The Santa Clause is probably the only blockbuster in the last twenty years that I didn't see on the big screen during it's initial run. In fact, I saw the original movie one day before going to see this long-in-development sequel (eight years to be exact). For whatever reason, I just never got out to see it. Of course now, I write for a newspaper as well as an entertainment site, so I try to catch everything in the theater, and this includes the Santa Clause 2.

In the original Santa Clause, Tim Allen plays a shrewd businessman who becomes the apple of his son's eye when he is forced into the boots of Santa Claus, following a fluke accident in which the original jolly good fellow is incapacitated. The Santa Clause 2 picks up eight years later, as Allen is now perfectly happy in his new job, until it is brought to his attention that he didn't read the fine-print when taking over the position. It seems that there's a Mrs. Clause--meaning that if he doesn't find a bride within a few weeks time, he will lose his title as Santa Claus.

I happen to be a big fan of Christmas in general. I like that warm feeling I get inside right around the holidays, and when a classic holiday film is done right, it really brings out that feeling I'm referring to. The Santa Clause 2 is a little step above the first film, but it seems to be lacking in that Christmas magic--save for a couple of scenes.

The brightest, sweetest moment in the picture involves a scene in which Allen tries to bring out the joy in a group of teachers at a high school faculty Christmas party. The whole sequence is extremely charming and I wish there would have been more of this sort of thing throughout the entire film. This isn't to say The Santa Clause is void of the holiday spirit. It aspires to be what all Christmas film treasures are, but can't rise above standard fluff.

You certainly can't blame Tim Allen for trying. He hasn't had a hit since the first Santa Clause, and this sequel has proved to be more popular. In all honesty, I enjoyed him more in this second outing. He even stretches himself by playing two parts; Santa Clause, and a Santa Clause clone left behind to take care of the elves and the workshop while the real red man is out looking for a bride. Of course the clone doesn't work out as planned, and this becomes one of the film's big comical bits.

There doesn't seem to be much time or care invested into The Santa Clause 2. The plot is simplistic, but that isn't the problem. Much of the film is clumsily executed. The continuity feels off. And the big, toy-soldier battle climax isn't well staged at all. Still, this movie does have charming moments and an enthusiastic Tim Allen.

The Santa Clause 2 wasn't unwatchable, by any means, and I certainly liked it more then the uninspiring Jingle All the Way and the dull, live action version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas from director Ron Howard. But it can't match the timeless, Christmas magic furnished by films like It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and my personal favorite holiday charmer, Bob Clark's Christmas Story.