, hilarious, and he proved that he had the potential to do great things in Hollywood. In between these Christmas films Allen starred in more than a half dozen films–and fans of the first film surely asked themselves if Allen could fill the shoes of the jolly man and entertain like he did all those years ago. In short–Allen never misses a beat, and he picks back up where he left off, full of emotion, comedy, and vigor. If I’m being honest, while I still genuinely love the first film of the franchise, The Santa Clause 2 manages to shine even brighter than its predecessor. Given the scenarios that the seven (yes, seven) writers provide Allen, he’s able to capitalize and present viewers with some truly phenomenal comedy.
Continuing on the writing, what makes both The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2 is that the writers can take a mythical figure that everyone adores and places on a pedestal, like Santa Clause, and throws him into relatable, down-to-earth scenarios. The Santa Clause 2, possibly even more than the previous film, finds Santa in situations that resonate with viewers. Family always finds ways to nestle its way in the hearts of viewers, and, while there are so many moving parts in this film, family is the primary vehicle by which The Santa Clause 2 reaches everyone watching. Santa Claus is seen struggling with his family, forming relationships, and finding ways to reach Charlie, and, regardless of who you are or where you're from, you’ve experienced familial struggles to some degree. Even as a child I can remember feeling a connection to the characters–particularly Charlie and Lucy (Liliana Mumy)–as an adult, I can appreciate the sentiments even more.
The acting is impeccable, especially from newcomers like Elizabeth Mitchell (Carol) and Spencer Breslin (Curtis), and there’s nothing negative that can be said about this aspect of the film, but still, the story is what shines so brightly and reels in viewers from the start. The Santa Clause is fun, and it presents viewers with an entirely new take on Santa lore, but The Santa Clause 2 is a different animal. It dives deeper into what Santa Claus means, and it seems nearly impossible to watch this film without finding some aspect to latch onto.
I hate to even mention it because of how well done this film is–but there are some minor technical issues that exist throughout the film--but, while they are a tad frustrating, they can be overlooked.
There are a number of classic Christmas films that remain among the best of all time. The Santa Clause 2 is one of those films–and it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without watching it about a dozen times. Seemingly random love stories can ruin a franchise, but The Santa Clause 2 introduces this sentiment in a way that allows it to work well with the rest of the story–proving how brilliant the writing truly is. Santa in distress, family, love, Christmas, comedy, and action combine to create this Christmas miracle of a film, and there’s nothing else quite like this film in existence. The Santa Clause 2 remains one of my favorite Christmas films (firmly within my top five), and I truly believe that it will remain that way.
Directed by Michael Lembeck.
Written by Don Rhymer, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Ed Dector, John J. Strauss, Leo Benvenuti, & Steve Rudnick.
Starring Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholtz, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Spencer Breslin, Liliana Mumy, Danielle Woodman, Art LaFleur, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Pollak Jay Thomas, Michael Dorn, Peter Boyle, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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