The Santa Clause 2 review

Stop where you are! Don't just look at the title, sigh "Another crap sequel" and skim on to the next review. You may not want to believe it, but the belated follow-up to Tim Allen's 1994 clunker is actually a pretty good movie.

SC1 saw average guy Scott Calvin (Allen) become Santa after accidentally knocking the old incumbent off his roof and killing him. Now, eight years later, he's happily ensconced up in the North Pole. Trouble is, if he doesn't find a wife by Christmas Eve, he has to quit being Santa forever. So back Scott heads to the real world in search of a bride...

Sweet? Yes. Sentimental? You bet. But like all the best Christmas pictures, this doesn't let the schmaltz swamp the wit or the charm - and has a sledload of both. Allen cuts a fine, funny figure as Santa himself, bringing a little magic back into some jaded grown-up lives, while the script gently dilutes the syrup with dollops of acid humour. And hey, any movie that casts Usual Suspect Kevin Pollak as Cupid can't be all bad. Okay, NOW you can go on to the next review...