As a long-time fan of the Farrelly Brothers and their outrageous humor, I must say that “Dear Santa” was a delightful surprise. Despite its quirks and questionable logic, the film manages to weave a heartwarming tale about self-discovery, belief systems, and the power of friendship – even if that friend happens to be the Devil himself, played brilliantly by Jack Black.
As people grow older, they usually stop believing in the existence of Santa Claus, while many continue to believe in figures like Satan and other spiritual entities learned about during childhood. This raises the question as to why some beliefs are considered strange or even mentally unsound when held by adults, while others are widely accepted. While this may seem like a deep or philosophical topic, rest assured that “Dear Santa” is actually a light-hearted family comedy, but it does provoke thought.
Hi Santa, the latest film by the Farrelly brothers, now streaming on Paramount+, has a straightforward concept but manages to make it endearing and amusing. The story revolves around an 11-year-old boy named Liam, who is nearing his tweens and starting to doubt the existence of Santa Claus. Yet, he pens a letter to the North Pole with his Christmas wish, acknowledging, “I know he’s probably not real, but there might be a 1% chance.
Regrettably, due to Liam’s dyslexia, he inadvertently mixed up some letters when addressing his envelope, sending it to Satan instead of Santa. Consequently, a man resembling Jack Black, large and bearded with a jolly demeanor, emerged from the closet with Liam’s letter. Mistaking him for Santa Claus, Liam eagerly assumed that this figure was the one who brings presents. However, much to his surprise, Satan, like Santa, had the power to grant Liam’s wishes; unlike Santa, the consequences of these holiday gifts would be far more severe, as they could cost young Liam his soul.
A Funny Jack Black Raises Hell in ‘Dear Santa’
In a refreshingly authentic portrayal, Robert Timothy Smith plays the role of young Liam Turner, a character we encounter as the holiday season draws near. It appears that this year’s Christmas may not hold much cheer for him and his family. Having recently relocated to a new town, Liam’s parents seem to engage in constant arguments rather than meaningful conversations. Liam has yet to find companionship beyond Gibby (played by the insightful Jaden Carson Baker), another social misfit who struggles with self-consciousness due to a dental issue. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Liam and his family are grappling with the aftermath of some unspecified event that caused their departure from their previous city.
Dear Santa wastes little time before getting to the meat of the narrative and introducing the movie’s greatest asset, Jack Black. The intelligent but dyslexic Liam sends his letter, erroneously addressed to Satan, and before he knows it, Jack Black’s fun twist on the Devil shows up. With twisty horns, bushy facial hair, and an elaborate fluffy red coat, this anthropomorphic iteration of Satan feels like a cross between Jack Nicholson, Nick Nolte, and Orson Welles, but is still 100% Jack Black. He (ironically) puts his soul into the performance, deconstructing the popular mythology of his character with a sociopathic goofiness and layers of charm that hide his manipulative machinations. It’s his best performance since Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, or Bernie before it.
Before Liam even understands his situation, he swiftly agrees to a proposal that grants him three wishes. His first wish is for a chance with the woman he adores, Emma (Kai Cech). In an unexpected turn of events, Emma breaks up with her partner and shows deep affection towards Liam. Meanwhile, it appears Satan has pulled out all the stops. They receive exclusive tickets to attend a concert by Emma’s favorite artist, Post Malone, who is mysteriously enchanted by Satan and dedicates the entire performance to Liam, showering him with excessive praise. Not only that, but he invites both Liam and Emma onstage. It’s evident that Satan isn’t joking around, as Liam now has access to anything his heart desires.
A Perceptive & Thoughtful Film About Belief, Family, and Desire
In the remainder of “Dear Santa“, Liam navigates through issues like friendships, romance, family conflicts, self-centeredness, and altruism. An unexpected twist reveals that he’s interacting with Satan, which doesn’t seem to faze him much (modern youth). However, his soul remains secure as long as he abstains from making a third wish. Despite this, Satan isn’t reassured, anticipating that Liam might desire more in the future, despite Liam’s skepticism. This provides an intriguing perspective on human nature (or childlike immaturity) – life has a way of going awry and disappointing us, causing distress over things beyond our control; we often yearn for better circumstances.
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The film “Dear Santa” showcases unique insightful aspects that distinguish it from typical holiday movies. It delves deeply into the three fundamental aspects of Christmas: family, faith, and longing (whether selfless or selfish), all without resorting to overt sentimentality or melodrama. Its narrative structure, built around making wishes, cleverly addresses these themes. In essence, it invites us to ponder our desires from Santa – what do we truly yearn for? Is it something that brings us joy personally, or is it a gift for someone else, with our name signed on it? Who are the recipients of our wishes?
Lumps of Coal: Cringe Concerts, Childishness, and the Wish Paradox
In a philosophical sense, it’s clear that Santa isn’t equipped to handle logical challenges outside his traditional realm, and the movie doesn’t strive for realism. Immediately, viewers might ponder the paradox of wishes – wouldn’t it make more sense to wish for infinite wishes or to never have one’s soul sold, regardless of actions? However, in this case, Liam is asking for simpler things like a date with a girl.
Moreover, it’s quite unusual that Liam remains so casual after discovering he’s been interacting with Satan instead of Santa, and that he’s struck a deal where he promises his soul in exchange, dooming him to an eternity of torment in Hell. Jack Black portrays such an appealing Devil that it’s easy to see why Liam seems so friendly towards him.
Dear Santa also gets derailed when it really leans into the “wishful thinking” of kids. The dreadfully long Post Malone concert sequence becomes truly embarrassing by the end, for instance, and ends up being a solidly awkward and ridiculously long 15 minutes. Likewise, the ending of the film is very cheesy and kid-friendly at the expense of the characters, the narrative, and the film’s internal logic. It’s almost insulting, though the very final punchline is pretty hilarious.
The first film by the Farrelly brothers featuring a child as the main character may account for much of its awkwardness, as it appears they struggled with how to handle this young lead. They aimed to create a family-friendly holiday movie suitable for pre-teens and older, yet the subject matter involves Satan and some heavy themes. The discomfort might stem from their efforts to make the film kid-friendly enough to counteract the darkness.
A Special Movie That May Not Find an Audience
Essentially, it appears that the Farrelly brothers might be facing an uphill battle with their film “Dear Santa.” Given its content – featuring Santa impersonating Satan – it may not resonate with many families or parents. However, there is some worthwhile content and thoughtful material in this movie. In comparison to other Farrelly brothers’ films, “Dear Santa” leans more towards the light-hearted and optimistic side, resembling “Osmosis Jones” rather than “Kingpin.” Yet, even this seemingly lighter take might not sit well with some viewers, especially due to its portrayal of Satan as a comical companion, which may clash with certain religious beliefs.
“One ongoing theme in the movie ‘Dear Santa’ is the question of continued belief. Do you continue to hold onto your beliefs as before, or have they changed? The movie seems to imply that you become less dependent on certain beliefs when you discover that what they offer is already within yourself. You can fulfill your own wishes and correct your own mistakes. Few Christmas films provoke such introspective thoughts, yet despite its awkward moments and some parts that are hard to swallow, ‘Dear Santa’ remains a bit of a holiday miracle. You can now watch ‘Dear Santa’ on Paramount+ starting today.
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2024-11-25 13:32