Director Bobby Farrelly‘s “Dear Santa” is a mean-spirited holiday comedy with a heart of gold. With its odd blend of childish humor and adult sensibilities, this family-friendly movie has a bit of an identity crisis that leaves it feeling as if it’s caught between two worlds. On one hand, it might be a bit too edgy for young kids. On the other, it’s not quite mature enough to satisfy adults who are looking for something more substantial. Despite its weird tone and low-budget production values, the movie manages to be oddly enjoyable if you’re in the right mood for its particular brand of ridiculousness.
Eleven-year-old Liam (Robert Timothy Smith) is way too old to believe in Santa. In order to make his holiday-loving mom (Brianne Howey) happy, he mails his annual Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error. His dyslexia has suddenly thrown the yuletide into chaos when a mischievous demon claiming to be the devil (Jack Black) shows up to wreak havoc. He grants Liam three wishes with a catch: after the third is spoken, he will take control of the young boy’s soul.
The premise is absurd but it’s also a very funny concept. The jokes sometimes come across as dated and are a mixed bag, like when Farrelly includes plenty of his trademark bathroom humor (including a bit with P.J. Byrne that, despite my best efforts to resist, actually made me laugh a lot). It’s definitely not the kind of humor you expect to find in a typical holiday movie, and it will probably turn off some viewers. But if you’re willing to embrace the general silliness, there’s charm to be found in the irreverence.
What shocked me the most about the movie is that it never fully descends into being completely dumb or stupid, which is a huge relief considering the direction it could have taken. There are some surprisingly heartfelt moments peppered throughout, with a genuine attempt to tap into the familial holiday spirit. There’s a nice friendship between Liam and his bestie Gibby (Jaden Carson Baker), though it’s often overshadowed by Black’s larger-than-life antics.
Fans of the bearded comedian are going to be thrilled as his performance is the film’s undeniable strength. Black brings his most classic, crowd-pleasing beats to the role, using his signature style of physical comedy, over-the-top clowning, and goofy antics to steal the show. If you’re looking for a lot of funny noises, scat singing, wacky dancing, and bizarre outfits that lean heavily into his rotund physique, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. While this kind of slapstick humor might be over-the-top for some, it’s undeniably fun in its own right.
Although I’m not really sure who this weird little holiday movie is made for, the premise is funny, the star is a hoot, and the irreverent jokes made me laugh. “Dear Santa” doesn’t quite fit into a neatly specific category, and it’s a bit of a mess. It’s actually not that bad, although almost everything about it seems to point to a movie that should’ve been unwatchably awful.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 