My biggest problem with The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two is the antagonist.

Did someone hear the word "Belsnickel" and think it sounded cool ... without looking even slightly further into the lore?

The Belsnickel in German and Pennsylvania Dutch stories is a grumpy alternative to Santa Claus who is as likely to bring switches for bad children as he is to bring candy and toys to the good. Here, nothing has been preserved but the name; now, he's a pudgy elf in Santa's workshop who turns into a vengeance-driven human after playing too many naughty tricks at the North Pole.

It simply doesn't work, especially if you know who the Belsnickel is. Even so, I'd like to think this surly ex-elf simply shares the name and has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual Belsnickel.

The movie this time again focuses on the youngest members of the Pierce family. It's been two years since their big Christmas adventure, and they are in Cancun with their mom, her new boyfriend and the boyfriend's young son. Teddy (Judah Lewis), the problem teenager who's redeemed in the first movie, has been relegated to a supporting role in the sequel, which is a shame. His younger sister Kate (Darby Camp) is now 13, and she resents her mother (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) for moving on after the death of her father years earlier. She resolves to run away, but Jack (Jahzir Bruno), the son of new boyfriend Bob (Tyrese Gibson), tags along.

They're hijacked by Belsnickel (Julian Dennison), who is plotting to overthrow Santa, and he sends Kate and Jack through a wormhole to the North Pole, where they're rescued in the nick of time and taken to Santa's (or Mrs. Claus's) Village.

Hijinks ensue as Santa and Kate battle the Belsnickel for the bottled energy of the Star of Bethlehem, which powers the entire North Pole operation, while Mrs. Claus and Jack try to save Dasher, who was mauled by Belsnickel's pet Yule cat, and the elves, who were driven mad by a dose of elf's-bane. Santa's mission takes him and Kate back in time, where she -- trapped at Boston's busy airport -- interacts with an important figure from her past, while Santa once again employs a bit of musical theater to raise Christmas spirits.

The second movie is a whole lot sillier than the first, and the plot -- which previously revolved around Santa's clever plan to save Christmas for the Pierce children -- is a lot less heartwarming this time around. The villain is bland at best, annoying at times, and Santa's many memorable interactions in the first movie with minor characters -- in particular the incredulous cops, the musical criminals, the kind restaurant hostess and the larcenous bartender -- are largely absent here.

But the movie is saved by the exceptional performances as Santa and Mrs. Claus by real-life couple Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

Hawn, who had only a brief cameo in the first film, really gets her share of the spotlight this time around. She's great in the role, and her interactions with Santa are always a hoot.

But Russell truly makes the movie worth seeing. He was born to play Santa Claus, and he lights up the screen at every appearance. I seriously hope they keep making more Christmas Chronicles films -- watching them has already become a family tradition in our household at Christmas.