WHAT’S IT ABOUT
When a young boy mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, a devilish Jack Black arrives to wreak havoc on the holidays.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
“Dear Santa,” directed by Bobby Farrelly, has a clever premise but struggles to find its footing between family-friendly charm and edgy humor. The movie centers on Liam (Robert Timothy Smith), a dyslexic 11-year-old who accidentally sends his Christmas letter to Satan instead of Santa. When the devil himself (Jack Black) shows up offering three wishes in exchange for Liam’s soul, what follows is an unconventional holiday adventure that blends supernatural shenanigans with family drama. Jack Black steals the show, bringing his trademark energy and physical comedy as a Christmas-time demon with a mischievous streak. Instead of a one-note character, he rather portrays a highly engaging supernatural trickster, who seems actually to enjoy causing havoc. Granted, the pace slackens in the second act, artificially tacks poignant moments at the end, but throughout it all it is Black’s magnetic presence that keeps things entertaining. A brief appearance by Ben Stiller and an extended Post Malone cameo round out the cast, though neither adds much substance to the story beyond star power. The humor works on multiple levels – there’s enough silliness and visual gags for kids, while adults will appreciate the more subtle jokes and references. Farrelly includes his signature bathroom humor, which feels somewhat out of place in a holiday film but somehow still manages to land laughs, particularly in a memorable scene featuring P.J. Byrne. Robert Timothy Smith proves to be a capable young actor, showing impressive comedic timing alongside his on-screen best friend Gibby (Jaden Carson Baker). Liam’s always-fighting parents, Brianne Howey and Hayes MacArthur, dealing with a fresh tragedy, lend an unexpected emotional weight to what could have been a superficial comedy. The overall production values of the film testify to its low-budget status, featuring effects work that has ambitious aims but would not look out of place in a low-budget television movie. However, this almost adds to its quirky charm, giving it an endearing underdog quality. The pacing issues are more problematic – the film takes too long to get going, meanders through its middle section, and rushes to wrap everything up in a finale that tries to juggle comedy, heart, and supernatural stakes without fully succeeding at any of them. While trying to determine what age group it best fits, “Dear Santa” remains a surprisingly watchable option, being a bit too edgy and dark for younger viewers but not sophisticated enough for an adult audience. The film’s uneven tone and low budget might keep audiences searching for old holiday fare, but there is fresh breath in its willingness to splat outside the lines of traditional Christmas films. If you go in with modest expectations and a taste for weird humor, you might find yourself won over by this oddball Christmas tale that dares to be different. While it may not become a holiday classic, it offers enough laughs and charm to make it worth a watch, especially for Jack Black fans who appreciate his particular brand of controlled chaos.
OUR RATING – A SATAN-ISH 5