The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

The first two films were holiday classics compared to the Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, an irritating, shoddy-looking sequel that is the stuff direct-to-video movies are made of. Featuring an entirely unimaginative North Pole, lousy special effects and Martin Short totally blowing it as Jack Frost, this film has almost no redeeming qualities. It even makes the usually reliable Alan Arkin look clueless and bland. The film’s plot has something to do with Frost looking to hijack Christmas from Santa (Allen), who is anxiously awaiting the birth of his next child while trying to prepare for the holidays. Compounding Santa’s troubles is the fact that his wife wants to see her parents (Ann-Margret and Arkin), something that could threaten the S.O.S. (Secret of Santa). None of these plot threads play out in a manner that is entertaining. In fact, all of them pretty much made me want to smash my head on the seat in front of me. I would’ve done it, but there were little kids up there, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves.