I’ve seen a few previews for Bad Santa and read some about the movie. It did sound interesting. I decided that I wanted to see it and recently had the chance to go.

Willie and Marcus had worked together for several years. They were thieves. Each year they would get a job with a department store. Willie was Santa and Marcus was his elf. Willie was a very bad Santa. He would show up for work drunk and talk horribly to the children. On Christmas Eve, after the store closed, Marcus and Willie would rob it. Willie got into the safe while Marcus wandered through the store getting certain items. Marcus’s wife Lois was involved as well. Willie had plans for his share of the latest job, but he quickly ran through the money. He went when Marcus called about a new job.

Marcus got them a job at a store in Arizona. Willie was drunk when he arrived. Bob Chipeska, the owner of the store was concerned about Willie’s behavior. Marcus had an explanation, but Bob was still concerned. He talked to Gin, the head of security. Gin was going to keep an eye on Willie and Marcus. Willie met Sue, a bartender that had a thing for Santa. They got together often, but that didn’t stop Willie from having sex with a woman that worked at the store in a fitting room. Bob was very upset and tried to come up with a way to get rid of Willie and Marcus.

A boy who was picked on a lot when to see Willie a few different times. He didn’t say a lot at first, but that changed. Willie learned a few things about the boy and his life that he used to his advantage. Willie was annoyed by the boy at times, but he did seem to like him. Willie always called him kid, even after learning that his name was Thurman. Sue spent time with the boy as well. Gin was watching Will and Marcus, but was up to something himself.

CAST

Billy Bob Thorton - Willie
Tony Cox - Marcus
Brett Kelly - The Kid
Lauren Graham - Sue
Lauren Tom - Lois
Bernie Mac - Gin
John Ritter - Bob Chipeska
Cloris Leachman - Granny

Terry Zwigoff - Director

Bad Santa was released in November of 2003. The movie was 93 minutes long. It was rated R. This is definitely not a movie for children of any age.

Bad Santa is not a typical Christmas movie. It isn’t for children or families. This is a movie just for adults and isn’t for everyone. People shouldn’t assume that this is a family movie because Santa is in the title. It isn’t close to being a family movie. It is rated R for a reason. Many people may be offended instead of entertained by the movie. There is a lot of swearing in the movie. Willie used some unique combinations of words at times. He seemed to favor the word that rhymes with luck though. That word was used repeatedly throughout the movie. People who are offended by that word should avoid this movie.

Bad Santa was a dark comedy. I laughed several times during the movie. Some of the humor could be offensive to some people. There were some dark and even disturbing moments in the movie. People who don’t like dark comedies probably wouldn’t like this movie. It isn’t a movie that everyone will like. It is hard to do a dark comedy that is good. I don’t mind movies like this at times. There were a few serious moments in the movie, but they didn’t happen often. This wasn’t a serious movie. There was some violence in some scenes, but it wasn’t excessive. There were a few fights, and even some shooting. Blood was spilled more than once. People who don’t like to see blood in movies should probably stay away from this one.

There were some sex scenes in Bad Santa. Willie had an active sex life. He was having sex with Sue in his car right after they met. They had sex again later in the movie as well. Not much was shown in those scenes, but Sue was very vocal. She also made Willie leave his Santa hat on when they had sex. Willie had sex with a woman in a fitting room of the department store. Nothing was really shown that time, but Willie and the woman were very vocal. There were some sexually suggestive things that were said at different times in the movie. It was also hinted that Willie had spent time with a prostitute. The sex scenes in this movie could offend some people.

The acting in Bad Santa was good. Billy Bob Thorton was just nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as Willie. He was really funny and believable in that part. Tony Cox was also good as Marcus. I don’t think I’ve seen him in any other movies before. Lauren Graham wasn’t in that many scenes, but she was good in her scenes. She is in the tv show Gilmore Girls. I haven’t seen that show, or any other movies that she has been in. Brett Kelly, who played the boy, was also good. This movie was the last one that John Ritter did. He was really good in his part, and I was a little disappointed that he wasn’t in more of the movie.

CHARACTERS

Willie - His father taught him to crack safes. He drank a lot and wasn’t good at managing money when he did get it. He was a thief and every year he got a job as Santa in a different store with his accomplice Marcus. They robbed the stores on Christmas Eve. Willie didn’t really like children, and wasn’t that thrilled with his life. He did become friends with a kid.

Marcus - He worked with Willie. Marcus was the elf. He always set the jobs up. He was getting tired of Willie’s drinking and carrying on with women. Marcus and his wife seemed to manage the money they did get better.

Thurman - The boy that stopped to see Willie several times. He always called Willie Santa. Thurman was teased a lot and didn’t have many friends. He was drawn to Willie for some reason.

Sue - A bartender that Willie met right after he got into town. She came onto him in the bar. She had a thing for Santa and made Willie wear his Santa hat when they had sex. She was a nice woman. She spent some time with Thurman and seemed to like him.

Bob - He hired Marcus and Willie. Bob didn’t meet them until after he hired them. Bob had second, even third thoughts about Willie once he met him. Bob tried to find ways to get rid of Willie and Marcus.

Gin - He was head of security. Bob had him watching Willie and Marcus to try to find a reason to get rid of them.

Bad Santa was an entertaining movie, but it isn’t for everyone. People in the mood for a funny, off color movie may enjoy this one.

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Recommended: Yes