THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE, the third instalment of the popular holiday series THE SANTA CLAUSE picks up with Everyman-turned-Santa-Claus Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) just days before Christmas. Not only is toy production behind schedule, but another special delivery is on its way--Scott's wife, Carol/Mrs. Claus (Elizabeth Mitchell) is pregnant. To add to the pressure, Carol's parents are coming for a visit, prompting an emergency make-over for Santa's Village (into a nondescript Canadian town) to protect Scott's true identity. With all this on his mind, Santa is more than happy to let his fellow seasonal icon Jack Frost (Martin Short) step in and help out. But Frost has an ulterior motive: angry over his secondary-figure status and longing to have his own holiday, he tricks Santa into giving up his reign, and Christmas falls into the hands of Frost. Scott, no longer Santa Claus, must decide between resuming his previous life or saving Christmas from the cold-hearted Frost. This film conveys the message that Christmas is about family and the human spirit--not commercialism. In addition to the holiday association, the film also encourages teamwork and problem solving through positive means, even when things look like they can't get any worse. THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE is an entertaining holiday film, perfect for the whole family, and a fitting continuum of THE SANTA CLAUSE series.

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