Thirteen years and several script rewrites later, Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton returns as fan favourite degenerate con man Willie Soke in this black comedy turned alternative Christmas heist romp Bad Santa 2 – the sequel to 2003’s smash hit original that went on to become a cult classic.
Joined by returning cast mates Tony Cox as elf sidekick Marcus Skidmore and now adult Brett Kelly as ‘the kid’ Thurman Merman, Willie dons the Santa Claus suit once again in a scheme that involves plans to rob a charity event on Christmas Eve, proving his bad ways haven’t wavered a bit. With new director Mark Waters (Mean Girls) perfectly blending well balanced humour and debauchery with new additions Kathy Bates and Christina Hendricks, what we get is a cheeky ninety-minute raunch fest that’s one part naughty, one part nice, in the end making an unnecessary sequel a warranted one for any and all comedy fans in the mood for a laugh this holiday season.
Full of stale whiskey, self loathing and an undying hatred for Christmas, Willie is still Willie. After finding his happy ending to be not so happy and having been left by his girlfriend from the first film, he’s now a suicidal mess who finds no joy in anything. Unexpectedly reunited with Therman, now 21 and soon after his former partner Marcus, who’s fresh out of prison – it isn’t long before Bad Santa’s bad old tricks strike again.
Learning of a job in Chicago that sounds like a walk in the park, the two set out to rob a charity foundation posing as big Santa and little elf all over again. After discovering his estranged evil mother Sunny (Bates) is working at the same charity they plan to rob with plans of doing the same thing, Willie wants no part until he realises the loot is $2 million.
Forced to reconcile and work with his mother who now wants a piece of the pie and side with his ex con partner who he still doesn’t forgive for shooting him all those years ago, Willie’s true personality is tested and the mission somewhat compromised as he gets involved with a beautiful charity worker named Diane (Hendricks) and Therman subsequently seeks to find the good in him. With Sunny suspect of Marcus and Marcus suspect of Sunny, Willie isn’t sure who to trust as Christmas burns into his soul like one of his cigarettes.
Following the same formula as the first film with almost no amendments or alterations, the all too familiar narrative is of both sides of the coin. As good as it is to pick up where we left off with Willie and his wild antics dressed in the Santa suit, the nostalgia and already tenanted turf do sometimes feel more repetitive than fresh.
Taking the Hangover II route rather than that of Austin Powers 2, the mission doesn’t change so much as the setting but given that Thornton is hard not to love as the character in a sequel you waited over a decade for, the Christmas spirit within the air and the outright laughs this film offers will help you forgive and forget as you dive into your popcorn, reminding yourself that’s what this is, a popcorn comedy film not intended to be taken too seriously.
Complementing Thornton’s balls-to-the-wall out there approach to the shock and awe dialogue written for him, Bates raises the raunch factor hit for hit, upping the ante on what can be said in a film, securing the films rating right there but also serving as the other half to one of the best mother-son duos in film comedy history.
As an outright sight to see in a role she no doubt loved the opportunity to relish in, the two share great chemistry and quotable lines nearly as good as those given to Cox, who steals the show again as the angry dwarf able to flip a switch and be prepared to kill Willie or his mother if he has too while Hendricks is fun in her role as the sexually frustrated charity worker that Willie of course takes advantage of.
Unsurprisingly not as good as the original Bad Santa but still gifting enough presents under the tree to keep you entertained, Bad Santa 2 is a fun time with a rehashed plot but great characters. That special type of alternative movie for the holiday season that only comes around every decade or so, the great Billy Bob Thornton makes this one still worth your time.
Give the holidays another shot, Bad Santa is coming to town.
