Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Review
by Tim Voon (winklebeck AT hotmail DOT com)November 18th, 2006
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 2006 Timothy Voon
2 out of 5 stars
Cast: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Martin Short, Ann-Margret, Alan Arkin Director: Michael Lembeck
If I were a cynical adult watching this movie, I would say that Tim Allen is an out of vogue comic actor, who has resigned himself to starring in safe family films marketed by Disney in order to make a quick buck. As Santa Clause his make up artists have created an obese, weird looking creature that is more reminiscent of a homeless drunk, than the jovial father figure that we all admire. Martin Short is no better as 'Jack Frost'. His 'gay' interpretation of this mythical figure shines through, as he does a show stopper of 'North Pole, North Pole' to the tune of 'New York, New York'. Disney has saved a lot of money on the 'Christmas elves', by hiring children and plastering awful looking plastic ears on them. They don't look too comfortable either. Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin look very embarrassed as the in-laws of Santa, as they try very hard to hide their intelligence, in order to go along with the farce that they are holidaying in a Canadian toy factory, and not at Santa's workshop in the North Pole. The magical reindeer that pull Santa's sleigh have been reduced to looking like large stuffed toys that fart in order to get a laugh.
Forgive my cynicism, but unfortunately we all grow a little this way with age.
If I were a child, and watched this movie with the innocence of a child, I would see a beautiful elf town in a magical cavern hidden in the North Pole. Where Santa's magical workshop is reminiscent of a huge toy department store and is filled with an unlimited number of toys to play with. Where there is a room filled with magical ice globes that holds the secret of Santa Clause, and everyone here lives in harmony and sip cocoa when they aren't working. I would laugh at how silly Santa Clause looks, and be thrilled as Jack Frost freezes my parents. And my heart would be touched by a magical hug that melts even the coldest of hearts.
It is a pity that I am no longer a child who can see only the good in all things not.
Timothy Voon
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