There are no less than five credited writers for "Santa Clause 2" (though it's more like seven if you count the original story authors) and they still only got it half right. The storyline involving everything that happens at the North Pole is insipid and contrived for the youngest potential audience of this G-rated family flick, while the love story has moments of pithiness and sincere charm. Allen is good and so is Mitchell, each working the full range of their characters as Scott attempts to connect with his son and the demonstrably cool lady principal. Like most Disney releases, "Santa Clause 2" is a conflagration of trite family film clichés and, as such, is logically, emotionally and spiritually wrong. For one thing, this film continues to cling to the notion that anyone on the planet would want to be Santa Claus at all, let alone go along with being forced into it. This is insane: You're fat, you have to wear that red suit, and you have to hang out with a bunch of Elves all day. Furthermore, who would want to be married to this guy? The fate for the betrothed is the same: mandatory obesity, bad clothes and Elves everywhere. It's a ridiculous movie about a silly mythical figure who does not exist--and, if he did, he would take just about any opportunity to get out of the job and these dreadful sequels. Starring Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholtz, Spencer Breslin, Kevin Pollack and Molly Shannon. Directed by Michael Lembeck. Written by Don Rhymer and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio and Ed Decter & John J. Strauss. Produced by Brian Reilly, Bobby Newmyer and Jeffrey Silver. A Buena Vista release. Comedy. Rated G. Running time: 105 min
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