A wonderful cast helps to really give the tired Santa Clause series a bump, as Martin Short (as Jack Frost, the "legendary figure" seeking to take Allen's spot as Santa) ably walks away nearly with the entire third film in the Disney Christmas franchise. Mitchell is pregnant and could deliver a baby at any given moment, wanting her family to be with her at Christmas. Short's Jack Frost desperately wants to be fulfilled, more or less always a nuisance or causing atmospheric mischief, told that if he doesn't learn something from an apprenticeship with Santa he's "out" as a part of the "legendary figure" council. So he gets to accompany Santa to the North Pole, plotting to take his place, while also scheming in ways to render the workshop a disaster. Mitchell wants some of Santa's attention, while her parents arrive thanks to Sandman's "sleep spell" believing the North Pole is "Canada, eh!" as well as Allen's ex-wife and psychologist husband (Wendy Crewson and Judge Reinhold), and their daughter (with snow globe obsession intact) in tow. Frost needs to get possession of a particular snow globe in a secret room full of extraordinary snow globes, eventually following Santa and Lucy (Liliana Mumy) to its location, even influencing Allen, unknowingly, into admitting he wish he'd never have been Ole Saint Nick, teleporting Allen and Short back to the time when the previous Santa "ended" at the beginning of the first Santa Clause. Short gets in the suit, secures the position of Santa and turns North Pole into an elaborate Disney like resort (oh, the capitalist irony). Ultimately, Allen, back in his businessman role twelve years after Frost is Santa, must get to the North Pole resort in order to reverse things. Frost as a showman, complete with musical number right out of Astaire or Kelly, was a hoot. This was wholly unnecessary sequel that certainly told us that perhaps whatever magic and charm could be left was finally exhausted. Short's devilish antics and the workshop mayhem he causes is fit for melodrama for the kids but adults will probably want to skip this sequel. Alan Arkin and Ann-Margaret as Mitchell's grumpy anti-season parents factor into extra drama Allen must contend with. The brief alteration in Allen's past thanks to Short does give the film a unique detour but his recovering the role of Santa just seems a bit too contrived (probably excusable to those indiscernible viewers who aren't all that bothered by the silly plotting) and rather easy-peasy , all things considering. Disney shelled out plenty of budget for the film as the North Pole (when Allen is at the helm and Frost's resort later) is quite incredibly elaborate and detailed. Once again, the production spared no expense, but I wonder if besides the kids in attendance this third film was really worth the money spent. Allen remains for the most part in a jelly-belly suit, prosthetics and white beard and hair, only allowed out when he's ripped away from Santa thanks to Frost. Out of the three films, this one feels quite close in spirit to "Fred Claus". I think this is plotted towards kids only, for the exception of the included "Santa is neglecting Mrs. Claus" subplot, a drama that Frost means to exploit to the hilt. Arkin and Ann-Margaret don't quite leave as much of an impression as I had hoped although I did perk up when they were introduced. The Canada humor might work for some.
