The Santa Clause 2 Retro Review
Scott Calvin is back and must find a wife to remain Santa Claus in the holiday sequel, “The Santa Clause 2.” While Charlie Calvin is rebelling against his school principal and her perceived hatred of Christmas, Scott is falling victim to the marriage clause in the contract on the card that made him Santa Claus. These comes to a head when Scott comes back to try to help keep Charlie in line and ends up falling in love with Charlie’s principal.
This is a typical sequel. After the fun and folly of the first film, it’s now time to get all lovey dovey. This is basically a high budget Hallmark Channel Original Movie. It’s a rom-com where a woman falls in love with Santa Claus. It’s not bad, but it’s not good. It’s very meh. It’s average. It’s fine. It passes the time but it doesn’t make you think and doesn’t really warm your heart. It’s very by the numbers.
The return of most of the principal cast helps make this film feel, at least, familiar. Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson, Judge Reinhold, Eric Lloyd and David Krumholtz all returned for the main roles. Allen continues to play Santa with gusto. You can tell he’s trying to make this film just as good as the first. If I have one complaint from the returning crew, it’s the relationship between Scott and Neil doesn’t work as well with them being friendly. Judge Reinhold was great playing Neil as an adversary to Allen’s role as Calvin. But, in this film, they are friends and while it makes sense from a storyline evolution, it doesn’t work as well. They are better enemies than they are friends. I did, however, enjoy the addition of Elizabeth Mitchell as Principal Newman. She does a great job as the icy woman who seems to hate Christmas but really is a loving woman who just wants her students, specifically Charlie, to respect the school and her authority.
I would’ve liked it if “The Santa Clause” series had ended at two. The success of the first film meant there was definitely going to be a second. It was inevitable. This film should’ve ended it just being a serviceable sequel. Unfortunately, we got a third film that just wasn’t up to snuff. It’s like “The Mighty Ducks” trilogy in that sense. This movie is fine. I hope you enjoy it. But, I don’t care if I ever see it again.
Ranking: 2 stars out of 5
What did you think of “The Santa Clause 2?”