The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
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Scott Calvin must protect his title as Santa Claus from a jealous Jack Frost who seeks to use a magical 'Escape Clause' to undo Scott's career.
The story
Twelve years after Scott Calvin became Santa Claus, he is living in the North Pole with his wife, Carol. When Scott invites his in-laws and ex-wife to visit, he is simultaneously summoned by the Council of Legendary Figures to address the disruptive behavior of Jack Frost. Jealous of his lack of a holiday, Jack Frost is sentenced to community service at the North Pole. However, Frost secretly plots to trick Scott into renouncing his position as Santa. When he discovers the 'Escape Clause'—a magical way to undo Scott's career—Frost begins a series of schemes to force Scott to give up his mantle.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Twelve years after Scott Calvin became Santa Claus, he lives in the North Pole with his wife, Carol. While Scott prepares to host his in-laws and ex-wife Laura, he is summoned by the Council of Legendary Figures to deal with Jack Frost, who is jealous of Santa's status. Frost is sentenced to community service, but he uses the opportunity to find the 'Escape Clause.' He steals a snow globe containing Scott, which allows anyone who holds it and wishes to never have been Santa to undo the career. Frost freezes Scott's stepdaughter Lucy and locks her in a closet, then tricks Scott into invoking the clause. Both are sent back to 1994, but Frost causes the original Santa to fall and grabs the coat for himself. Scott ends up in an alternate 2006 where he is a workaholic CEO and his family is estranged. Scott travels to a 'Frostmas' theme park to find Lucy and Neil. He learns that his absence from his son Charlie's life caused his divorce from Laura. Scott confronts Frost, and Lucy manages to steal Frost's snow globe. Scott plays a recording of Frost's own wish to never have been Santa, invoking the clause to send them back to 1994. Scott restrains Jack, allowing the original Santa to keep the coat, returning them to the present. Scott reconciles with his family, and Jack is arrested. Scott convinces Lucy to give Frost a 'magic hug' to unfreeze him, turning him into a new person. The film ends with Carol going into labor as Scott prepares for deliveries.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Lembeck
- Writers
- Ed Decter · writer; John J. Strauss · writer
- Cast and characters
- Tim Allen · Scott Calvin / Santa Claus; Martin Short · Jack Frost; Elizabeth Mitchell · Carol Calvin / Mrs. Claus; Judge Reinhold · Neil Miller; Wendy Crewson · Laura Miller; Liliana Mumy · Lucy Miller; Alan Arkin · Bud Newman; Ann-Margret · Sylvia Newman
- Genres
- comedy; fantasy; children's; Christmas
- Themes
- Family reconciliation; Consequences of workaholism; Jealousy; Redemption
- Tone and mood
- Sentimental; Comedy; Whimsical
- Setting
- The North Pole and suburban environments during the Christmas season, with time travel to 1994.
- Premise and plot tags
- Time Travel; Wish Fulfillment; Holiday Fantasy
- Franchise connections
- The Santa Clause
- Content notes
- Pregnancy
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics, with some describing it as boring or featuring bland gags, though it received a 'B+' average grade from audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 32 · scale: 100 · review count: 17
- Production trivia
- Tim Allen and Martin Short previously worked together in Jungle 2 Jungle.; The film was completed in February 2006.; The looks for Jack Frost and Mrs. Claus were originally different during production.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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