Bad Santa (2003)

Directed by Terry Zwigoff. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, John Ritter, Cloris Leachman, Lauren Tom, Ajay Naidu. [R]

This blithely vulgar and offensive comedy is like St. Nick whizzing in the eggnog, and it’s a wonder why there isn’t a scene in this film that shows that very act; it’s also a bit troubling to realize, hey, that’s some tasty asparagus-scented nog. Thornton makes good on the promise of the movie title by playing a hard-drinking, misanthropic, sex-addicted, self-loathing, mean-spirited safecracker who teams up with each holiday season with his dwarf cohort (Cox) to get a job as a mall Santa-and-elf pairing, and then they rob the stores blind on Christmas Eve. He’s definitely a bad Santa, especially when dealing with a prying security chief (Mac), and not even a dim but sweet-natured kid (Kelly) that actually believes in Santa is gonna make him change his tune (until maybe the very end…). Guaranteed to turn off some viewers, but anyone with a sick streak and/or a fondness for saucy vulgarity should be frequently bowled over with laughter, shameful or otherwise. Perfectly-cast Thornton brings all that’s needed for the part and more, and he’s surrounded by a solid supporting lineup, including Ritter in his final live-action film role as an uptight, anxious mall manager. Leachman went uncredited for her role as Kelly’s oblivious grandma; Octavia Spencer makes a brief appearance that’s hard to forget. Executive produced by the Coen brothers. Followed by a sequel.

78/100