Dear Santa (2024 film)

{{Short description|2024 Christmas dark fantasy comedy film by Bobby Farrelly}}

{{distinguish|text = Dear Satan, a 2024 Filipino comedy film with the same premise}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Dear Santa

| image = Dear Santa (2024 film) poster.jpg

| caption = Film poster

| director = Bobby Farrelly

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

}}

| story = {{Plainlist|

Ricky Blitt
Peter Farrelly
Dan Ewen

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Bobby Farrelly
Jack Black
Peter Farrelly
Jeremy Kramer

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = C. Kim Miles

| editing = Julie Garcés

| music = Rupert Gregson-Williams

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Conundrum Entertainment
Farrelly Brothers
Kraymation Films

}}

| distributor = Paramount Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2024|11|25}}

| runtime = 103 minutes{{Cite web|date=November 11, 2024|title=Dear Santa (12)|url= https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/dear-santa-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi1mti2}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Dear Santa is a 2024 American Christmas dark fantasy comedy film directed by Bobby Farrelly, written by Ricky Blitt and Peter Farrelly from a story by Ricky Blitt, Peter Farrelly, and Dan Ewen. Starring Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Robert Timothy Smith, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, Post Malone, and P. J. Byrne. It tells the story of a dyslexic and meek sixth-grader who writes a Christmas list to Santa Claus to help with his problems, only for his misspelling to lead to him meeting what appears to be Satan, who decides to pose as the benevolent Christmas figure and offers the boy three wishes in exchange for his soul.

The film was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024, by Paramount Pictures, to negative reviews from critics, although some praised Black's performance.

Plot

Liam Turner is a dyslexic, meek, but polite sixth-grader whose parents Bill and Molly are having marital problems following the recent death of his brother Spencer and their move to another town. Adding to the problem is that Liam is too insecure to properly introduce his new friend Gibby to his parents and keeps embarrassing himself over his schoolmate and crush Emma, who is the only one in his class to defend him for his specific learning disorder.

To hope for things to get better, Liam writes his Christmas wishlist and mails it out, but accidentally misspells "Santa" as "Satan". The letter's recipient appears the next night in Liam's room. Though confused by his visitor's appearance and mannerisms, 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, so Satan appears to him 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 he 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, because of their 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, where he dances alongside Emma and Malone and the former kisses him on the cheek. Gibby, who feels left out, leaves early after a girl rejects him due to his overbite.

Later at home, when Liam talks with Gibby over the phone about the concert, he notices his friend's disappointment. Liam uses his second wish to fix Gibby's teeth and invites Gibby to join his date with Emma at the local Christmas carnival that evening. Bill and Molly, increasingly worried after eavesdropping on Liam's phone conversation, pull him away from the carnival and bring him to Finkleman's clinic. Satan tries to make Liam use up his third wish by showing him images of Gibby and Emma apparently enjoying the carnival without him. Bill and Molly's assumption that Liam has gone delusional is shattered by a nurse who shows them a video of him at the concert.

Liam angrily locks himself in his bedroom, and his regretful parents argue, bringing up the accident that killed Spencer. Overhearing them and believing they're about to break up for good, he sneaks out and visits Satan at his motel room, asking him to use his third wish to keep his parents together and in love forever. Satan agrees, but declares that he will not take Liam's soul until he has died naturally. With the deal closed and believing his soul is lost, Liam begins to talk back to his everyday tormentors, alienating Emma.

Unknown to Liam, "Satan" is actually Asmodeus: a low-ranking half-demon posing as his boss, who has failed his trial to become a full demon: by granting at least one unselfish wish, he has rendered the deal for Liam's soul invalid. The real Satan, also called Lucifer, banishes Asmodeus from Hell and gives him one hour to say his goodbyes. Asmodeus visits Liam and tells him about the deal's cancellation, and Liam figures out that he is not the real Satan. Before leaving, Asmodeus confesses how much he has come to like him and explains that the third wish was negated because Bill and Molly made up on their own, so he used the contents of Liam's original letter to fulfill a third and final wish. Now wanting to use his powers to help others, Asmodeus takes the form of an angelic dove and flies away.

When Christmas arrives the next day, Liam finds his brother Spencer resurrected to celebrate Christmas with his family in their new home. Liam gets a call from Gibby, who has convinced Emma to give him another chance by appealing to her sympathy and telling her about Spencer's death, though Liam is concerned this will make him look like a liar again.

Cast

Robert Timothy Smith as Liam Turner
Jack Black in a triple role as
Asmodeus
"Satan"
"Santa Claus"
Jaden Carson Baker as Gibby
Kai Cech as Emma
Brianne Howey as Molly Turner
Hayes MacArthur as Bill Turner
P. J. Byrne as Mr. Charles
Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Finkleman
Gavin Munn as Aidan
Post Malone as himself (credited as "Austin Post")
Luke Chiappetta as Jock Buddy #1
Kyle Gass as Liam's Science Teacher
Leo Easton Kelly as Spencer Turner
Tierre Turner as the voice of Blitzen
Ben Stiller (uncredited) as Satan / Lucifer

Production

In April 2023, it was announced that Bobby Farrelly would be directing and producing the film, with Peter Farrelly as producing along with Jeremy Kramer, for Paramount Pictures. Peter Farrelly and Ricky Blitt wrote the script from an original idea by Peter Farrelly, Ricky Blitt and Dan Ewen.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/jack-black-the-farrelly-brothers-dear-santa-paramount-1235299344|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 12, 2023|title=Jack Black & The Farrelly Brothers Reunite For Christmas Comedy 'Dear Santa' At Paramount|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327152413/https://deadline.com/2023/03/jack-black-the-farrelly-brothers-dear-santa-paramount-1235299344/ |archive-date=2023-03-27 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jack-black-farrelly-brothers-team-for-dear-santa-1235353245|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=April 12, 2023|title=Jack Black, Farrelly Brothers Team for Paramount's 'Dear Santa|first=Aaron|last=Couch|date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323043558/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jack-black-farrelly-brothers-team-for-dear-santa-1235353245/ |archive-date=2023-03-23 |url-status=live}}

The film is Black's second Christmas film, after The Holiday in 2006; it is also his second collaboration with Farrelly, after the 2001 film Shallow Hal.{{Cite web |last=Bedard |first=Mike |date=2024-06-03 |title=Jack Black Is Unrecognizable As Satan For A New Christmas Movie |url=https://www.looper.com/1595105/jack-black-satan-dear-santa-leaked-photos/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Looper |language=en-US}}

=Casting=

The cast was set in March 2023 with Jack Black in the lead role. Keegan-Michael Key and Post Malone were also confirmed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1274357-dear-santa-jack-black-farrelly-brothers-comedy?amp|website=Comingsoon.net|accessdate=April 12, 2023|title= Dear Santa: Jack Black to Lead Farrelly Brothers' Christmas Comedy|first=Maggie|last=Dela Paz|date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404122432/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1274357-dear-santa-jack-black-farrelly-brothers-comedy?amp |archive-date=2023-04-04 |url-status=live}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began in March 2023 in Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia, where Decatur Square was transformed into an outdoor Christmas festival.{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Rodney |url=https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/jack-black-and-farrelly-brothers-reunite-for-dear-santa-comedy-shooting-in-metro-atlanta/COBT2NJ45FGB5EPQF4LPKQZSWY/|title=Jack Black, Farrelly Brothers reunite for Dear Santa comedy shooting in metro Atlanta |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |accessdate=April 12, 2023 |date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412094924/https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/jack-black-and-farrelly-brothers-reunite-for-dear-santa-comedy-shooting-in-metro-atlanta/COBT2NJ45FGB5EPQF4LPKQZSWY/ |archive-date=2023-04-12 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Hesse |first1=Dean |title=(Photos) Film crews turn Decatur Square into Christmas wonderland … in March |url=https://decaturish.com/2023/03/photos-film-crews-turn-decatur-square-into-christmas-wonderland-in-march/ |website=Decaturish.com |date=March 2, 2024}} In July, production was halted because of the 2023 actors' strike.{{Cite news |first1=Dawn |last1=Chmielewski |first2=Lisa |last2=Richwine |title=How the Hollywood strike is scrambling film, TV schedules into next summer |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/how-hollywood-strike-is-scrambling-film-tv-schedules-into-next-summer-2023-10-17/ |work=Reuters}}

Release

Dear Santa was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/jack-black-diabolical-fun-satan-dear-santa-first-look-exclusive-8740191|website=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=November 6, 2024|title=Jack Black is 'diabolical, but in a fun way' as Satan in Dear Santa first look (exclusive)|first=Lauren|last=Huff|date=November 6, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Bobby Farrelly's 'Dear Santa' Starring Jack Black Unveils Trailer, Paramount+ Premiere Date|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=7 November 2024|access-date=7 November 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/dear-santa-movie-unveils-premiere-date-paramount-plus-trailer-1236169965/}}

Reception

=Critical response=

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|24|3.9|21|Straight to the naughty list!|ref=yes|access-date=19 January 2025}} {{Metacritic film prose|34|five|ref=yes|access-date=19 January 2025}}

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film one out of four stars and wrote, "There was a time when Jack Black reuniting with the Farrelly brothers to make a family comedy would have made a few cultural waves. This is not that time. Most people probably have no idea that Bobby Farrelly's Dear Santa has been buried on Paramount+, released on a Monday with almost no promotion at all. Why? The marketing team probably had no idea how to sell a movie that seems resolutely made for no one."{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dear-santa-movie-review|title=Dear Santa|first=Brian|last=Tallerico|website=RogerEbert.com|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=November 25, 2024}} The Guardian's Benjamin Lee gave it two out of five stars, writing, "Dear Santa is like watching Bad Santa slowly turn into Elf, an unsatisfying attempt to be both naughty and nice, ending up as nothing instead."{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=2024-11-25 |title=Dear Santa review – Jack Black plays Satan in mediocre Christmas comedy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/25/dear-santa-movie-review-jack-black |access-date=2025-01-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It should hardly come as a revelation that Black's hardworking comedic efforts are the film's saving grace. Adopting a deep growl that makes him sound like late-period Jack Nicholson, the actor is clearly having a ball with his colorful role, and the fun proves infectious. He makes the many bad jokes bearable and the decent ones even funnier with his typically manic, perfectly timed delivery."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dear-santa-review-jack-black-farrelly-brothers-paramount-plus-1236070646/|title=‘Dear Santa’ Review: A Devilishly Fun Jack Black Elevates Paramount+’s Mediocre Holiday Comedy|first=Frank|last=Scheck|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=November 25, 2024}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" \|Year ! scope="col" \|Award / Film Festival ! scope="col" \|Category ! scope="col" \|Recipient(s) ! scope="col" \|Result ! class="unsortable" scope="col" \|{{Tooltip\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row"\| Golden Raspberry Awards \| March 1, 2025 \| Worst Actor \| Jack Black \| {{nom}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/razzie-awards-nominations-2025-full-list-1236114097/ \|title=Razzie Awards: 'Joker 2' Tops Nominations; 'Madame Web', 'Megalopolis', 'Reagan' Also Among Nominees \|last=Nordyke \|first=Kimberly \|website=The Hollywood Reporter \|date=January 21, 2025 \|access-date=January 22, 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Award / Film Festival

! scope="col" |Category

! scope="col" |Recipient(s)

! scope="col" |Result

! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"| Golden Raspberry Awards

| March 1, 2025

| Worst Actor

| Jack Black

| {{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/razzie-awards-nominations-2025-full-list-1236114097/ |title=Razzie Awards: 'Joker 2' Tops Nominations; 'Madame Web', 'Megalopolis', 'Reagan' Also Among Nominees |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}