Review of The Santa Clause 2 (2002) by Jeff H — 21 May 2011

While it lacks the original's streamlined core, the father-son relationship, the sequel gets by on assembled moments of sentiment. Won't replace anyone's annual viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life." But your family could find a worse way to take a holiday break. The movie is not a special effects extravaganza like "The Grinch," but in a way that's a relief. It's as home-entertainment ready as a shrink-wrapped sack of microwave popcorn. But at least it works hard at finding ways of pushing this one-joke premise ahead a space or two. It's more about charm and silliness than about great hulking multimillion-dollar high-tech effects.

VERDICT: "Matinée" - (Mixed reaction). These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says to pay matinée prices to see at a theatre or buy an ex rental or a cheap price the DVD to own..