A lump of coal of a satanic holiday feature.
Here’s the premise for “Dear Santa.” A kid with a learning disability writes a letter to Santa, but accidentally spells “SATAN,” instead of “SANTA.” So, the devil gets the letter and the movie combines “The Santa Clause,” “Bedazzled,” and “Aladdin,” by having him give the boy three wishes, plus a freebee. In the form of Post Malone, of course.
It’s often difficult to tell what target audience the movie is aiming for. The kids might be confused by the adult content, while the adults might be cringing at the obligatory fart jokes. And the film is rated PG-13. In my defense, I’m exhausted by the cliches the boy must engage in, as if he hasn’t seen a single movie in his life, as well as a series of misunderstandings that the story has to unfold for comedic effect.
Jack Black is the best thing about “Dear Santa” as a devilish figure who receives the letter from young Liam Turner (Robert Timothy Smith). He still has his current trademark beard and rocking voice, but he’s also in a sleazy red suit and has horns. And for a little bit, he goes along with the kid’s stupidity.
And speaking of which…
Still thinking he’s Santa, the boy has to stupidly tell his parents (Hayes MacArthur and Brianne Howey) who he just met, and they have to hire a child psychiatrist (Keegan-Michael Key), who thinks he’s crazy, too. He may have a learning disability, but they also think he’s too stupid to know what’s really going on in their marriage.
He also tells his buck-toothed best friend Gibby (Caden Carson Baker), who clarifies that he wrote his letter to Satan. At least he’s the only one who believes in what is supposed to be a fantasy, but is now a reality.
The movie takes too long in exploring the kid’s own family problems, as well as his social life. But what really annoys me is the series of misunderstandings that occur. Liam tells his parents that Gibby is a cancer patient, which seems to impress his crush Emma (Kai Cech). And when his parents eavesdrop on Liam and Gibby’s zoom chat about Satan and what’s going down at the Christmas carnival, they leave before Liam checks the door and clarifies that he plans to kiss Emma. It’s just a lame version of the Mary Wickes scene in “White Christmas.”
“Dear Santa” was produced and directed by Bobby Farrelly and produced and written by Peter Farrelly, and you know they’re the Farrelly Brothers. They’ve collaborated with Black before in “Shallow Hal,” which was a funny and under-appreciated comedy. This one, however, is a dumb and long film with Black trying his best to carry the film with his awesomeness. But a Jack Black film has to be more than awesome. It has to be funny, smart, and flexible, like “School of Rock” or “Kung Fu Panda” or “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny.” If you haven’t heard of my last choice, then give it a look.
The movie tries to sweet during the second half, as if we’re supposed to forget about the fart jokes and misunderstandings (a mistake unwisely made in the Farrelly’s remake of “The Heartbreak Kid”). But it should have been almost over by the time the kid makes his third wish, and you can pretty much tell he’ll be given a second chance at avoiding eternal damnation.
Again, I’m still befuddled at who the movie’s target audience is supposed to be, but on both sides, this is, as Liam says: “putrid.”
Streaming on Paramount+
