SimonJack "The Santa Clause 2" holds to the long-held Hollywood axiom that sequel films seldom do as well as the first film. While there is some humor, this film picks up where the original left off, only 10 years later. Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) has been doing his job as the new Santa, so things are pretty much the same – except for one small matter. The "Mrs." clause of his "contract" now kicks in. So, this film's new humor is all about Santa finding a mate. There is some fun and mischief, and the film provides a few laughs. The kids may enjoy it, but there's little special or lasting about this film. It's a piece of what has become Hollywood holiday "fodder" in the 21st century.

mike48128 It looks a little better on repeated viewing. Like SC#3, it's just not as much fun. I hope they don't make a fourth one. The phony rubber Santa-clone is mean-spirited and there is no place in this series for that. Sure, not as bad as the turn-around in SC#1, which starts out very badly with the jolly old guy slipping off the roof and an unhappy fireman at "career day" at school. A hidden commercial for Ideal-Hasbro "retro" toys. Santa-clone is made of plastic? He looks like an angry dictator from WWII? Not appropriate at all, but it will go "over the heads" of most kids. Kind of a "shotgun" wedding as Carol has to save Christmas by marrying Scott Calvin, in-a-hurry! Liliana Mumy steals the show as "Lucy". An uneven script. Charlie grows into an un-cute delinquent. Parts I like involve the "Legendary Council" (tooth fairy) and "Comet & Chet" the baby-talking reindeer! However, the Scott and Carol courtship seems a bit rushed. Over the ending titles, Mrs. Claus is quite chunky. Apparently she joined North Pole "Weight Watchers" for Clause #3. Not shown as often on TV or cable as SC#1 and SC#3 for some of these reasons? The weak ending steals shamelessly from that tacky old Laurel & Hardy "March of the Wooden Soldiers" from the 1930's, with giant attacking clunky soldiers? (A movie that apparently most reviewers are too young to have seen?) Well, at least they didn't shoot them all down with "pop" guns, AK-47's or rocks! How unimaginative can you get? The Santa vs. SC fight is not fun to watch either. Even SC#3 is depressing with Martin Short as evil Jack Frost who tries to freeze up everything and turn The North Pole into a dismal version of Disneyland.

jljacobi Okay, it's kind of dumb, and some of the shtick is old-hat, but it does have heart. At least I saw it that way. Take this with a grain of salt as I was able to FF through some of the stuff I found pedantic. That includes almost all the scenes that deal with teen angst, children of divorce, yada, yada... I don't know why it's there to be honest. It's just a anchor on the pace. What does work is everything else, and I found the actors appealing as well as displaying genuine warmth throughout. Good enough for me. I don't care what others say, Tim Allen is just fun to watch.This is a kids flick, but I like kid's flicks because... Well, I'm not sure why. Excepting the obligatory scatological humor. There's not much of it so, there you go. I think this movie is rated way too low, so don't let that put you off. It's entertaining and there's not much that will offend anyone. It's not 'A Christmas Story', but it's a decent little Christmas flick.

Robert W. The first Santa Clause movie was simple, clean, family fun. It is cute and just a really good watch. I knew I had seen the second one but its been years and what a complete delight it was to watch it again on this Christmas Eve (2013) Quadruple everything...romance, magic, fantasy, fun, family...I was simply floored. This is why sequels are so successful because it gives good film makers the opportunity to build on an already decent premise and make it better and the makers behind The Santa Clause 2 did exactly that. In many ways this film reeks (in a good way) of old fashion Disney fantasy adventures but still has that modern post 2000 feel to it as well. The characters are fun and the story is just so much more interesting and fun. I can't use that word enough...the fun factor is at least tripled in this and not to mention the love and good vibes. I almost teared up a handful of times at a Tim Allen movie for crying out loud!! The first film I couldn't truly point out my "favourite" most memorable moments and yet this one...dozens. The Christmas Secret Santa exchange with the teachers, the silly and very campy evil toy Santa, Comet, Chet, the romance with Carol...this is one of the best family movies out there right now. Is it a stone cold classic? Not really for whatever reason but is it a favourite of mine? Heck yes! Tim Allen returns and he is better than ever. In his stand up and sitcoms he can be a little sarcastic (which I love in those settings) but the fact that it doesn't come over into this performance at all is a big kudos to him. He is just brilliant as Scott Calvin aka Santa Clause. He truly has evolved in the character since the last one and is an old pro at being Santa. Allen is just absolutely perfect in this part. Eric Lloyd returns as Calvin's son and I am so pleased because often films like this will replace child actors but he does come back. That being said I didn't feel like he was quite as good as he was the first time around. He feels a little clumsy in the role but he's also very necessary to the story and I'd much rather have him back than a new actor. Elizabeth Mitchell joins the cast as tough as nails principal Carol. She is a great addition to the cast and her chemistry with Allen is excellent. Her transformation and "softening" is so great to watch and she gets the bulk of the emotional storyline. Spencer Breslin also joins the cast and by the book elf Curtis. I quite enjoy his small performance but he's very underused much like Bernard was in the first and is again in this one. David Krumholtz is terrific as Bernard and has good chemistry with Allen but he is in so few scenes. Wendy Crewson and Judge Reinhold are in one extremely small scene returning to their respective roles from the first. Liliana Mumy joins the cast as their daughter. She is adorable and also a good addition to the cast and does a good job.Director Michael Lembeck is a Disney director through and through. He has had a ton of experience in sitcoms and he clearly is very talented and passionate about telling a good story. I think its interesting he has worked on some of my favourite projects over the years so I obviously like his style. The sub-plot of the evil toy Santa who takes over the North Pole is almost unnecessary and yet it adds a certain level of adventure and gives the story its main villain without being dark or scary for really young kids. Without that sub-story then it wouldn't be quite as watchable for the young kids that might find the romance and quest part of it not as interesting. Plus the campy, funny, toy Santa just makes it simply more fun. I honestly wasn't expecting this instalment to be anywhere near as good as the first and it blew me away. I have never gotten around to seeing the third and I will be watching it very soon whether its pre-Christmas or just after because I am excited!! This is one of the best "for everybody" movies out there. Get it now for the family!! 9/10