Billy Bob Thornton made one of my all time favorite movies in Sling Blade. Since that movie way back in the mid-seventies, nothing else he has made really caught my eye. That is, until, Disney's Miramax unit released Bad Santa to theaters last year. The DVD release of the film this summer comes in both the theatrical release and the even funnier and unrated Badder Santa.
Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and his 3-foot 6-inch tall partner in crime, Marcus (Tony Cox) make their living each holiday season by playing Santa and his Elf for a mall. Each year they stake out the mall, plan to rob it and ultimately succeed. The plan works, for the most part, with the exception that Willie is a scorching, depressed and numb alcoholic that comes closer to blowing it each year. As Willie says, beside a daily punch to the face, cracking a safe is the only thing his old man gave him.
Badder Santa picks up with Willie claiming to go on the wagon and give up the life for something quiet in Miami. While celebrating their latest win, Marcus knows Willie won't make it and tells him he'd be lucky if he calls him next year. Flash forward a year and Willie has blown all his money and agrees to meet Marcus in Phoenix for their next gig.
The movie offers a hillarious darkness that rings almost too true at times. Willie's life is affected majorly by a creepy kid named Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly) who brings something to his life he's never had - non-judgmental friendship. Thurman, believing that Willie is Santa ends up bringing him home when Willie's motel is ransacked.
The remaining story is both bizarre and funny touching on a few ironies of life. John Ritter puts in his final gig as an uptight mall manager who keeps seeing the worst in Willie. Her hotness Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls fame brings Willie's other life changing influence in her Santa Fetish Bartender role. Bernie Mac isn't quite up to par but his role is interesting nonetheless. There's even an awesome 3 minute exchange between Willie and Ajay Naidu of Office Space fame that is likely the funniest gag in the film.
Badder Santa probably has the most cursing seen in a film in quite a while. There's no nudity or really nasty sex here, just a bunch of crude talk and a story that ends in a realistic fashion that I did not quite expect. This is Billy Bob's best role since Sling Blade by far.
The Disc:
The special edition of Badder Santa looks fantastic with its 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation. The movie has a crisp holiday look that features plenty of darkness when it works. Sound in the movie is crisp and clear through the audio's 5.1 soundtrack. It's mostly a talking comedy so there's little action to make use of the surrounds.
The film's extras begin with a Behind-the-Scenes Special (9:29) that gives us just a small bit more look into the last picture that John Ritter filmed. The rest of the interviews and footage is pretty uninteresting to be honest. I would have enjoyed a bigger focus on the kid who really makes this movie work.
Next up are several Deleted and Alternate Scenes which were not included in the theatrical cut of the film. These include Santa Trainer Scene (1:43, clever but redundant); Willie Leaves Department Store (1:49 of alternate takes); and, Screaming Baby (1:39 of pain to the ears and to the psyche). Having enjoyed the film so much I enjoyed these extra looks.
A Gag Reel showing some of the outtakes shows the lighter side of filming what was a heavy film at times. There's also the standard trailers and upcoming looks at movies from Buena Vista. Unfortunately there's no commentaries, which disappointed us because we love hearing Billy Bob speak about his roles.
bottom line:
I've watched the DVD three times and still love this humorous look at true depression. The movie has a heavy feeling at times but things are funny enough if you can overlook the real bitterness of life involved.
4 out of 5
By - Brian Gray
