Movie Night: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

Review #496: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

Cast
Tim Allen (Santa Claus/Scott Calvin), Martin Short (Jack Frost), Elizabeth Mitchell (Mrs.Claus/Carol Calvin), Judge Reinhold (Neil Miller), Wendy Crewson (Laura Miller), Liliana Mumy (Lucy Miller), Alan Arkin (Bud Newman), Ann-Margret (Sylvia Newman), and Spencer Breslin (Curtis the Elf) Directed by Michael Lembeck (#318 - The Santa Clause 2)

Review
The first film (#313 - The Santa Clause) was at least enjoyable, not too bad for a Christmas film. The sequel was mediocre, predictable, felt sort of forced (but I guess workable), and should have ended the series right there. But of course, they made a third film, and naturally, it is about as forced and tired as you would expect. Most of the cast returns, with of course one new addition, Martin Short, and boy does he try to make this film less forgettable...mostly failing. I can't blame him though, I blame the mostly unfunny script that traps him with such mediocre lines like "I invented chill!" and "Excuse me... Did you just accuse me of being skillful and delicious?", but oh well. Allen doesn't really do any better, but with a film so forced, it makes some sense. Even the effects look mediocre, not really noteworthy or terrible, just meh. This is a poor "conclusion" to the film series that probably didn't deserve to be a film series, and a Christmas film you could skip. Countdown to 500 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Santa Clause 2.

Review #318: The Santa Clause 2.

Cast
Tim Allen (Santa Claus/Scott Calvin), Elizabeth Mitchel (Carol Newman), Eric Lloyd (Charlie Calvin), Wendy Crewson (Laura Miller), Judge Reinhold (Dr. Neil Miller), Liliana Mumy (Lucy Miller), David Krumholtz (Bernard), and Spencer Breslin (Curtis) Directed by Michael Lembeck.

Review
Sometimes films are made just because apparently there is a need to make one. This is one of them. While the film does have some chuckles, it doesn't have much of the spirit as the first one. It just feels like a predictable, mediocre Christmas film, not as enjoyable or as memorable. Allen does a good job, not a downgrade, more of a compromise from the first film. The other actors are allright, not half bad. I just don't feel this was really needed, like the plot device was only introduced just to have another one, which is kind of pointless, you could've ended on the first with no problems. I suppose there could be a good idea or two involving Santa (granted without the "Clause" in the title), but this isn't really an idea, more of a "roll with it" idea. But oh well, there is some usefullness to it. Kinda. I hope the next review will cheer me up.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Cat in the Hat.

Review #210: The Cat in the Hat.

Cast
Mike Myers (The Cat in the Hat), Spencer Breslin (Conrad Walden), Dakota Fanning (Sally Walden), Kelly Preston (Joan Walden), Alec Baldwin (Larry Quinn), Amy Hill (Mrs. Kwan), Sean Hayes (Mr. Hank Humberfloob / The Fish), Danielle Chuchran and Taylor Rice (Thing One), and Brittany Oaks and Talia-Lynn Prairie (Thing Two) Directed by Bo Welch.

Review
I almost considered doing this whole review in rhyme, to make it a bit like the book. It would be more likable then then the whole film. The film's opening credits start out nice, but looks can, and in this case, are deceiving. The film starts out meh, with our characters being introduced (Some decent, some...weird) Then...We get our Cat. I...don't know how to describe it. The costume looks decent, but Myers simply doesn't capture the spirit of the original (I almost forgot to mention the 1957 classic by Dr. Seuss [Theodore Geisel]) We get into the second problem afterwards: The humor. Look, there can be humor, it lightens the tones, but in this film, it simply feels out of place. It feels like something you would find in a PG-13 comedy (I'd mention the content, but...No.) The film is simply a mess, with more uses of the color green in the film then fun (Green cars, green trees, green walls, green curtains, green hills, green clothes, green signs) Let me try to do a rhyme:

This film is a dull bore,
Watching it feels like a chore.
Spend your time reading the book,
As this film made my head shook.
Even the Grinch has a better film,
With this not footing the bill.
There are plans for a CGI remake,
It will not be as fake.
This film is dullingly lame,
As you shake your head in shame.

Well, I tried.

Overall, I give it 2 out of 10 stars.