The Santa Clause 3:
The Escape Clause
When Jack Frost turns back the hands of time, Santa learns that it's a wonderful life after all
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Starring Tim Allen, Martin Short, Ann-Margret, Alan Arkin and Elizabeth Mitchell
Screenplay by Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
Directed by Michael Lembeck
Walt Disney Pictures
Opened Nov. 3
Rated G
By Resa Nelson
In The Santa Clause (1994), Scott Calvin (Allen) accidentally caused the demise of Santa Clause—and by putting on Santa's big red coat, Scott unwittingly agreed to a legal and binding clause that he would become the new Santa. In Santa Clause 2 (2002), Scott learned of a new clause: If he didn't find a wife before the next Christmas, he would automatically become "de-Santafied" and get booted off the job. This time, there's a third new clause: The Escape Clause is an option that Scott doesn't want to take.
The comedic dialogue is so weak that the funniest part of the movie is the outtakes shown at the end, when the credits roll.
It's a few weeks before Christmas, and Scott's wife, Carol (Mitchell), is pregnant with their first child. Because of the demands of Scott's job—getting toys ready to deliver all over the world—Carol gets the blues. She misses the company of fellow humans. She's so lonely that she wishes for the company of her constantly bickering parents (Arkin and Ann-Margret).
To cheer her up, Scott fetches her folks as well as his own extended family: Scott's ex-wife, her husband and their daughter. While Scott's own family knows his secret, the in-laws don't. Compelled to keep the SOS (Secret of Santa), Scott and the elves go to great lengths to convince the in-laws that they're in Canada—not the North Pole.
In the meantime, Scott's fellow legendary figure, Jack Frost, has Santa envy. Tired of playing second fiddle, Jack longs to be famous and adored. When he gets in trouble with the council of legendary figures, Jack weasels his way into a job helping the elves at the North Pole. But his real mission is to find a way to get rid of Santa Clause and take his place.
After instigating a lot of mischief and distractions, Jack discovers the secret of the Escape Clause and how it works. While Scott is busy trying to get his work done and make sure his in-laws still think they're in Canada, Jack sneaks around, devises a wicked plan and executes it. He manipulates Scott into invoking the Escape Clause, and they return to the day that Scott first put on Santa's suit.
This time, Jack Frost is the one who puts on the suit and becomes Santa Clause. Scott suddenly finds himself in a future where he has no wife and no life and Christmas as we know it has been replaced by something more crass and commercial than anything ever seen before.
Jack Frost nipping at your job
Like its predecessors, The Santa Clause 3 knows how to reflect American society. The first movie revolved around the strains placed on a family that has gone through a divorce. The second movie looked at how blended families can survive and thrive after divorce. This film is influenced by the demands placed on parents by their jobs and the impact those demands ultimately have on families.
But the plot often seems convoluted and contrived. In general, the comedic dialogue is so weak that the funniest part of the movie is the outtakes shown at the end, when the credits roll. The-North-Pole-parading-as-Canada is a running gag that quickly runs out of breath. However, the comedic details—such as signs and background announcements—are right on target. Allen continues to deliver a solid performance as Scott, and Short is his perfect foil, delivering a deliciously evil turn as a villain.
Visually, this film is gorgeous and rich in detail. The North Pole is always a fun place to visit, and there are plenty of new sights to see in this installment. Because almost all the action takes place at the North Pole, there's always something delightful around every corner.
The Santa Clause 3 borrows elements from It's a Wonderful Life (what would life be like if Jack Frost had become Santa instead of Scott?) and the Back to the Future movies. These scenes are so much fun that it's a shame they make up so little of the movie. Instead, a lot of time is spent setting up the situation of the in-laws' visit and Jack Frost's machinations, and too little time is spent in the world of Jack Frost as Santa.
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw14031.html 