As a seasoned film enthusiast with over three decades of movie-going under my belt, I must admit that the first look at Paramount+’s new Christmas comedy, “Dear Santa,” has me genuinely excited. The prospect of Jack Black playing Satan, and being mistaken for Santa, in a holiday romp is an intriguing premise, to say the least.
The streaming service Paramount+ has given us a sneak peek at their upcoming Christmas comedy called “Dear Santa,” which is set to premiere soon. This film marks the comeback of the Farrelly Brothers after a decade, and there’s a lot of anticipation about whether it will be a successful return for the minds behind Dumb & Dumber. In this movie, Kevin James portrays Satan, who inadvertently gets mixed up with Santa Claus in a hilariously mischievous holiday tale.
In my humble opinion as a movie critic, the heartwarming tale of “Dear Santa” revolves around me, a young believer named Liam Turner, portrayed by Robert Timothy Smith. Eager to debunk the doubts of my cynical peers, I pen a letter to none other than the legendary Santa Claus, imploring him to make his existence known. Unfortunately, a careless mistake in spelling addresses the letter to Satan, played brilliantly by Jack Black. Delighted by this unforeseen missive, Satan feels compelled to meet me, leading to a whirlwind of mischief, laughter, and unexpected life lessons.
15 years back, I stumbled upon an intriguing idea for a movie called “Dear Santa.” However, I felt it needed some refining before it could really shine. Alongside my writing partner, Ricky Blitt (known for shows like “Loudermilk” and “Family Guy”), I penned the screenplay. Ricky was the one who truly steered us in perfecting the story’s final shape. Once we had a solid narrative, my brother Bobby Farrelly, the other half of our Hollywood team, jumped on board to direct this heartwarming tale.
What to Expect from Dear Santa
As a movie enthusiast, I’m eager to share my thoughts on an upcoming holiday film, marking the Farrelly brothers’ foray into Christmas cinema. When it came to casting Satan in a way that was devilish yet delightful, Bobby (presumably a director or producer) felt Jack Black was the perfect fit. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bobby expressed that Black was his top and only pick for this unique role.
Jack is the kind of fellow who always seems to have a touch of mischief in his eyes, thanks to his expressive eyebrows and facial expressions. Yet, he remains endearing and highly approachable – simply put, that’s just Jack.
Without a doubt, Black is a true cinematic icon, renowned for his captivating character portrayals. The plot summary and character sketches seem to echo Black’s roles in the 2015 film “Goosebumps” as the enigmatic author “R.L. Stine” and the upcoming “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” as the formidable antagonist “Bowser”. Notably, Black has also appeared in “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Borderlands” more recently.
In this tale, Santa has assembled an engaging ensemble of characters. Jaden Carson Baker and Kai Cech take on the roles of the story’s young protagonists. Brianne Howey and Hayes MacArthur portray Liam’s parents, while comedy legend Keegan-Michael Key assumes the role of Liam’s therapist. Lastly, renowned musician and rapper Post Malone makes an appearance in the movie as himself.
Peter Farrlley deems the movie as suitable for everyone except those who continue to believe in Santa Claus, with a potential plot revelation coming up. He praised its powerful message and humorously hinted at an unexpected twist. The protagonist, Liam, undergoes personal growth and adventure as he encounters Satan. The audience can anticipate both amusing and emotional scenes, while still enjoying the Farrelly brothers’ trademark wit, albeit in a more subdued manner.
This film is surprisingly humorous. It genuinely crackes me up with its witty humor. Compared to many traditional Christmas movies, it has a slightly more mature tone, but it’s not as edgy as “Bad Santa.” I adore “Bad Santa,” but they are two different kinds of films. If we were to make an analogy, comparing this to “Bad Santa” would be like comparing “Dumb and Dumber” to “There’s Something About Mary.” This is more like the “Dumb and Dumber” type of comedy.
Dear Santa
premieres on Paramount+ on November 25th.
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2024-11-07 03:01