Looking for a hot movie for a hot date? "Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" is not the answer.
Tim Allen returns as the big man in the red suit in this third installment, full of corny warmth and fuzziness. The plot follows a confrontation between Kris Cringle and Jack Frost (Martin Short). The over-the-top humor is too immature for older audiences but will suit its target audience - children.
Viewers encounter Santa way up in the rather warm-looking North Pole. We find him bustling about a chaotic toy factory, checking his list for naughty and nice and managing hundreds of elves, all the while trying to spend time with his very expectant wife (Elizabeth Mitchell). To complicate matters, Santa is beset by a jealous and scheming Jack Frost, and must convince his visiting in-laws that they are in Canada. The ensuing clash is climactic in a PC fashion and heartfelt.
As the big man in the red suit bustles about, laughs abound. They're not advanced or deep, but they'll amuse the whole family. Tim Allen ho-ho-ho's through the film as the big kid with an even bigger heart. Martin Short is cold and childish but funny nonetheless. He's not exactly the kind of villain you love to hate, but Jack Frost does manage to become the thorn in the North Pole's side, much to the chagrin of Santa and delight of audiences.
Bringing holiday cheer to viewers while at once capitalizing on it, "Santa" shows the power of a loving family in the chill of the arctic. While it may not be date material, the film does engender the holiday spirit in the pre-Thanksgiving cold. Hugs, love and lots of laughs fill the movie, and "Santa" even puts on a show of juvenile poignancy.
Don't expect deep meaning or tantalizing psychology, but those of us who still remember creaking their way down the steps on Dec. 25 will find something to love in "The Santa Clause 3." The film's cute laughs and simple humor will bring a smile to the lips of even the most cynical audiences. Not to be confused with adult entertainment, it is instead a film one can watch with a younger sibling and not have a terrible time of it.
