The Santa Clause 2 (G, 2002)

In this sequel, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) learns there is one more "Santa Clause" in his obligation to fill Santa's shoes. He must marry a Mrs. Claus before Christmas, only 28 days away. He returns home to visit his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd), so that he can find out how Charlie got on the "naughty" list and find a Mrs. Claus to bring back to the North Pole. Charlie is in trouble for vandalizing the school with graffiti protesting the principal's refusal to celebrate Christmas. The principal is very stern and Scrooge-ish, but behind those glasses she might just make a good Mrs. Claus. Meanwhile, back at the North Pole, Santa has left a mechanical substitute (also played by Allen), who gets wired on a couple of gallons of hot cocoa and decides that all the children have been naughty and will get lumps of coal in their stockings this year.

This overstuffed turkey of a movie wraps itself in holly and hot cocoa only to come to the conclusion that the magic of Christmas is...getting presents. When it comes to the true Christmas spirit, this movie makes Home Alone look like The Gift of the Magi.

Yes, it has Disney's meticulously imaginative art direction, and Allen's comic timing is always a pleasure. But the overall theme that Christmas is about getting the perfect gift, even if you haven't been entirely good, compounded by intrusive product placements for McDonald's and Nestle, will leave the audience feeling like it has just eaten an entire plum pudding. As with the first film, parents should use caution in bringing children who may be grappling with the issue of Santa's existence to see this, and should be prepared to discuss their own traditions and beliefs.

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Michael Lembeck
Cast: David Krumholtz, Elizabeth Mitchell, Tim Allen
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release: October 27, 2002
DVD release: November 18, 2003
MPAA Rating: G
MPAA explanation: general audiences