Short breathes some life into latest ‘Santa Clause’

Published 9:00 pm Friday, November 3, 2006

So far the two “The Santa Clause” movies have occupied different places on St. Nick’s list: first one nice, second one naughty.

Just to fill out the future DVD box set, here’s Part 3. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” returns Tim Allen to his white beard and realistic fat suit, as the once-regular guy who now fills the boots of the one and only Santa Claus.

The first hour of this film provides the usual kid-friendly family fodder, neither inspired nor unbearable: Santa makes jokes, the elves make busy, the reindeer experience bouts of flatulence.

But there is a wild card here: Martin Short joins the cast as Jack Frost, the harbinger of winter. He’s jealous that Santa gets a holiday all to himself and plots to bring the jolly man down. (What’s next? “The Santa Clause 4: Hanukkah Strikes Back?”)

And so in the final half-hour, the movie perks up and borrows a leaf from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Because of Jack Frost’s doing, Santa finds out what his life would have been like if he hadn’t become Santa – if the job had gone to Jack Frost instead.

In the movie’s funniest sequence, we find out that Mr. Frost has turned the North Pole into a vulgar, Disneyland-style amusement park. Which is even funnier when you consider that Disney produces the “Santa Clause” movies.

Martin Short, with his hair gelled and dyed like an ’80s New Wave singer, is completely in the mode of the smarmy, showbizzy jerk he has perfected in his talk-show appearances all these years. If you find that character as amusing as I do, it will make “The Santa Clause 3” move a lot faster.

Meanwhile, there are gags about Santa trying to pretend that the North Pole is actually Canada (to hide the truth from his visiting in-laws, played by Alan Arkin and Ann-Margret), which means people walk around saying “Eh?” a lot. The rest is Martin Short and the fat suit.

Short rescues this installment, but the world can probably survive without another sequel. Although come to think of it, that Hanukkah idea doesn’t sound half bad.

** “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”

Tim Allen returns as Santa, this time battling Jack Frost (Martin Short) for ownership of the white beard and red suit. The movie’s pretty bland except when Short’s showbizzy persona gooses things along. Rated G. Now playing at area theaters.