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

"You're not Santa anymore. You're just the guy who smells like a cookie."

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is yet another example of the law of diminishing returns. The Santa Clause was charming and fresh, while the subpar The Santa Clause 2 lacked both the magic and charm of the original film. Unfortunately, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause further sucks the life out of the once-promising franchise. Additionally, this third Santa Clause movie is proof-positive that the folks over at Di$ney do not care about quality as long as they can earn a few quick bucks from producing crap. This is hardly surprising, however, considering Di$ney's glut of shameful straight-to-video sequels (including sequels to such classics as The Lion King and Bambi), but at least those films bypassed theatres. Alas, The Santa Clause 3 is a straight-to-video feature that was given a theatrical release. It may be entertaining for five-year-olds, but the film will prove to be sheer torture for the unlucky parent/s forced to endure it for the sake of their kids.

As usual, this entry in the series commences with Christmas fast approaching. Happily married, Scott (Allen) - a.k.a. Santa Claus - and Carol (Mitchell) are about to become parents, and Carol is feeling homesick. To provide Carol with human company as labour day draws near, Scott decides to invite her parents to the North Pole. As it happens, Scott's in-laws are not aware that their son-in-law is Santa Claus - they've been led to believe that he's a Canadian toy manufacturer. To solve the problem, Scott decorates the North Pole to look like Canada, and flies in the in-laws for a visit. Also along for the ride are Scott's ex-wife Laura (Crewson), her new husband Neil (Reinhold) and their daughter Lucy (Mumy). Meanwhile, Jack Frost (Short) has shown up in Santaland with the goal of convincing Scott to invoke the "escape clause" in his contract and step down. This would leave the way open for Jack to assume the suit and the power that comes with it. Thus, Jack Frost begins attempting to turn Scott's life into a frenetic nightmare.

While the previous films owed a debt to A Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause 3 borrows from It's a Wonderful Life, with Scott facing the alternate reality of what would have happened if he never became Santa. There is potential in this idea, but a lot of potential remains untapped. In all likelihood, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause will turn more stomachs than any Saw or Hostel movie due to its shoddy production values, vapid attempts at feel-good sentiment, and a wrongheaded plotline that criticises commercialism while simultaneously embracing it. All of the characters are vacant-eyed and one-dimensional, and they go through the paces with barely a modicum of genuine human feelings. In the case of Jack Frost, he's more disturbingly creepy than funny. The plot takes a full hour to find itself, as it spends way too long running in circles without doing anything interesting or entertaining. Once the story gets to where it's headed, the plot dilemma is literally resolved within minutes.

Television veteran Michael Lembeck was at the helm of The Santa Clause 3. Four years prior, Lembeck made his feature-film debut with The Santa Clause 2. Thus, The Santa Clause 3 suffers from the same flaws as its immediate predecessor; the film looks as if it was made cheaply, with actors, set design and special effects which would be embarrassing in a made-for-TV fare. There is no energy or joy in the filmmaking, nor is there any wit in Ed Decter and John J. Strauss' script. Instead, every flat-looking, laughless frame of the film is permeated with the strong sense that everyone was begrudgingly fulfilling their duties for the money. Rather than any genuine laughs, The Santa Clause 3 offers bathroom gags (the reindeer like to fart a lot). Meanwhile, the relentlessly jaunty score underlines every potential joke and generates schmaltzy moments worthy of cringes. This dreck was made for entertainment purposes, but it failed to keep this reviewer interested. Plus, there's an enormous head-scratching plot hole: why would Santa invite his in-laws to visit THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS?! One would think a slightly less chaotic day would be more appropriate. Any other day of the year, perhaps?

Star Tim Allen - who probably owes Disney another 10 or 20 movies until his soul is freed from bondage and he can die in peace - is still surprisingly likable as Scott Calvin. Still, Allen phoned in his performance here and was clearly in it for the pay-cheque. In the years preceding The Santa Clause 3, Allen featured in such movies as Joe Somebody, The Shaggy Dog, Zoom and Christmas with the Kranks. These titles speak for themselves. Does Allen have any dignity at all? Most of the other actors look disinterested, with returning cast members Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd, Wendy Crewson and Judge Reinhold all coming across as painfully wooden. And then there's Spencer Breslin, who painfully mugs in front of the camera while regurgitating dialogue with a lisp which renders his words unintelligible. Martin Short afforded a degree of flair to his generic villain role, but he's too mean-spirited for a G-rated family movie. Yet again, the adorable Liliana Mumy is the brightest spot of the cast.

What happened to the charm of the original The Santa Clause, and the genuine sweetness? Here, these elements feel forced and artificial. The film is formulaic and predictable (you know exactly when Carol will go into labour, for example), and the plot troubles are resolved all too easily. From the fake-looking sets to the chintzy digital effects to the tedious plot to the contrived emotion, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is a sorry excuse for a children's picture which ranks alongside Deck the Halls and Christmas with the Kranks as one of the most misguided and disingenuous Christmas pictures of the noughties. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is an obvious cash grab film which banked solely on the franchise name to woo audiences into buying into it.

0.9/10

Santa must deal with Jack Frost, as he visits to cause mayhem on the North Pole.

With the fairly successful first Santa Clause flick, it's difficult to see just how a second and third could work. I mean people give Tim Allen a whole ton of crap, and for what? That's my question. He simply starred in three heartwarming Christmas films, simply made for good family enjoyment. People these days just can't understand that, and it honestly bugs me. If you think this is one of the worst Christmas movies ever made, then you obviously don't understand why it was made. No, it won't win awards, and yes, it does have a predictable, and relatively ridiculous plot. That is what it's supposed to be like. A fun time with the family to cherish. Yes, I am a movie critic, but seriously, these movies are made for FUN, and only FUN!. There are some films out there that I will be a bit kind to yes, and that is because it is the Holidays man! Enjoy them! But then again, to each their own right?

Ok, now that I'm done ranting (LOL), I will discuss the premise of The Santa Clause 3. Santa Clause (Tim Allen) must stop the mayhem of Jack Frost (Martin Short) from trying to steal his job of being the jolly big man. Sounds a little mundane eh? well of course. Meanwhile Santa's wife Carol's parents visit, and are told they are in Canada to keep the whole thing a secret. The cast wasn't bad, with Allan Arkin playing the father, and Martin Short adding a nice little twist with Jack Frost. Scott's Ex-wife joins the fun at the North Pole as well, with her new husband (Judge Reinhold). The whole family is pretty much there, with chaos slowly ensuing, and everyone questioning what's going on. At one point during the film, you will be taken back to 1994, when the original Santa Clause film was made, showing the whole sequence of Santa falling off the roof, and Scott Calvin finding out that he indeed must take over his position. That was cool because it really brought back some memories for me, from when I was a young kid watching it every year.

Why this movie gets so much criticism and horrible ratings all around, really confuses me. If you are in the Christmas spirit, and enjoy having a good time with the family, and laughing and what not, just give this film, and the other two a chance. You most likely will not regret it. It's not quite as good as the first, but it's still a part of my family's tradition that I hope will be carried down generations after generations.

7.0/10

Okay..i didnt really like it but some parts were enjoyable and funny. It was good because its nearly christmas, but i wouldn't recommend seeig this movie expecially not around xmas time.

Tim Allen as Santa Clause-hrmmm, a weird combination but it kind of works. I liked Jack Frost, he was great, woo Martin Short! Funny guy! =)

Sort of a too predictable "happy ending" though, everything just has to be right. I have seen the other ones (one and two) ages ago so i dont know which one i enjoyed the most, but the original might be the best. "I INVENTED CHILL!"

A good family movie, like i said before, expecially around xmas time. Even though i only gave it 6/10, still pretty funny lines and acting in it.