The Holidays are almost here, and that means an onslaught of Hollywood blockbusters with hokey themes and feel-good endings are on the way. However, the best of the holiday season is already in theaters and is anything but hokey. “Bad Santa,” directed by Terry Zwigoff, is simply hilarious. Terry Zwigoff is not your normal Hollywood director. With films such as “Ghost World” (2001) and “Crum” (1995), Zwigoff has not compromised his ideals for the Hollywood formula, and “Bad Santa” is no exception.
“I think I turned a corner today. I hit a kid.” No, it is not a typo. That is exactly what Willie T. Soke (Billy Bob Thornton), a mall Santa, says to his partner in crime Marcus the elf (Tony Cox). Willie and Marcus have worked together for eight years pulling the same scam, and have yet to be caught. Willie applies for the mall Santa job and comes with Marcus, an actual “little person.” On Christmas, Marcus uses his size to his advantage and remains in the store after closing to let Willie in. While Willie cracks the store safe, Marcus runs through the store collecting merchandise for his mail-order wife. During the scam, Santa is, of course, drinking the whole time, occasionally pissing his pants, and constantly uses the F-word.
In Phoenix, Ariz., the duo run into a tight-ass mall manager (John Ritter) who hates the loose language and morals of Willie and a mall security chief (Bernie Mac) who becomes wise to their plans. The two criminal masterminds reach an agreement with the security chief and the scam continues. Willie meets a dorky little fat kid who is about as lonely and loony as one can be. The kid attaches himself to Santa, even though Santa is a foul-mouthed, alcoholic, self-loathing retch.
Willie then meets a sweet bartender with a Santa fetish (Lauren Graham), and “Fuck me, Santa” is repeated many times thereafter in the film. When Sue the bartender is introduced to the kid, a little dysfunctional family seems to be in the works. At times it appears as if the film tries to deliver a message about a lost soul finding meaning through a lonely kid during Christmas, but then “Bad Santa” returns and does something completely disgusting and retched, or hilarious, depending on how you look at it.
If you can’t stand blasphemy, don’t see this movie.
If you enjoy colorful language, then definitely see this movie. If you hate to see people hit each other in the balls, don’t see this movie. If you think it is hilarious when people hit each other in the balls, rush to the theater. If you see Santa Claus as a holy figure that should be revered, this is not the movie for you. If you see Santa Claus as a commercial symbol exploited by big business, you will probably enjoy the film.
“Bad Santa” is simply a dark comedy for those who like dark comedies. Two of the more recent films in this genre include “Death to Smoochy” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” If you enjoyed either of these films, you might just piss your pants for “Bad Santa.”
Grade: A/B
