neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Santa Clause 2
	Michael Lembeck Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholtz, Eric Lloyd, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Spencer Breslin, Liliana Mumy, Art Lafleur, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Pollak, Jay Thomas, Michael Dorn 2002		Was a sequel to the 1994 holiday comedy "The Santa Clause" really necessary? If you're a branding-and-franchise-conscious company such as Disney or a fan of lightweight actor Tim Allen, the answer is "yes." For the rest of us, "The Santa Clause 2" might inspire thoughts of ho-ho-homicide. But murder will get you tossed onto Santa's "Naughty" list, so don't think bad thoughts about the executives who red-and-green-lit this slipshod family film with its cluttered script. The prosaic Mr. Allen is back as Scott Calvin, the suburban Everyman drafted to become Santa in "The Santa Clause." (When the real Santa fell off a roof, cynical, divorced father Scott donned the red suit and — like it or not — became St. Nick.) In the sequel, Scott has the month before Christmas to find a potential Mrs. Claus, or he loses his now-cherished gig as Kris Kringle. (Santa needs a quickie wedding. Shameful.) He leaves his North Pole workshop to the elves, returns to the U.S. and woos the cold-but-sexy principal at his son's high school. (Dubious choice.) The art direction is tacky, and the special effects are sloppy — as is the sentiment.