T'was the day before Christmas and things couldn't be more hectic at the North Pole. Scott (Tim Allen), now comfortable in his role as Santa Claus, is starting to feel the pressures of the job in a big way. The "Naughty and Nice" List needs to be checked twice; his new Number One Elf, Curtis (Spencer Breslin), is a bit needy; the shop is behind on toy production; and the new Mrs. Claus, Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell), is about to give birth to their first child - something Scott is particurly nervous about considering the bang-up job he did with his first son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd).
Carol starts to feel the pressures of living in the North Pole as well, which leads Scott to risk giving away the family secret by inviting her parents, Sylvia and Bud (Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin) to visit the North Pole to be their for the birth of their son. Keeping the secret ends up being one of the movie's funnier running gags. In order to cover his identity, Scott gives the North Pole a Canadian makeover, complete with "Canada Loves Hockey" signs and instructing the elves to end every sentence with "Eh." Scott's ex-wife (Wendy Crewson), her husband Neil (Judge Reinhold) and their daughter Lucy (Liliana Mumy) all want a trip to the North Pole as well.
Further complicating things is Jack Frost (Martin Short), who feels he's being slighted in the Legendary Figures community and wants his own Holiday. After an unsuccessful attempt to pitch his own holidays, including "Frostmas" and "Frost of July," Jack hatches a plan to get Scott to invoke the "Escape Claus," leaving the door open for Jack to become the new Santa.
I was a major fan of the first two Santa Clause movies and, though it has its moments, the third doesn't have the same light-hearted feel as the first two. Although the movie takes place around Christmas, it doesn't have the first two's Christmas feel. Despite a few laughs (mainly the Canada thing), the first third of the movie is a bit of a downer. Once Jack comes into the picture, it takes a turn for the worse; Short does such a good job at making Jack into a slime ball that the movie begins to reflect that. This doesn't hurt the movie to the extent that it can't be enjoyed, but it doesn't help it much either. The plot could involve the hostile takeover of a widget factory in August and have the same impact.
Pacing is another issue. The beginning is slow to start and wastes a lot of time showing just how hectic Scott's daily life is. Though it does a good job at setting up reasons for Scott to want to invoke the Escape Clause, there's little there to balance out why he wouldn't. The plotline involving Scott's ex and her husband wanting to come to the North Pole is a bit overdone and mainly a vehicle for getting Lucy, who steals every scene she's in, to the North Pole. Once the actual "Escape Clause" plot kicks in, the movie is nearly over and everything is wrapped up way too conveniently.
In addition to containing both wide and full frame versions of the movie, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause comes packed with extras. The quality of the extras is about as spotty as the movie itself. Most of the features are things we've already seen, including a piece about special effects production or a blooper reel which isn't much different from the one shown in the credits. The most entertaining piece is "The New Comedians," which is an on the set visit with Tim Allen and Martin Short. I'm convinced that Martin Short could give me a root canal with no novacaine and I'd enjoy it.
Although it has its flaws, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause does have an audience with younger viewers. Older viewers won't find it as enjoyable as the first two, though it is entertaining enough to keep younger kids busy while you wrap presents or take care of other holiday duties.
