Since I’m always on the lookout for off-beat and oddball mashups featuring my favorite actors, I thought I’d check out “Dear Santa” last week on Paramont+.
The premise has been joked about in other holiday movies a time or two, but this is the first time I’ve seen a movie dedicated to a dyslexic child’s letter to “Santa” ending up in the wrong hands – “Satan” this time.
Before you worry too much about the subject matter, the storyline takes full advantage of Jack Black’s comedic acting chops and only dabbles in the sacrilegious leanings.
Overall, I enjoyed the film right up until the very end where things turned a different direction and made less sense than anything that came before it.
You’ll have to watch it to catch my drift, but it reminds me of a mix between “Bedazzled” (2000), “Liar Liar” (1997), and “Coraline" (2009).
Dear Santa is a 2024 American Christmas comedy film directed by Bobby Farrelly and written by Ricky Blitt, Jack Black and Peter Farrelly.
It stars Black, Robert Smith, Jaden Carson, Kai Cech, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, Jaden Baker, P.J. Byrne, Keegan-Michael Key, Post Malone, Kyle Gass, Leo Kelly, and Ben Stiller.
The movie is 103 minutes long and rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive material.
Liam Turner (Smith) is a dyslexic and meek, but polite, sixth-grader whose parents Bill (MacArthur)and Molly (Howey) are having marital problems following the recent death of his brother Spencer (Kelly) and their move to another town.
Adding to the problem is that Liam is too insecure to properly introduce his new friend Gibby (Baker) to his parents and keeps embarrassing himself over his schoolmate and crush Emma (Cech).
Oddly enough, Emma is also the only one in his class to defend him for his disability from various bullies.
To hope for things to get better, Liam writes his Christmas wishlist and mails it out, but unfortunately accidentally misspells "Santa" as “Satan.”
Satan (Black) receives the letter and appears the very next night in Liam's room.
Though confused by his visitor's appearance and manners, Liam still believes he is Santa.
Satan decides to play along and offers to grant Liam three wishes.
Liam offhandedly wishes that Emma would give him a chance, and Satan appears to Liam the next day in school and encourages him to approach Emma.
Despite his awkwardness, Liam succeeds in getting a date with her at a Post Malone concert, for which Satan even provides VIP tickets.
Liam later tells his mother and Gibby about his encounter with "Santa", whereupon Gibby informs him of his mistake.
Liam confronts Satan and tries to get out of the deal, but Satan refuses and tries to entice him into making his two remaining wishes, with his soul as final payment.
When Liam returns home, he finds his parents waiting with child psychologist Dr. Finkleman (Key) because they worry that Liam's "fantasies" are gradually getting out of hand.
The session is interrupted by Gibby and Satan, who take Liam to the concert.
With a little help from Satan, Liam is called onto the stage and amidst raving cheers dances onstage alongside Emma and Malone, followed by a cheek kiss from Emma.
However, things don’t get any easier for Liam despite his magical wishes and weighing what his soul is worth.
If you’re a fan of Jack Black, then this is right up your alley and if not, well, I don’t think this movie has a lot to offer.
