In the first Santa Clause, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) found a white bearded guy in a red suit passed out on his lawn. Scott put the suit on and -- according to a contractual clause -- became the new St. Nick. Now it's eight years later, and we discover that a second clause requires Santa to get married (Scott's divorced) and bring a Mrs. Claus to the North Pole by Christmas or be "de-Santa-fied."

Directed by Michael Lembeck, Clause 2 is maudlin, manipulative fluff that warms your heart and delivers a few chuckles. The plot gets needed thickening when Scott/Santa's real-world son is added onto the "naughty list" and dad has to return home to the rescue. Back at the North Pole, however, Santa's interim replacement (Allen again) turns into a dictator who refuses to relinquish his post. Of course, the real Santa has the Tooth Fairy and a few reindeer to aid him in this power struggle. It's a nonsensical world order that's fun for naughty and nice children everywhere. At the Apple Valley, Entertainment, Flagship, Holiday, Providence Place Mall 16, Showcase, and Tri-Boro cinemas.