Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2195 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-11-14
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, German, Hindi, Turkish
• Dubbed in: German
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Instantly qualifying as a perennial cult favorite, Bad Santa is as nasty as it wants to be, and there's something to be said for comedy without compromise. The Coen brothers conceived the basic idea and served as executive producers, but it's director Terry Zwigoff who brings his unique affinity for losers and outcasts to the twisted tale of Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton), a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed sexaholic safe-cracker who targets a different department store every holiday season, playing Santa while he cases the joint with his dwarf elf-partner Marcus (Tony Cox). With comedic support from Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, Cloris Leachman, and John Ritter in his final film, Thornton milks the lowbrow laughs with a slovenly lack of sentiment, warming Bad Santa's pickled heart just enough to please a chubby misfit (Brett Kelly, hilariously deadpan) who may or may not be mentally challenged. As dry as an arid martini and blacker than morning-after coffee, Bad Santa is an instant cure for yuletide schmaltz, and if you think this appropriately R-rated comedy is suitable for kids, your parenting skills are no better than Willie's. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Billy Bob Thornton is terrific as Willie T. Stokes; a lowlife department store Santa in Terry Zwigoff's outrageous comedic follow-up to his offbeat hit 'Ghost World'. Every year, Stokes takes a job as Santa in a different place in order to rob the store he's working in. The diminutive Tony Cox plays his horny sidekick, Marcus, the real mastermind, who is even more foulmouthed than Stokes. Brett Kelly is Thurman Merman, an eight-year-old who desperately needs to believe in the real Santa Claus - and just might have a good enough heart to change Stokes's evil ways. Or maybe not. And Lauren Graham plays Sue, a young sexpot who wants to get a different kind of gift from Santa. Providing excellent comic relief in this black comedy is John Ritter, in his last film role, as the mousy mall manager, and Bernie Mac as Gin, the mall security guard who suspects something is not right. Be warned - 'Bad Santa' is not a family holiday movie. It is lewd, crude, and very funny, but it is most definitely not for children. Joel and Ethan Coen, the brothers behind such quirky hits as 'Raising Arizona' and 'Barton Fink', are the executive producers who came up with the idea in the first place, influenced by the likes of 'The Bad News Bears' and 'South Park'.

Customer Reviews

Santa gives political correctness a serious seasonal spanking.
One of the cleverest adult comedies released in a long time. A down an out con man who is rotten to the core discovers a purpose as he starts to befriend a boy who is an easy target for bullies. One may think the drunk-playing-Santa theme would wear off quite quickly but the lines keep on coming and some of the scenes need a cachinnate cramp warning.
Billy Bob Thornton is so good in this role one kind of marvels at how much fun he must have had researching it. For me Tony Cox stole this one as the acid-tongued elf constantly covering for Santa's misdemeanours.
If you're expecting Dickens you'll be offended. If you want a 90 minute laugh, this is one of the best you'll get.

Wholly Inappropriate but Wickedly Funny
While this movie aims to offend almost every sensibility, it is a feel-good movie at heart. There are a number of cliches and conventions in this film, but there are also moments of truly subversive humour. As well, the performances are remarkable. It's a nice little film for those of us who have a love-hate relationship with the holidays.

It's the perfect antidote to Yule-fuelled madness.

Billy Bob has a blast
It was funny but it was predictable. Worth a watch if you are in the mood for something light. BBT does the job and the supporting performances are good but there is just nothing new once you get past the sleazy Santa gag.