As a cinephile who has weathered countless movie marathons and festivals, I must say that the resurgence of “Bad Santa” and its sequel on Pluto TV this Christmas has been a delightful surprise. Having watched my fair share of holiday classics, I can attest that sometimes, one needs a palate cleanser from all that saccharine-laden cheer – and there’s no better alternative than the irreverent, raunchy antidote that is “Bad Santa.
This year, an unusual choice for a holiday classic and its follow-up have become popular streaming picks on Pluto TV in the U.S. over Christmas. These movies currently occupy the first and second spots among viewers. The adult-oriented, R-rated comedies might not be suitable for family viewing with children or grandparents, but their impact has been significant since they were added to the platform in December.
Despite being considered one of the most unconventional Christmas films ever made, it appears that the dark comedy, known for its off-color humor and anti-holiday ambiance, is drawing just as much attention as timeless family comedies like The Santa Clause, Home Alone, and Elf. It might be that people have had enough of overly sweet Christmas stories, and there’s simply no better antidote than the film Bad Santa to balance it out.
The film, released in 2003, features Thornton as an annually mall Santa-posing, intoxicated, sexually promiscuous, and vulgar conman, aided by his dwarf partner in executing holiday crimes. Despite its seemingly catastrophic plotline, the movie was favorably received by critics, earning a 78% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75% audience rating. What’s particularly noteworthy is that Roger Ebert, in his review, awarded the film a 3.5 out of 4 stars. In his critique, Ebert highlighted:
Bad Santa is an offbeat, darkly humorous film that pushes comedic boundaries in an unexpected way. Unlike typical films, it doesn’t follow the conventional path of a cheerful resolution. Instead, its finale is ironically ‘happy,’ much like being told one has lost their legs but managed to keep their shoes. Mainstream American movies often adhere to certain unspoken rules, and Bad Santa breaks all these rules.
‘Bad Santa 2’ Could Not Live Up to Its Predecessor
This year, it appears that Pluto TV viewers are pondering, “Why settle for just one ‘Bad Santa’ when you can enjoy two?” Consequently, the second installment, titled ‘Bad Santa 2’, is holding strong at the No.2 spot, slightly behind the original which has claimed the top position. It would be quite unfortunate if the late sequel were to take the lead, as it is one of those films that could have been postponed or even omitted during initial planning phases.
After a 13-year gap, “Bad Santa 2” made its return, featuring Billy Bob Thornton reprising his role as the mischievous Willie Soak and Tony Cox as his accomplice in crime, who continues to play an elf. In this sequel, Kathy Bates, a renowned Oscar-winner, joined the cast as Willie’s mother Sunny. However, despite these notable additions, the film was met with icy reviews by most audiences.
Basically, “Bad Santa” was successful due to its unconventional and provocative anti-Christmas themes and explicit content during a period when most films were focused on safe, family-friendly entertainment. However, as time passed between movies, the shock value of profanity and graphic sex had been repeated numerous times, leaving “Bad Santa” without much fresh material to present. If there’s still any doubt about this, the 23% score from critics and 34% rating from audiences should make it clear that it didn’t have much more to offer.
Absolutely, if you’re seeking movies that you wouldn’t normally pay for, free streaming platforms like Pluto TV, Freevee, and Tubi are ideal choices. In fact, many older films that received negative criticism initially can still thrive on these platforms years later. So, if you’re trying to escape the upcoming festivities, why not check out both “Bad Santa” and its sequel, “Bad Santa 2,” now streaming on Pluto TV. However, it might be best to watch them after the kids are asleep.
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2024-12-19 05:03