Santa Clause 2, The

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Ellen A. Kim

While it lacks the original's streamlined core, the father-son relationship, the sequel gets by on assembled moments of sentiment

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The movie is not a special effects extravaganza like "The Grinch," but in a way that's a relief. It's more about charm and silliness than about great hulking multimillion-dollar high-tech effects.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

For an anonymous Saturday afternoon, it's the best lump of coal Hollywood can jam in your stocking.

San Francisco Chronicle C.W. Nevius

A nice little holiday movie.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

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.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Isn't perfect, but it's fun, and Tim Allen shines

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

Frankly, if I were Mrs. Claus, I might be looking for Santa Clause 3, outlining the grounds for annulment.

Chicago Reader Bill Stamets

Television director Michael Lembeck maintains a tidy pace suitable for commercial breaks, and though the committee-written script cites fuzzy logic, eBay, and Utah marital customs, it predictably avoids any mention of Christ.

Variety Scott Foundas

Festooned with cute, mugging kids; lots of jazzy redos of beloved Christmas tunes on the soundtrack; and enough tug-at-your-heartstrings moments to make an entire theater feel warm on a blustery winter afternoon.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Tony Burrough's vast Toy Workshop and Elf Village at the North Pole is the film's strongest asset. The workshop is a dazzling and accurate display of the Art Nouveau style in sinuous full flower.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The only parts of the film that ring true -- and they sometimes ring touchingly true -- are the ones that give Mr. Allen simple human themes to work with.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Entirely inoffensive, so it makes for perfect family fare -– but only if the children are young enough to be indiscriminating about what they're seeing.

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

No question, the new movie is amiable family entertainment, and Allen is such an affable actor that maybe kids won't begrudge him seeking romantic fulfillment in order to remain their favorite Santa.

TV Guide Steve Simels

You have to have a certain affection for any movie in which a stressed-out Mother Nature announces ominously, "Don't mess with me -- I'm pre-El Niño."

Miami Herald Keith Cassidy

This sequel, while lacking the freshness of the original, shares much of its charm and for the most part rises above some trite, syrupy dialogue.

New York Post Jonathan Foreman

There's not a moment in it that feels fresh or authentic or inspired. But neither is it offensive.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Has the disjointed feel of a bunch of strung-together TV episodes.

LA Weekly Jon Strickland

While the film is not entirely successful, it still manages to string together enough charming moments to work.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Allen has fun with all his roles -- The rest of the acting is bland, but the movie's preteen target audience won't mind, and adults will find occasional grown-up jokes to chuckle at.

Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman

Sweet enough while it lasts.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Captures the true spirit of the holiday. It's mildly sentimental, unabashedly consumerist (with anything-but-subliminal advertisements for McDonald's hamburgers and Nestlé candy tucked inside), studiously inoffensive and completely disposable.

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

Once more, Tim Allen drops a lump of coal down the chimney.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

Despite the obviously mercenary nature of this sequel, there's a thimbleful of clever ideas at work here, most notably in the way Allen's RoboSanta begins to turn his toy factory into a tiny dictatorship.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

The movie is as padded as Allen's jelly belly.

USA Today Claudia Puig

If you value your time and money, find an escape clause and avoid seeing this trite, predictable rehash. The 90 minutes could be better spent doing holiday shopping.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Allen, who's a natural charmer, seems to be at half-strength here.