The Santa Clause 2

By EWAN McDONALD

(Herald rating: * *)

Yes, Virginia, there was a Santa Clause. Another North American funnyman who has off and on days, Tim Allen, reprises his 1994 Disney smash. It's business as usual at the North Pole for the elves, led by chief toymaker Bernard (David Krumholtz). Unfortunately, Santa/Scott Calvin (Allen) finds his teenage son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), has tagged the school and won't be eligible for Christmas presents. Scott goes home to sort out the boy, leaving a Santa clone in charge, with predictable results, and by the

merest plot device gets mixed up with his son's headmistress (Elizabeth Mitchell). All the saccharin that Disney, Allen, the father-son bonding story and the time of year can muster.