MOVIE REVIEW: DEAR SANTA (PG-13)
– By Adam Mast –
“Dear Santa” Finds The Farrelly Brothers Reuniting For A ‘Jack Black’ Headlined Christmas Comedy.
Back in the 90s, the Farrelly Brothers were all the comical rage having delivered “Dumb and Dumber,” “Kingpin,” and “There’s Something About Mary” all within a 6-year time span. This sibling filmmaking duo would then go on to direct a handful of noteworthy comedies in the years that would follow and while you could easily debate that titles like “Me, Myself, and Irene,” “Shallow Hal,” and “Stuck on You” were inferior to their successful outpour of work in the 90s, Team Farrelly would still manage to deliver their own unique brand of outrageous humor, high concept plot hooks, and heartfelt charm.
After taking a few solo gigs (Peter would helm 2018’s divisive Oscar winner “Green Book” while Bobby would direct the hit and miss 2023 Woody Harrellson-headlined romp “Champions”), the Farrellys are finally back, and with a Christmas movie no less. “Dear Santa” stars the forever lovable Jack Black in a Yuletide comedy about a young boy named Liam (Robert Timothy Smith of the just released streaming series, “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew”) who, through a dyslexic mishap, inadvertently writes a letter to “Satan” instead of “Santa.” It’s an honest mistake but one that comes with a chaotic set of consequences as Satan (played by Black) shows up and attempts to trick little Liam into giving up his soul in exchange for a few wishes. As expected, all sorts of hijinks ensue.
Bobby Farrelly receives the solo directing credit on this film with Peter Farrelly on board as a co-writer, but both serve as producers and it’s safe to say that both had plenty of influence behind the camera. In the end, I wish I could say that “Dear Santa” is a return to the Farrelly Brothers’ former glory (for the record, “Kingpin” is still my personal favorite), alas this is a holiday comedy that’s a little more miss than hit. Sure, the film has its charms. In addition to benefiting greatly from Black’s much-welcome manic energy and lovable persona, there is also a sort of honesty and purity in the way that young Smith plays the proceedings. Additionally, I enjoyed the charming bond that takes place between Liam and his middle school buddy, Gibby (played by Jaden Cason Baker.) Likewise, Liam’s crush on a good-hearted fellow student named Emma (Kai Cech) lends a much-needed sweetness to the film.
Where “Dear Santa” really falters is in the plot mechanics. As Liam attempts to navigate the adventures brought on by the wishes mentioned above, the movie struggles to find a consistent rhythm. Case in point, the film’s mid-section feels more like an advertisement for a Post Malone concert tour than anything else. Beyond that, “Dear Santa” also struggles to find the right balance of humor and heart, which is generally the Farrellys’ forte.
What’s more, for a Christmas movie, “Dear Santa” isn’t particularly overflowing with that warm and fuzzy holiday tone. It’s certainly set during the Christmas season and populated by a handful of noteworthy holiday tunes on the soundtrack. Still, despite Satan’s ability to grant wishes, a lot of the Christmas magic I was hoping for is simply lacking. Perhaps most troublesome, though, is the misguided fashion in which this movie ends. There’s no doubt that the Farrellys had their hearts in the right place but the way a certain element dealing with a personal tragedy in Liam’s life is handled in the final act of this movie feels like a miscalculation. While some might argue this is the sense of “magic” that I was looking for, there’s something off and almost dishonest about the way this film ends. Undoubtedly, it will move some folks, but it simply didn’t work for me.
All of that said, “Dear Santa” certainly isn’t a bad movie. It has its moments and it’s always great to see Jack Black bringing the energy. Furthermore, it’s nice to see the Farrellys working on a film together again after what felt like an all too lengthy hiatus. Ultimately, though, it saddens me to report that as far as Christmas movies go, this isn’t the kind of film I’d feel compelled to revisit year after year. It just doesn’t have that re-watchability factor that makes the likes of “A Christmas Story,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “Christmas Vacation” annual favorites.
You can all decide for yourselves as “Dear Santa” currently streams on Paramount Plus.
