I saw the first commercial trailer for this film today and I have to admit, I started grinning like an idiot. The first film in this franchise, The Santa Clause came out in 1994, an unbelievable 12 years ago. In that film, as you may recall, Scott Calvin is a divorced toy executive who is trying to spend Christmas Eve with his son Charlie. The disconnected dad is more than a bit startled when Santa falls off his roof in the middle of the night and even more so when he and Charlie finish delivering the presents – and find out that he’s gotten caught up in the Santa Clause.
This film was thoroughly charming and the characters warm and believable. I was a bit surprised a few years later when we revisited this wonderful tale to find Scott Calvin firmly ensconced as Santa, but there’s a problem – Charlie has shown up on the Naughty List. In The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause, Scott has to take a quick trip home to check on Charlie and to fulfill another clause in his Santa Clause contract and that’s to find a wife.
I was worried when it came out in 2002 because the first one was so wonderful – how were they going to follow that up without being a bit ridiculous? Well, not only did Disney deliver in spades, they really delivered a story that was every bit as charming and warm and yes, over the top as the first one. It helps that they got back all of the original actors, including the grumpy Bernard – the head elf.
My daughter calls the first movie just Scott and Charlie – she loves the relationship between father and son. The second movie, she calls Santa Claus. And it’s another beloved favorite and we watch them fairly frequently, year round whenever she is in the mood for some Christmas style comfort. I think the movies hold a special relationship for her because her father’s name is Scott too.
The Santa Claus 3
Due to be released on November 3rd, there is another movie in this charming franchise and I’ve got all my digits crossed in hopes that it will fulfill the promise of the first two. The Santa Claus 3: The Escape Claus details the continuing travails of Scott Calvin as he tries to keep his families together – both the one he is now creating with Mrs. Claus (Elizabeth Mitchell) and her parents (Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin) as well as his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd), Charlie’s younger sister Lucy (Lilliana Mumy – yes the daughter of Billy Mumy) as well as his ex-wife Laura and her husband Neil (Wendy Crewson & Judge Reinhold). Martin Short is joining this all-star cast as Santa’s nemesis – Jack Frost.
The only thing missing so far is that Bernard will not be in this film and I already miss him. The premise of the film is that: It’s Christmas time once again and Scott Calvin juggles a full house of family and the mischievous Jack Frost, who is trying to take over the big guy’s holiday. At the risk of giving away the secret location of the North Pole, Scott invites his in-laws to share the holiday festivities and the upcoming birth of baby Claus with his expectant wife Carol.
I can’t help but grin when I think about it. My daughter was not even a gleam in her Daddy’s eye when the first one was released and she was far too young for the second one, but she and I will be seeing this one on opening day and she’s already excited. Keep an eye out here for a review of the upcoming Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.
Did you enjoy the first movies?
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