THE SANTA CLAUSE 2

US, 2002, 104 minutes, Colour.
Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholz, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Spencer Breslin, Liliana Mumy, Art La Fleur, Kevin Pollack.
Directed by Michael Lembeck.

This sequel takes up immediately after the initial film – though eight years later in release. Four years later there was another sequel, The Escape Clause.

The audience is familiar with most of the central characters, Tim Allen as Scott Calvin who has become Santa Claus, his former wife Wendy Crewson, her new husband, Judge Reinhold. Eric Lloyd has grown much older since his initial appearance. Quite telling in this film is Spencer Breslin who was successful in child roles at this time. There are also guest appearances by actors like Art La Fleur as the Tooth Fairy and Kevin Pollak as Cupid.

All seems to be going well at the North Pole, it appears that there are only 28 days left for Scott’s contract as Santa Claus. He can continue if he finds a wife in that time. He decides to come back to Earth, especially since his son, Charlie, is continually in trouble at school.

The principal of the school, Elizabeth Mitchell, is very, very severe, critical of Charlie, of his parents and, initially, of Scott.

There are a lot of family shenanigans but gradually Scott warms to the principal, she revealing her story to him, but not believing when he reveals his story to her.

As might be expected, it takes a long time (within the 28 days) for her to be able to give consent. She goes to the North Pole, the various characters are summoned, especially the Tooth Fairy who has been very helpful to Scott. Mother Nature presides over the wedding.

However, there is drama because when Scott goes back to earth, the elves are able to reproduce a second Santa – although plastic but performed by Tim Allen himself. The Santa soon becomes a tyrant, imprisoning Bernard, creating a whole lot of soldier toys who take control. So, one of the main tasks for Santa on his return is to confront the plastic caps and and to release the elves.

The next sequel was called The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

1. The continuation of the story? The presuppositions about the family, about Scott Calvin as Santa Claus? His relationship with his son, ex-wife and her partner?

2. Tim Allen as Santa, familiar from the earlier film, the created Santa, plastic, becoming a despot?

3. Santa, the time limitation, his getting thinner, the beard going? 28 days to find a wife? Going back to his family, Charlie in difficulties in playing up at school? His meeting the principal? The clashes with her and her severity?

4. Visiting her, her telling her story, his telling his – and her disbelief?

5. The North Pole, the alternate Santa, plastic, Bernard and his revolution, imprisonment, the other elves, coming to the fore, reproducing the alternate Santa? The Santa and his creating the toy soldiers, the taking control, dictator? Condemning children and their desires?

6. Scott and the principal, sharing, her seeing him being kind and in action, her willingness to go to the North Pole, his proposal on his knees?

7. The crisis, time, the proposal, the acceptance, the wedding?

8. The North Pole, the elves, Curtis and Bernard, Mother Nature, the Tooth Fairy, Cupid…?

9. At the North Pole, Santa himself again, the reindeers, his travelling to deliver the toys?