TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Bad Santa [2003]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £1.49 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Instantly qualifying as a perennial cult favorite, Bad Santa is as nasty as it wants to be, and there's something to be said for comedy without compromise. The Coen brothers conceived the basic idea and served as executive producers, but it's director Terry Zwigoff who brings his unique affinity for losers and outcasts to the twisted tale of Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton), a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed sexaholic safe-cracker who targets a different department store every holiday season, playing Santa while he cases the joint with his dwarf elf-partner Marcus (Tony Cox). With comedic support from Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, Cloris Leachman, and John Ritter in his final film, Thornton milks the lowbrow laughs with a slovenly lack of sentiment, warming Bad Santa's pickled heart just enough to please a chubby misfit (Brett Kelly, hilariously deadpan) who may or may not be mentally challenged. As dry as an arid martini and blacker than morning-after coffee, Bad Santa is an instant cure for yuletide schmaltz, and if you think this appropriately R-rated comedy is suitable for kids, your parenting skills are no better than Willie's. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Editorial
Synopsis

Billy Bob Thornton is terrific as Willie T. Stokes; a lowlife department store Santa in Terry Zwigoff's outrageous comedic follow-up to his offbeat hit 'Ghost World'. Every year, Stokes takes a job as Santa in a different place in order to rob the store he's working in. The diminutive Tony Cox plays his horny sidekick, Marcus, the real mastermind, who is even more foulmouthed than Stokes. Brett Kelly is Thurman Merman, an eight-year-old who desperately needs to believe in the real Santa Claus - and just might have a good enough heart to change Stokes's evil ways. Or maybe not. And Lauren Graham plays Sue, a young sexpot who wants to get a different kind of gift from Santa. Providing excellent comic relief in this black comedy is John Ritter, in his last film role, as the mousy mall manager, and Bernie Mac as Gin, the mall security guard who suspects something is not right. Be warned - 'Bad Santa' is not a family holiday movie. It is lewd, crude, and very funny, but it is most definitely not for children. Joel and Ethan Coen, the brothers behind such quirky hits as 'Raising Arizona' and 'Barton Fink', are the executive producers who came up with the idea in the first place, influenced by the likes of 'The Bad News Bears' and 'South Park'.

Santa gives political correctness a serious seasonal spanking.
Review date: 2008-08-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

One of the cleverest adult comedies released in a long time. A down an out con man who is rotten to the core discovers a purpose as he starts to befriend a boy who is an easy target for bullies. One may think the drunk-playing-Santa theme would wear off quite quickly but the lines keep on coming and some of the scenes need a cachinnate cramp warning.
Billy Bob Thornton is so good in this role one kind of marvels at how much fun he must have had researching it. For me Tony Cox stole this one as the acid-tongued elf constantly covering for Santa's misdemeanours.
If you're expecting Dickens you'll be offended. If you want a 90 minute laugh, this is one of the best you'll get.

Similar Products

Reviews


Wholly Inappropriate but Wickedly Funny
Review date: 2007-12-09 Rating: 8 out of 10

While this movie aims to offend almost every sensibility, it is a feel-good movie at heart. There are a number of cliches and conventions in this film, but there are also moments of truly subversive humour. As well, the performances are remarkable. It's a nice little film for those of us who have a love-hate relationship with the holidays.

It's the perfect antidote to Yule-fuelled madness.

Billy Bob has a blast
Review date: 2007-11-22 Rating: 6 out of 10

It was funny but it was predictable. Worth a watch if you are in the mood for something light. BBT does the job and the supporting performances are good but there is just nothing new once you get past the sleazy Santa gag.

My new favourite christmas film
Review date: 2007-03-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

Billy Bob Thornton stars as Willy, a drunken loser and criminal who, once a year, dresses up like Santa for one of those shopping mall jobs where kids sit on your knee and tell you what presents they want. He's not doing this to share the holiday spirit, though - this is a scam that culminates with Willy and his elf sidekick Marcus stealing the Christmas Eve takings from the mall's safe. Things take a turn for Willy, however, when he finds himself making an unusual friend in earnest but deeply oblivious kid Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly), who loves Santa so much he'll put up with whatever foul-mouthed abuse Willy throws his way.

Thornton is on very course and funny form in this one as possibly the worst incarnation of Santa Claus christmas has ever seen. He falls asleep in his chair, pees himself, cusses out any kids he doesn't like (which is pretty much all of them), and seems almost impervious to sentiment. Young actor Kelly is also very good as the lovable and naive Thurman, even when he has snot dripping down his face. Oddly, the relationship between these two is similar to the one Thornton had with Lucas Black in Sling Blade, although with more swearing and comedy violence.

More than anything else, Bad Santa is just flat-out funny from start to finish. Adding to the enjoyment, though, is the way it neatly avoids the torrent of sickly sentimentality that, for some reason, always tends to engulf christmas films. Although it does have its touching moments, it was nice to see a film that dared to take a look at the festive season from the perspective of characters who don't give a stuff about yuletide joy and all that. This is an excellent dark comedy and is recommended to all.

Dashed Funny
Review date: 2007-01-09 Rating: 8 out of 10

A bit messed up, but good for that. It's all very funny but John Ritter is completely hilarious.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Bernie Mac
Tony Cox
Billy Bob Thornton
Lauren Graham
John Ritter

Creators:
Billy Bob Thornton (Primary Contributor)
Bernie Mac (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Ent. UK
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Ent. UK
EAN: 5035822910737
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL,
Release date: 2005-11-14
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Hindi (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional