Leave it to director Terry Zwigoff to make a movie like this. It felt like I was staring at a pile of vomit on the ground for 90 minutes, yet I was fascinated and intrigued while looking at the vomit. What I mean to say is that what I saw on screen was offensive and vulgar, however I was entertained and even enjoyed what I was watching. Willie T. Soke (Billy Bob Thorton) is a drunken loser, a man who is not afraid to drink until he pukes, or urniates on himself in public. During the holiday season Willie and his short partner Marcus (Tony Cox) work at shopping malls or department stores as Santa Claus and his little elf. Then when Christmas Eve comes, Willie and Marcus make a late night visit to the department store, breaking into the store safe and running off with the money, and plan on doing it again the following year. The next holiday season, Willie and Marcus arrive in Phoenix and take a job at a shopping mall, convincing the mall manager (the late John Ritter) that they will work for almost nothing and by not hiring "little person" Marcus is discriminating against short people. Yet this time around, Willie meets a attractive and sultry cocktail waitress Sue (Lauren Graham) who gives out a unique pleasure of why she wants to fornicate with Willie. Plus Willie befriends a shy yet sensitive kid (Brett Kelly) who has Willie stay with him at his fancy house with his clueless grandmother (Cloris Leachman). But the head mall security guard Gin Slagel (Bernie Mac) has his suspicions of the mall's new Santa and friend and does a investigation of their background. For starters, just because the title of the movie has "Santa" in it, doesn't make it a sequel to ELF. This is one movie that the kids should stay away from. But this is one of the most enjoyable dark comedy I have seen in a while. Like I said eariler, you normally wouldn't be laughing at what is being shown on the screen, but you can't help but chuckle. Thorton's character of Willie has to be the most sleezy character in cinema history. Willie is so vulgar that he makes Travis Bickle look like a saint. But Thorton since a lot of us have seen Thorton's personality and behavior in public, this is a role that is very fitting for him. Willie is the opposite of the typical hero, just when you think he might possibly redeem himself and become a decent person, he'll get drunk and do something foolish. I not only enjoyed Thorton's performance but also the supporting performances of Tony Cox, Lauren Graham, John Ritter, Bernie Mac, and Brett Kelly. I am always pleased to see short people being given the chance to show their acting ability, such as Peter Dinklage in STATION AGENT, and Tony Cox is given the chance to show his wonderful acting in this film. There are even some scenes in which Cox shares with Throton that has Cox steal the scene for comedy. Graham also gives an enjoyable performance as the woman who still finds Willie attractive despite how disgusting he can be. John Ritter (who is already being missed) shows his talent by playing the shocked and stunned mall manager who catches Willie doing some obscene actions at time. Child actor Brett Kelly gives a good performance as the kid, avoiding the cliche standards of being a adorable and cute kid and instead appearing to look more like a real kid who could exist. And Bernie Mac, who I always find enjoyable, gives a enjoyable performance as the corrupt and egotistical mall manager. Terry Zwigoff has made films about the "outcasts" of society with his films CRUMB and GHOST WORLD, which I highly enjoyed both of those films. Zwigoff does a good job again by being the person who likes his protagonists to be different from the Hollywood standards. When other director's could have easily made Willie a likeable character right away, Zwigoff manages to keep Willie and other characters in this movie offensive throughout the film. This isn't going to be a box office hit, then again name one Xmas film that was successful in the box office and well liked (GRINCH and both SANTA CLAUSE films were successful in box office, but not well liked by many). But given some time, I can see BAD SANTA being a cult film, similar to other holiday films including A CHRISTMAS STORY, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. But this is the type of movie that isn't really a genuine holiday film, like GREMLINS and DIE HARD 1 & 2; which is where I would put BAD SANTA along with. Yet it is entertaining and enjoyable, but when you are finished watching the movie, you'll more than likely say, I can't believe I watched that movie, and enjoyed it. **** (out of five)
