I enjoyed the first two Tim Allen-led Santa Clause movies and while this one is not held in high regard, I like it. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is a fun movie that I enjoy watching around the holidays. It is not a movie that I watch each and every Christmas, but it is one that I have always had fun with when I have watched it.
How to Download The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause was released on November 3, 2006. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you like the film, check out also The Santa Clause (1994) and The Santa Clause 2 (2002).
The Movie Review
Entertaining Performances
I have always thought that Tim Allen as Santa Claus is a lot of fun and he once again brings that grouchy charm to the role here. This time though, Tim Allen is joined by Martin Short who plays the role of Jack Frost. I am a massive Martin Short fan and getting to see him be “naughty” here is just so much fun. He overacts and you can tell he is having so much fun being Jack Frost!
Plot Synopsis
This movie takes place in real time, so 12 years after Scott became Santa. Scott is pretty much going through the motions now. This upcoming Christmas Scott and his wife Carol (played by the always awesome Elizabeth Mitchell) are expecting a new child and they are hosting both sides of their families! This is made a bit tricky as Carol’s parents still have no idea that Scott is Santa.
The Conflict Unfolds
That right there would be enough for a Christmas caper of a movie, but The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause has some real trouble for Scott to deal with. Jack Frost is sick of not having his own holiday like all of the other members of the Council of Legendary Figures. Jack has been acting out and causing all kinds of trouble and it is decided that he has to be punished.
The Santa Clause 3
Well, Jack is a crafty guy and he finds out about “The Escape Clause”. This would cause Scott to no longer be Santa, and then Jack could take his place and mold the holiday in his own image. This would ruin Scott’s life and completely undo all of the work that he has done as Santa as well as being a good father and husband these last 12 years!
What we have here is a Christmas caper that has a lot of slapstick humor with a little bit of family drama sprinkled on top. I do think the message of being careful what you wish for and being appreciative of what you have is great, especially for a Christmas movie. Do not get me wrong, this is not a cinematic masterpiece and it is so predictable, but at the end of the day, it is a Christmas movie and that is easy for me to overlook.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is one of those movies that I feel are judged a bit too harshly. When you look at the Rotten Tomatoes score that this thing has it is brutal, but I do feel that is kind of unfair. All three of the Santa Clause movies make for good family movies if you are in the mood for something light and fun over the holidays.
Additional Commentary
I want to take this moment to also talk about The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause video game that was released for the Game Boy Advance. On paper, this game should be garbage, but it is actually pretty fun! The game is a fun 2D platformer that is perfect to play if you are looking for a gaming Christmas fix over the holidays. I would go as far as to say that The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause video game is a bit of a hidden gem!
