BETTER THAN THE SECOND BY FAR!

The Santa Clause franchise began, in 1994, as the ultimate collision of workaholic-Dad-snapped-into-li​ne-by-fantastical-intervention cinema (see The Family Man, Liar Liar, Click, et al) and high concept piffle (ordinary guy becomes… Santa Claus). The movies have since served as one of the two twin pillars, alongside the Toy Story films, in star Tim Allen's otherwise scant big screen career. Eight years passed between the original and its sequel, but the $172 million worldwide gross of The Santa Clause 2 (almost on par with its forebear) cemented plans for a trilogy.

While the films have taken a turn for even more family-friendly terrain (the original was rated PG, the latter two flicks both G), the result — somewhat paradoxically, when stacked up against many other live action family franchises — is not a movie that feels tame or uncertain, but one emboldened by the clear purpose and vision of its mission. Yes, there are still, dishearteningly, reindeer flatulence jokes and a sound mix full of cartoon cacophonies, but for the most part The Escape Clause succeeds as a credible adventure flick for little tykes.

Michael Lembeck returns as director from The Santa Clause 2, and guides the movie with a sure hand. He's aided by a solid screenplay by Ed Decter and John Strauss — the original writers of There's Something About Mary, who've generally refocused their efforts on younger audiences, going on to pen scripts for The Wild and The Lizzie McGuire Movie, among others — and an engagingly colorful villainous performance by Martin Short as the jealous Jack Frost.

After having become Santa in the first movie, Scott Calvin (Allen) has tried to juggle the demands of the job with his personal life. The Escape Clause finds Santa taking on new challenges as his extended family continues to grow. At the risk of giving away its secret location, Scott invites his in-laws, Sylvia and Bud Newman (Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin, a rich pair) to the North Pole to share in the holiday festivities and be near their daughter, Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell), as she prepares for the eagerly anticipated birth of Baby Claus. The problem, of course, is that Carol's parents don't know about Scott's secret identity (they just think he's a north-of-the-border toymaker), so he disguises the North Pole as Canada, instructing all his elves to cover up their pointy ears and go about appending, "ehh?" to the end of every other sentence.

Further complicating matters are Scott's own blended brood — ex-wife Laura (Wendy Crewson), her new husband Neil (Judge Reinhold), their daughter Lucy (a very effective Liliana Mumy) and Scott's son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) — who beg on for a trip of their own, and have to be entertained as well as keep the secret from the Newmans.

The main complication, though, is Jack Frost (Short), an icy-browed outcast on the Council of Legendary Figures, a group which includes the Easter Bunny, Father Time, Mother Nature, Cupid, et al. Jack wants his own holiday, and when rebuffed by the council he hatches a mischievous scheme to wreck Scott's holiday and make him unwittingly invoke the titular "escape clause," thus freeing the path for Jack to become the new Santa Claus.

THE WHOLE FAMILY LOVED IT--MUST BUY

OVERALL
8/10

Jack Frost Become Santa Clause?

This One To Us Could Have Been Better. As It Seems To be a Negative Movie as Opposed to The Others.

Santa is Really Stressed Out Over Everything Going on In His Life. Carol is Pregnant, The Toys are Not Ready For Christmas Eve, Etc. The Legendary Figures Have Called a Council Meeting Because Jack Frost is Trying To Steal Santa's Holiday. Santa Is Not To Concerned Seeing as Though He is Highly Stressed and Jack Asks Instead of Being Banned To Work Community Service Helping Santa's Elves Get Those Toys Read For Christmas. Santa and The Other Legendary Figures Agree.

Carol is Extremely Unhappy She Misses Human Family. Santa Then Decides To Invite The In-Laws There To The North Pole, But First Have The Elves Disguise It as a Toy Factory in Canada Which Is What Carol Has Told Them.

Meanwhile Scott Travels Back Home to Tell His Ex-Wife, Neil With Lucy and Charlie That He is Taking Carol's Parents to The North Pole and Low and Behold They All Want to Come too! So Scott Goes To Pick Up Carol's Parents With SandMan...As He Will Put Them To Sleep So They Do Not See Where They Are Actually Going.

All End Up At The North Pole and Everything Starts To Go Downhill Even More So. The In-Laws Along With All are Bickering and Jack Frost Is Up To Mischief in Santa's Workshop.

Jack Frost Is Told The Secret About The Escape Clause But Curtis The Head Elf.
Scott Finds a Minute and Sneaks Off With Lucy To Show Her His SnowGlobe Collection (as Lucy Collects and Loves Them). Jack Overhears & Gets Even More MIschievious. I Will Leave This Part a Untold Story For You!

Jack Ends Up Being Able to Become Santa and Scott Is Led Back to a Life Where He is Not a Family Man...Or a Happy Man. Scott Then Sets Out To Fight Back To Become Santa Again.

Jack Over The Last 12 Years As Santa Has Made Everything a Negative Mess! Scott Feels That This Has to Be Changed & Does Everything Within His Power To Do So With The Help Of Lucy Whom Does Not Like or Really Know Him....Which You May Watch The Movie To See!

Great Movie But The First One is Still The Best!!

Disney It might be time to exercise the escape clause!

I have seen all three movies in the Santa Clause series and The Escape Clause should be exercised by the studio.

I am not saying this was a bad film, it was okay, but I think the first two movies were better and that they should probably avoid making a fourth movie.

The first part of the movie for me moved a bit slow, However the special effects were good, the writing was good and the chemistry between Martin Short (Jack Frost) and Tim Allen (Santa Claus) was great.

I am sure children will enjoy this movie and it will also keep the adults attention.

As far as the bonus features go, the blooper reel was not worth the space on the DVD it took up. I watched it and it seemed the reel would have been funny 0 if I had been there when they were filming the movie.

The behind the scenes were good, especially when they gave us some insight how they made the magic snow globe room. They also had a good piece on the creation and evolution of the Jack Frost Character. The behind the scenes also showed how the made the magic fireplace and where they got the idea for it's look.

Finally, the DVD bonuses included an alternate opening for the movie - which I really thought was better than the one they used. Since the series has ran over 12 y3ears, I felt the alternate opening which told you the story of how Tim Allen became Santa and how Mrs. Claus became Mrs. clause (in this short opening) would have been great for those who did not see the first two movies.

Overall I gave this film 3 out of a possible 5 Ho Ho Hos!

Santa Clause 3 the excape clause

I Love this movie. It is a great addition to the other Santa Clause movies. Tim allen (Santa) is at his best in this holiday film. The sneeky Jack Frost (Martin Short) is feeling left out of the Holiday season, so he finds a way to take Santa's job. He is now the New Santa and wants to change everything. Tim Allen is determined to get his Job back at the North Pole. He has some snags in doing so and keeps the interest of children and Adults of all ages. Great Family film and A great movie in the trilogy of christmas movies.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

This a fun Christmas movie. It is probably the weaker of the 3 in the "Santa Clause" series but is well worth watching just for kicks. A really good movie for the whole family. I appreciate that because many holiday flicks, while appropriate for families, do not do enough to keep the interest and attention of the younger children. This one has enough elements for children and also does a good job of keeping the adults interested. I like the way Tim Allen portrays Santa Claus. Plus, the "Council of Legendary Figures" is a hoot!