A sequel to the equally facile and stomach-turning "Once Upon A Christmas," "Twice Upon A Christmas" ranks with "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" and "Superman II" as one of those sequels that's preferable to the original - but it still isn't a world-beater. Fans of the still-lovely Kathy Ireland should seek it out, however, what with it being her last movie to date.
One year on from the events of the previous movie, Kristin (Kathy) has settled into life with the Morgans apart from her inability to remember who she was before she got there (she gave up her life as Santa's daughter to live with the family, and thus has no memory of who she is), and Rodolfa - her sister, and the Christina to her Britney - is still seeking to wreck Christmas as she nearly did last time, by selling off the North Pole a piece at a time. Writer Steven H. Berman puts a bit more emphasis on her shenanigans this time, and the movie's all the better for it; the humour makes it easier to get through, and the acting and FX are less inept here, which also helps.
But towards the end it gets sappy enough to have Michael Landon turning over in his grave, and Kathy's climactic speech to the world (don't ask) does remind you that an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award is not in her immediate future - and neither is "Thrice Upon A Christmas." Nonetheless, there are still worse seasonal TV movies around. (Like, say, "Once Upon A Christmas.") And the woman is still a dish.
