Film Review: DEAR SANTA (2024): Jack Black is Funny in an OK New Holiday Movie From The Farrelly Brothers
Dear Santa Review
Dear Santa (2024) Film Review, a movie directed by Bobby Farrelly, written by Ricky Blitt, Peter Farrelly and Dan Ewen and starring Jack Black, Robert Timothy Smith, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, Post Malone, P.J. Byrne, Jaden Carson Baker, Kai Cech, Cate Freedman, Gavin Munn, Lee Reyes, Bryson Haney, Selah Kimbro Jones, Kyle Gass, Lindsay Rootare and Luke Chiappetta.
In a mediocre new Paramount Plus film, Dear Santa, Jack Black reunites with the Farrelly Brothers again. They worked on the hilarious Shallow Hal together over two decades ago. Bobby Farrelly has directed the new effort while Peter Farrelly co-wrote it. In the film, Jack Black plays a cool version of Satan who is conjured up when a child named Liam Turner (Robert Timothy Smith) writes a letter to Santa but accidentally misspells the intended recipient’s name as Satan due to dyslexia. Hilarious situations ensue but the Farrelly Brothers’ warped sense of humor doesn’t always suit the story line efficiently. However, there are enough sincere moments in the movie to please fans of light holiday movies and enough humor to accommodate the needs of fans of Jack Black. The comedic actor is having a good time here whether the material is up to par or not.
Satan is conceived as a sort of misfit who stays in room 666 at the “Redrum” hotel in a funny bit within the film. Liam has self-confidence issues but actually misses his young brother who passed away unexpectedly some time ago. Robert Timothy Smith is decent in the role of Liam and ends up being a pretty ordinary and relatable character which is exactly what the film was attempting to accomplish. Brianne Howey and Hayes MacArthur play Liam’s parents, Molly and Bill, who become increasingly concerned when they hear that Liam thinks he has ties to Satan.
The centerpiece of the goofy Dear Santa is a visit to a Post Malone concert. Liam’s best friend, Gibby (Jaden Carson Baker) has a big set of teeth but a good heart. Gibby hysterically ends up in the nosebleed seats at the event while Liam gets to rock with the potential girl of his dreams, Emma (a charming Kai Cech). Black’s Satan gets Liam up on-stage and “possesses” Post Malone who gives a shout-out to Liam. Malone even invites the young kids on stage as well. This sequence is a hoot and is absolutely enjoyable to watch.
Too many scenes in Dear Santa walk a thin line between being funny and not funny but Black ultimately saves the day whenever he appears on-screen. He isn’t really “Satan” as the script reveals and another comic actor assumes the role of Satan which makes for some humorous moments within the latter part of the picture. Keegan-Michael Key gets lost in the shuffle as a doctor named Finkleman who is concerned about Liam but can’t find anything medically wrong with him.
There are some nice supporting cast members who shine. Cate Freedman gets some on-point moments as a crossing guard while P.J. Byrne as a washout English teacher is also well-cast. As the parents, Howey and MacArthur try their best to give life and importance to their characters while Jaden Carson Baker is certainly likable as his character eventually gets a normal-looking pair of choppers thanks to the wishes of Liam.
This picture feels like the Farrelly Brothers back during the time when they made the Ben Stiller movie The Heartbreak Kid more than the Farrelly Brothers who helmed There’s Something About Mary, Shallow Hal or Stuck on You. Their concept here is adequate but the movie never really takes off the way it could have provided there was some sharper writing. The Post Malone scene is as good as the movie gets even though that’s not the funniest part of the film. It’s still a good way to show kids having fun with the music you know they secretly listen to and love.
Dear Santa is by no means a bad movie but it is pretty mediocre in terms of its abilities to be successful at humor. It goes back and forth between genuinely comic moments and scenes which fall flat due to poor writing. But, it’s still nice to see Jack Black working again. His satanic good guy of a character really isn’t “bad” as one would probably expect given the film’s “PG-13” rating. Instead, Black has a natural ability to perform with kids who play off his goofy antics well. There’s some emotional depth to some of the more tender moments in Dear Santa but the movie is primarily concerned with being a wacky comedy and going “buck wild” with offbeat scenarios. Whether that’s the film’s biggest problem or strength is best left open to interpretation by the particular viewer.
Rating: 6.5/10
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