Live Action Discussions: The Santa Clause 2

[ichabod]

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The Santa Clause 2 (2002)



Originally released - 1 November 2002
Director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0501185/">Michael Lembeck</a>

Main Cast
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000741/">Tim Allen</a> - Santa Clause / Scott Calvin
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593310/">Elizabeth Mitchell</a> - Principal Carol Calvin
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472710/”>David Krumholtz</a> - Bernard
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005156/">Eric Llloyd</a> - Charlie Calvin
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001662/">Judge Reinhold</a> - Dr. Neil Miller
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0187724/">Wendy Crewson</a> - Laura Miller
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0107748/">Spencer Breslin</a> - Curtis

Domestic Gross - $139,236,327
Worldwide Gross - $172,842,355

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Walt Disney Pictures presents an all-new comedy adventure brimming with holiday cheer, chuckles and all the other Christmas stuff - Santa, the North Pole, elves, reindeer, toys and presents. Tim Allen returns as everybody`s favourite modern-day Santa in The Santa Clause 2. Scott Calvin (Allen) has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him to be the best one ever.

But Santa`s world is turned upside down when his son Charlie lands on this year`s `naughty` list, and Scott discovers that if he doesn`t marry by Christmas Eve - just a month away - he`ll stop being Santa forever. Embracing Christmas with all its heart, warmth, fun and adventure, The Santa Clause 2 is the perfect holiday classic for the entire family.
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Well for me Santa Clause 2 is a mixed bag. I consider the original Santa Clause movie <a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 028">which was discussed last year here</a>, as one a fantastic movie for joining together both Christmas, with an original story about real people and real lives. The Santa Clause 2 tries very hard and succeeds in capturing the same magic and emotion of the first. Again real issues are presented with Santa's own son becoming somewhat of a juvenile delinquent, and Santa's search for a wife do give the film a strong story.

Unfortunately, despite this excellent, magical story, unfortunately this is spread out through the film and the majority of the film is made up of slapstick and silliness, which was nowhere to be found in the original, making the sequel immediately standout as being completely different from the original.

Silly Sound effects, silly costumes, I mean it was a toss up for me who looked worse, the plastic robot Santa or the actress who plays Charlie's Mother, who's had so much work done she's barely recogniseable as the same actress from the first film.

Also I don't which annoyed me more, the "gooba gabba goo" reinder or the other one with the babyish giggle! A ridiculous plastic soldier army added to the mix makes for a sequel which seems to base itself on nothing that was there in the original. Bernard the head elf, seems to have undergone a complete character change from the headstong confident elf of the first film to a whining, blundering buffoon with a silly walk.

The basic plot of the Mrs Clause is a solid one, although would it would have been more convincing if the sequel had been made closer to the original as the gap of 8 years has seen most of the cast age. The film seems to suggest that so much time has elapsed and all of a sudden this Mrs Clause has come to light after all this time, and if Santa doesn't get married in 28 days he'll stop being Santa just seems a slight plothole. Who knows how long after the original this is supposed to be set.

So in short there is a fantastic story here, just buried under a lot of nonsense.

Link to discussion for: <a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 18028">The Santa Clause</a>

Just to finish off, I'd like to moan a bit. The whole point of a discussion is to provide a point of view that either provokes thought and provides discussion. Therefore if you like this film, why? If you don't like it, why? If all you're contribute to this thread is "This film rocks" or "Saw it last year and it sucked", ask yourself, is it worth the bother?

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<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 62">20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 931">Babes in Toyland</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... ackbeard's Ghost</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... dleshoe</a>
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<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 057">Darby O'Gill and the Little People</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 09">Escape to Witch Mountain</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 15">Freaky Friday (2003)</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... Greyfriars Bobby</a>
<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 389">Honey, I Shrunk the Kids</a>
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[TheValentineBros]

I have a request, since Christmas is coming, do "One Magical Christmas" or if you wanna do something else, do "Journey to Natty Gann," the fist film on video to show the 1986 Sorcerrer Mickey logo for Walt Disney Home Video (aka Walt Disney Home Entertainment).

[UncleEd]

My question is what happened/happens to all the previous Mrs. Clauses? Do they vanish when/if their husbands do? In the first film I always wondered if the child like elves were changlings. The first film was darker after all. I know people who claimed Bernard's dad was the Santa Scott Calvin killed.

I've got the same questions of the Legendary Figures. Are these all humans in these roles too or have they always been who they are? I remember reading in a thread somewhere that people were saying that Calvin's boss was really Father Time in disquise making sure he became the next Santa since both roles were played by Peter Boyle. I say it's just coincidence.

I have often wondered what the original Escape Claus sequel was all about. Anyone remember the trailer that showed up around 1998? Any of that ever leaked. I read online that it may have been about the Santa who fell off the roof snuck out from it and Calvin has to get him back. I think this Santa Clause 2 is a bit campy but it's not bad. The third one is just silly and begs the question if there was this Escape Clause then why didn't he use it in the first film? The third film left way too many plot holes as a series.

[slave2moonlight]

Ha, what happened to the other Mrs. Clauses is a great question! Never bothered to think about that before. Anyway, putting that aside, I do believe I find Santa Clause 2 to be the most enjoyable of the trilogy. I don't think either sequel knows how to open a film without being obnoxious, but this one is just a perfect level of fantasy and seriousness for the Christmas season to me. I love the romance stuff and how it's handled, and just find it to be a great film overall. All three films have their good and bad points, but this is my favorite and the only one I have on DVD right now (though that's because I received it as a gift, otherwise I would have slowly bought them in order).

[AwallaceUNC]

Having reviewed this movie for UD two years ago, I don't have a lot more to say. My opinion hasn't changed much since then. I would like to say that I think the most frustrating thing about the sequel is the complete overhaul of the North Pole. An inferior story and inferior comedy might be expected from a sequel, but was a completely different and wholly divergent set at all necessary?? It boggles the mind, really. Clearly, it was part of an intentional effort to manufacture a "family" movie (and thus capture a "family" audience) by creating a kid friendly (read: cartoony) environment. Never a wise move and this movie is an impeccable explanation of why.

EDIT: By the way, ichabod, I love the Christmas LAD banner.

-Aaron