Review of Bad Santa (2003) by Andy B — 24 Dec 2012

(**1/2) I recently watched this movie again for the first time in awhile, and I actually wanted to think about it instead of just laughing. Also it's the first time in I don't remember how long that I actually saw the uncut version rather than the Comedy Central version. For those of you who don't know, the image you have of Billy Bob Thornton is because of this movie. It established him as a grungy, doesn't even come close to giving a crap sleazeball. He continued this image in the Bad News Bears remake, and kept a similar attitude in many of his films since.

Bad Santa is essentially the story of a bottom-of-the-barrell criminal who takes down malls with his partner (who happens to be a black dwarf). I hope I used the right word there as John Ritter spent most of the film trying to be as PC as possible. The two pose as Santa and elf while scoping the mall for a big robbery job. Then they skip town and wait until next year to do the same thing. Only Bernie Mac stands in their way, as the head of security at the mall. Also there is a kid who's life makes Ralphie's from A Christmas Story look like a cake walk. And Santa immediately decides to take advantage of him.

This movie walks a fine line (as most dark comedies do) between laugh your ass off funny and very uncomfortable. It takes awhile to embrace the fact that the characters just aren't good people at all. But you will laugh all the way through at Thornton's over-the-top profanity. Another interesting consideration is kind of the cause-and-effect flow of the story, rather than an established plot. Things just kind of transition from event to event without alot of continuity, but the psychological progression of the main character is really what the story is about.

Anyway it's not for the easily offended, definitely not for watching with the kids (or I guess the parents depending on your generation). But it is a very unique film, and you will be forced to laugh.