Toy joy as The Santa Clause returns

By Manoush Zomorodi
BBC News, New York

The film stars Tim Allen (l) and Martin Short (r)

US comedian Tim Allen is probably best known as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies.

But his most frequent big screen role is as Father Christmas - and he returns to the role in the forthcoming movie The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

The film series began in 1994, with Allen's divorced dad being turned into Santa Claus after the 'real' one died.

Allen's character, Scott Calvin, only finds out his fate after donning Santa's suit.

In a pocket inside the costume is a card which reads: "In putting on the suit and entering the sleigh, the wearer waives any and all right to any previous identity, real or implied, and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus, in perpetuity".

The Santa Clause made $189m (£100m) at the box office, with an equally successful sequel in 2002.

Chilling story

The audience for this film is the family and if you try to force adult humour, it just doesn't mesh Martin Short

The third film, written by the scribes behind There's Something About Mary, sees Santa being challenged for his job by the ambitious and mischievous Jack Frost, played by Martin Short.

Despite the screenwriters' pedigree it's resolutely a family film, devoid of the knowing nods to the adult audience which are often found in modern children's films.

"I think there's a reality that the audience for this film is the family and if you try to force adult humour, it just doesn't mesh," says Short.

"I've been a blue comedian most of my life, and this was a life-changing experience," adds Allen, who claims to have been inspired by the child actors in the film.

"Believe me, we shot this film and the Canadian kids were like angels," he says.

"It's just Canadians. They're polite by nature. And they're not around handguns a lot.

"The kids in LA, you have ones who are a little too savvy... They have agents and people massaging them."

Frosty reviews

The film sees Santa trying to stop Jack Frost taking over Christmas

Shooting the film was made more fun, the actors say, because they were allowed to improvise and play around.

"Screwing around on the set, you may not take that improv to the movie but that energy, looseness and playfulness make it into the movie," says Short.

"I think, if you're a crew on a movie and Tim Allen is making you laugh all day, it creates an atmosphere that makes you feel funnier when the director says 'action'."

Audiences have certainly taken to the high-octane comedy - it took second place in the US box office on its first week of release, despite a series of ice-cold reviews.

"I've got a huge family - nine siblings - and I fly everybody in Tim Allen

The New York Post called it "lively as slush", while the Hollywood Reporter said the film was missing "any sense of fun and warmth".

Others were more kind. "Allen and Short seem to be having so much fun that their enthusiasm is entirely contagious," reported the New York Daily News.

Both actors have children of their own, and speak glowingly of the classic Christmas movies that preceded The Santa Clause.

"I adore Christmas," says Short, "I think it's the greatest holiday of the year.

"We watch the same movies every year: It's A Wonderful Life, Scrooge, Miracle on 34th Street.

'White Christmas'

"I watch White Christmas and A Christmas Story with the kids," Allen adds

"I've got a huge family - nine siblings - and I fly everybody in.

"You will fight, but for about 16 hours everybody enjoys the turkey."

Despite the stars' enthusiasm for Christmas, Short has a word of warning about building up children's expectations of the holiday.

"One year I got my son Oliver, who was about six at the time, so psyched out that he couldn't sleep.

"He started sobbing at the notion that someone was going to break in. I'd made him way too excited.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is released in the UK on Friday.