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The Santa Clause 3 2006 WALT DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT, DIRECTED BY MICHAEL LEMBECK Starring Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Martin Short, and Wendy Crewson The already immensely popular Santa Clause franchise has something very special instore for fans this time around. Eight years after the original, we watched as Scott Calvin discovered that he had less than one month to find a wife, or else Christmas faced an uncertain future. On the home front, Scott's son, Charlie, was growing in a rebellious teenager who landed himself on the "bad" list. Scott managed to pull through, cementing his job, and falling in love with Charlie's highschool principal, who would become Mrs. Claus. Four years after marriage, the Claus' seem happier than ever. Carol (Mrs. Claus) is now the North Poles Elementary School teacher, who is asked about how she came to be Mrs. Claus. Suffice to say, the entire feature would be one big flashback sequence. While a good one, the story has taken its fair share of criticism for straying too far from the simplisity of the original, which at this point was twelve years prior. Things are good for the Claus'. However, Mrs. Claus is expecting a baby Claus any day, and Santa is busier than ever, just days before Christmas. In an effort to cheer her up, Scott disobeys the Secret of Santa code of conduct, and brings Carol's parents to the North Pole. Because they dont know anything about Scott being Santa, they only believe him to be a Canadian toy maker. With the entire North Pole fixed up to mimmick Canda, Scott juggles family time with being pulled in a dozen directions at the workshop. To make matters worse, the most unfavorable member of the Legendary Characters Board, Jack Frost (Martin Short), sets out on a mission to replace Scott as Santa. And making matters worse, he does. Frost brings the workshop to borderline ruin, which takes Scott away from his wife and inlaws. When Frost learns of "the escape clause", a clause in which Scott can undo ever becoming Santa by verbally communicating his regret, Frost pulls off one of his greastest tricks, drastically changing everything and everyone into unhappy, unloving forms of their former selves. Calvin vows to right everything, which means he has to get back to the North Pole, which Frost has turned into a resort, and beat Frost at his own game. I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel, although I dont remember laughing out loud. This third installment, however, had me laughing, and laughing often. Martin Short was a great addition to the mix, and his chemistry with Tim Allen was top-notch. Every where you turn, theres a line, a sign hanging on the wall, or a facial expression that will amost guarantee a laugh or two. I havent heard anything about a fourth chapter of this story, but I dont wholeheartedly expect one. The fear of dragging things out increases after the third success, and rightly so. But, in keeping with the timeline, things would begin taking shape within a year or two. Personally, I thing its important to be satisfied as-is. And should they never produce a fourth and final chapter, I would be content with how the third part played out. I think most are. For most, it was simply getting there that proved to be the biggest feat. MOUNT CRUMPIT RATING: 4 / 5 |
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