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 SANTA
CLAUS 2
This
is a very pro-Christmas film. Christmas has been in a 10-year decline.
There is a drop in gift purchasing. Christmas church attendance
is falling and increasing numbers of school districts are avoiding
traditional Christmas songs and pageants. I, for one, see great
value in the traditional Christmas Celebration. How do you feel?
Review by David Bruce |
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CREDITS
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Directed
by Michael Lembeck
Screenplay
by Ken
Daurio, Cinco Paul, Don Rhymer, John J. Strauss and Ed Decter
Tim Allen .... Scott Calvin/Santa Claus
Elizabeth Mitchell .... Carol Newman
Eric Lloyd .... Charlie Calvin
David Krumholtz .... Bernard
Spencer Breslin .... Curtis
Wendy Crewson .... Laura Miller
Judge Reinhold .... Neil
Alejandro Abellan .... Teacher
Peter Boyle .... Father Time
Michael Dorn .... The Sandman
Bryce Hodgson .... Engineer Elf 2
Dan Joffre .... C-130 Pilot
Art LaFleur .... Tooth Fairy
Kevin Pollak .... Cupid
Andrew Stone .... Picardo
Aisha Tyler .... Mother Nature
Produced
by
Richard Baker .... executive producer
Rick Messina .... executive producer
James Miller .... executive producer
Robert F. Newmyer .... producer
Brian Reilly .... producer
Jeffrey Silver .... producer
William W. Wilson .... executive producer
Original Music by George S. Clinton
Cinematography by Adam Greenberg and Craig Haagensen
Film Editing by David Finfer and Edward A. Warschilka
Rated
PG
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM,
and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG
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TOP:
(L-R)
Tim Allen reprises his role as Santa Claus.
Elizabeth
Mitchell plays Carol, a prospective Mrs. Claus.
David
Krumholtz returns as Head Elf Bernard.
Spencer
Breslin appears as Number Two Elf Curtis.
BOTTOM:
(L-R)
Wendy Crewson returns to play Santa's ex, Laura.
Judge
Reinhold reprises his role as sensitive sweater guy, Neal.
Molly
Shannon plays Tracy, a woman who loves Christmas a little too
much.
Eric
Lloyd reprises his role as Santa's son, Charlie.
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TRAILERS
AND CLIPS
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CD
SOUNDTRACK
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Santa
Clause 2
Various Artists - Soundtrack - 2002
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POSTER
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The Santa Clause 2
27 in x 40 in
Buy This Poster, plain, or
Framed | Mounted |
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BOOK
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The Santa Clause
(The Wonderful World of Disney Series)
by Scott Sorrentino
Complete with eight pages of full-color stills, this novelization
of the upcoming holiday release starring Home Improvement's Tim Allen
is filled with all the humor and adventure sure to make it a hit with
American family audiences. Just what is the Santa Clause?--"Once
you're Santa, you're Santa for life!"
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AVAILABILITY
ON VIDEO AND DVD
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SYNOPSIS
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 Scott
Calvin has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal
elves consider him the best Santa ever. But Santa’s world is
turned upside down when he’s dealt a double whammy of bad news:
not only has his son, Charlie, landed on this year’s “naughty”
list, but if Scott doesn’t marry by Christmas Eve – just
a month away! – he’ll stop being Santa forever. (It’s
right in his contract -- the “Mrs. Clause.”) Desperate,
Scott turns to the elves’ new invention – a machine that
can replicate anything – to create Santa II (a toy version of
himself) and he leaves his double in charge. Things quickly go south
at the North Pole when Santa II institutes some strange redefinitions
of what’s naughty and nice. Worse, when Scott finally falls for
a potential Mrs. Claus, she threatens to drive a wedge between him
and Charlie. In a climactic battle pitting Santa, Charlie, the new
Mrs. Claus, and the elves against Santa II and his army of tin soldiers,
the futures of Scott’s family, the North Pole, and Christmas
itself, hang in the balance. |
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 Review
by
MIKE FURCHES
mike@furches.org
Web site www.furches.org
Mike is the Senior
Pastor at United at the Cross Community Church in Wichita Kansas.
United at the Cross is a church made up of individuals not often
accepted in other churches. The church consists of former gang members,
drug addicts, prostitutes and others. Mike also speaks nationally
on various topics and is a freelance writer. To learn more about
Mike and his ministry link onto www.furches.org.
In the arts Mike has worked with top music artists such as Steppenwolf,
Marshall Tucker Band, Kansas and has an active interest in film.
Mike is pictured with his music band "Route 66."
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The
Santa Clause was released some years ago and as sequels go this
one took some time getting to the big screen. The original Santa
Clause was an enjoyable movie with a few giggles and fun filled
holiday moments. For fans of the original movie, no worry, you will
be pleased with The Santa Clause 2. Virtually all of the original
characters are back and there is actually a little more of a story
line here.
As the story goes, Scott Calvin/Santa, (Tim Allen) has been working
at the North Pole now for 8 years. He is doing a wonderful job and
has an approval rating of 87% among the children, the highest ever.
Things are going smoothly although there are some problems on the
home front with his son Charlie, (Eric Lloyd). Charlie's mom, (Wendy
Crewson) and step father, (Judge Reinhold) are doing the best they
can with their psychological modern era tactics but things just aren't
working out quite so well. Scott has frequent run ins with his school
principal (Elizabeth Mitchell) an attractive principal who seems to
have forgotten about anything related to Christmas and the joy it
brings. It isn't long before Santa has to make a return trip to the
lower 48 states after being informed by his trustworthy elf Bernard,
of two important things. 1) Charlie is in trouble and on this year's
naughty list, and 2) if he isn't married by Christmas Eve he will
cease being Santa.
 There
are several wonderful concepts addressed in The Santa Clause 2.
The love of a father and relationship of how to build a blended family
is obviously part of that scenario. It is one that is touched on but
could have been developed even more. There is the tendency that this
movie carries on too many plot lines and doesn't spend enough time
with either of those except for the romantic relationship which develops
for Santa. If anything the young boy, Charlie, seems to have more
maturity and ability to address his own problems and come up with
his own solutions. It would have been nice to see more of those answers
come from his parents. It is nice to think about the ability of one
to recognize their own need to change though and Charlie does a nice
job of this.
Issues of honesty are also addressed in the movie in a subtle way.
Spencer Breslin, one of my favorite new child actors known for his
role in Disney's The Kid, is again, wonderful and fun to watch in
his role here as Curtis the Elf. He designs a fake, or plastic Santa
to fool the elves as Santa goes on his trip. What follows is disaster
and as a result a potential horrible Christmas for all of the children
around the world. There are also issues of love, change and potential
that are addressed in the movie that will keep the audience captivated
throughout. There are some fun scenes involving the reindeer, especially
Comet and a new kid on the block, Calvin.
There are a number of wonderful scenes in the movie that will make
the audience laugh and a couple that will cause you to tear up. One
memorable scene has to do with Santa bringing some life to a school
teachers Christmas party. This should cause the viewer to reflect
on some of the personally touching moments of Christmas from their
own childhood and this scene in itself almost makes the movie worth
the price or admission.
 Technically
The Santa Clause 2 is wonderfully made. We are introduced to
numerous new characters and the set design and make up effects are
wonderful and certainly in the spirit of Christmas. There are ample
amounts of Christmas themes and music in the background of virtually
every frame that will assist in getting the viewer ready for the Christmas
season.
There were two troubling themes related to the movie for me that I
must make mention of. One was the incorporation of additional holiday
characters that, at least for me, took away from the Christmas theme.
While the Tooth Fairy, (Art LeFleur) plays an important role in the
movie, the addition of such characters as Mother Earth and The Easter
Bunny could have been left out for my taste. There is almost a new
age feel to the character of Mother Earth. This is a flaw that can
easily be explained to children who have difficulty with these characters,
especially when looking at a movie about Santa Claus.
The other problem area for me is the fact that Hollywood continues
to fail to do a movie based on the real legend of Saint Nicholas.
The real story is actually quite exciting and would make a wonderful
movie. The real character had a definite love for Jesus Christ that
could not help be ignored. Many of the symbols related to Christmas
come from the original story line such as candy and gifts in stockings.
When understanding that the real St. Nicholas had a definite deep
love for Jesus Christ you can't help but be a little disappointed
that there is absolutely no mention of Jesus or the Christ Child in
this movie. To the best of my memory there isn't even a nativity,
carol or mention of the name of Christ throughout the entire film.
You can't help but believe that this has been done intentionally and
then people must ask themselves why?
 There
are enough positive themes addressed in the movie to recommend it.
I found myself enjoying the movie and having a good time. There are
positive attributes related to the family and the importance of falling
in love and helping others that makes the film worthy. It also helped
get me further into the Christmas Spirit, although it is only the
first of November. I expect the movie to do well at the box office,
and the crowds will certainly increase as we get closer to the holiday
season. See the movie, and have a good time, but also be reminded
of the birth of the Savior child, Jesus, that the real Santa loved
so much.
On a scale of 1 - 10, minus two messed up reindeers, the non mention
of the Savior, and Mother Earth, an okay and enjoyable 6 |
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VISUAL
REVIEW
By David Bruce
Web Master, HollywoodJesus.com
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Santa
(Tim Allen, right) checks over the toys made by his loyal elves, who
work under the watchful eyes of Head Elf Bernard (David Krumholtz,
center) and Number Two Elf Curtis (Spencer Breslin, left).
This film picks up where the previous film ended. |
 When
naughty-or-nice elf Abby (Danielle Woodman, right) and Head Elf Bernard
show Santa that his son, Charlie, is on the naughty list, the big
guy is stunned.
The reason why son Charlie is on the naughty
list is that he has been using the public school walls to spray-paint
graffiti messages critical of the school's decision to not observe
Christmas. After all, his dad is Santa. This is interesting because
it casts the idea of Christmas celebration as an activity censored
by the public school. |
 When
he finds out that he has to get married by Christmas Eve - or stop
being Santa forever - Scott hotfoots it out of the North Pole with
the help of Head Elf Bernard.
Of course this will turn out to be the connecting
point between Santa and the female principal of the school. |
 In
search of the now-crucial potential wife, Scott Calvin goes on a disastrous
date with Tracy (Molly Shannon), a woman who loves Christmas a little
too much.
Scott Calvin dates a few "no-goes"
in preparation for the inevitable "Mrs. Claus." |
Even
though he's "de-Santafying," Scott still finds time to hang
out with his reindeer, Comet, and his son's stepsister, Lucy (Liliana
Mumy).
Interesting name: Scott Calvin (initials SC,
as in Santa Claus) |
After
mysteriously "de-Santafying," Scott Calvin falls for the
appropriately named Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell), the principal at his
son's high school, during a magical sleigh ride.
The relationship has a slippery start, but it
does indeed develop. This relationship between Santa and the High
School principal is a powerful symbol of the underlying message in
the film: The public sector should not divorce itself from holidays
of a religious nature. |
 Returning
to the North Pole, Scott - flanked by his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd,
left); his new love, Carol; and Head Elf Bernard - finds the place
in need of his help.
During Santa's absence, the North Pole has been
taken over by Santa's toy clone. Santa needs to reclaim his place,
and does so with the help of the school (i.e. the principal). |
 Carol,
the prospective Mrs. Claus, faces an army of tin soldiers at the North
Pole.
In a symbolic way the school has to fight for
its place in Christmas as well. |
Christmas
has been in a 10-year decline as evidenced by a yearly drop in gift
purchasing. Church attendance at Christmas time is falling and increasing
numbers of school districts are avoiding traditional Christmas songs
and pageants. What a timely film. The symbolism is amazing. This film
is terrific for community and church groups to go and see and then
discuss its implication and meaning over coffee. I, for one, see great
value in the traditional Christmas Celebration. How do you feel?
Forum -click
here |
SIDE
NOTE OF INTEREST:
Saint Nicholas, (fourth century) a bishop in Asia Minor (present-day
Turkey), is said to have attended the Council of Nicea. He is the
patron saint of children, and one of the most popular saints of the
church. His feast day is December 6, a holiday that is widely celebrated
in Europe by giving gifts to children. The Dutch form of Saint Nicholas
is Sinterklaas, from which we get the contemporary Santa Claus.
Spiritual
Connections -click here |
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PHOTOS
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CONTINUE:
Review
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Trailers, Photos -click here
About this Film -click here
Spiritual Connections -click
here
Forum -click
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