Starring Billy Bob Thorton, John Ritter, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, Lauren Tom, Brett Kelly, Tony Cox
Written By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Directed By: Terry Zwigoff
Studio: Dimension Films
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For anyone that hates the Holidays, Bad Santa is a film for you. Starring Billy Bob Thorton as a drunk, smelly mall Santa who is really out to rob the malls on Christmas. Foul mouthed, drunk and sarcastic as you can get, Billy Bob turns in a great performance as Willie who go mall to mall across the country each year and plays Santa Claus and at the end of his tenure, robs them. What a nice guy. Bad Santa is a shocking, dark comedy that has me laughing every time I watch it.

Some people have it rough. Working only a month or so each year, Willie plays a Santa Claus in Malls across the US, and ends up robbing enough money each year that helps him sit around all year in a warm climate and drink himself silly. When a new job comes a calling in Phoenix, it proves to be more difficult than they planned. Their uptight boss (Ritter) and Security Chief (Bernie Mac) are on to Willie and his little sidekick, Marcus, and may prevent them from robbing the mall. While at the bar, Willie meets a hot bartender and the two end up getting some Christmas lessons from one of Santa’s biggest fans, “The Kid.” I guess that’s better than his real name in the movie, Thurman Murman. The kid also really thinks Willie is Santa, which baffles him. The kid invites Willie and Sue to stay in his house since his dad is away “exploring the mountains” where he really is in jail. The Kid and Willie really have good chemistry and some of the best lines in the movie come between the two. It’s jaw dropping how Billy Bob speaks to The Kid, but at the same time, it’s hysterical. Things turn for the worse as Willie gets double crossed by Marcus, his little friend who plays Santa’s Helper. Marcus and his wife end up screwing Willie over and try and take the money. It ends up in Willie’s favor though, well sorta. It was kind of bittersweet as well to see John Ritter in his last movie and its a shame he left this world so early.

Just like previous releases, the movie featured deleted and alternate scenes, gag reel, a behind the scene featurette and a new audio commentary from Director Terry Zwigoff and Editor Robert Hoffman. With the director’s cut I don’t really know how much was added, it seemed like a few jokes and things were added to the film but really nothing much from the previous “Badder Santa.” Either way, its still a funnier film.

Features:
-Audio Commentary with Director Terry Zwigoff and Editor Robert Hoffman
-Deleted and Alternate Scenes
-Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
-Outtakes

Audio:
-ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1

Video:
-Widescreen 1.85:1 Color (Anamorphic)

Subtitles:

Favorite Scenes: Tending Bar, First Day at New Mall, Payback to the Bullies, Laying Low
Rating: NR
Running Time: 88 minutes
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating: