DEAR SANTA

US, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Jack Black, Robert Timothy Smith, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianne Howie, Hayes MacArthur, Post Malone, P.J.Byrne, Jaden Carson Baker, Kai Cech, Ben Stiller.

Directed by Bobby Farrelly.

Seeing Jack Black on the poster as Santa Claus, there might be a few moments of scepticism!

This is a film from the Farrelly brothers who for more than 30 years have enjoyed making all kinds of satire from There’s Something about Mary too Shallow Hal…

This is a Christmas film with a difference. It opens, perhaps expectedly, a family grieving the loss of a child in an accident, moves with the remaining child to a new town, trying to settle in, parents blaming each other, and the young boy, Liam, Robert Timothy Smith, dyslexic. And he believes in Santa Claus.

He writes a letter to Santa but misspells, sending the letter to Satan. Which, of course, is where Jack Black fits in well, Satan trying to be Santa Claus, giving Liam three wishes  demanding his soul after the wishes.

There is entertainment in the wishes, Satan persuading a sympathetic young girl at school to be interested in Liam, even to the extent of their going to a concert by a Post Malone, overcome by Satan and unable to remember the concert afterwards), Liam going on stage and performing with the singer, and it all filmed. Meanwhile, at home, his parents wanting him to see a counsellor played comically by Keegan-Michael Key.

Liam has a young friend, African-American, who has protruding teeth – fixed with the second wish.

Liam argues with Satan against the wishes but, overhearing his parents seemingly squabbling but actually reconciling, he wishes for the reconciliation, Satan then urging him to be his forthright self – which he does, with the bully and the pompous teacher.

Then a twist. Jack Black is only a minor Demon, on probation, and reprimanded by the real Satan, an uncredited Ben Stiller. He then does the right thing in telling Liam the truth and rewards everyone by resurrecting the dead brother. While audiences might be taken aback  at this reality/in reality, there is a final twist because the young girl admires Liam because of his devotion to his dead brother. How will he explain the resurrection to her!

1. Title, expectations, Santa Claus, happy Christmas themes? Ironies?
2. The American town, the family moving after the death of their son, settling in, the home, the conflicts between husband and wife, the effect on Liam, school, dyslexia, taunts, Emma’s support, believing in Santa Claus? His mother supporting him, his father wanting to tell the truth?
3. Liam, age, character, quiet, the dyslexia, taunted, supported by Emma, his strong friendship with Gibby, not telling his parents? His parents and their fighting? The accidental death of his brother? Mutual blame, blaming themselves? The effect on Liam? The issue of Santa Claus and truth?
4. The decision to write to Santa, the misspelling, posting the letter, Satan receiving it, the decision to act?
5. Jack black as Satan, his screen persona, comedy, touches of mania, the touches of mean-mindedness? The appearance, the misunderstanding, Liam thinking he was truly Santa, Satan playing along, the repartee, Liam’s responses, the issue of the three wishes?
6. The reality/fantasy in the screenplay, Liam and his wish, Emma and her support, at school, in the classroom, the fussy teacher, Dickens, self-important, (and the later scenes, the bike riding, diarrhoea, the encounter with the level crossing guard, her abrasive personality, her course and training?) the bully and taunting Liam?
7. Satan arriving at school, his behaviour at school, appearance, changing appearance, the change for Emma, her support? At home, the parents and their concern, Dr Finkelman, the discussions, the sendup of the counsellor? The arrival with the tickets, going to the concert, the best seats, backstage, the status of Post Malone as an entertainer? His being transformed, Liam going up onto the stage, the performance, the effect on Emma, the effect on Gibby and his disappointment? The filming and it spread on social media?
8. Gibby, the second wish, his teeth fixed? Post Malone unable to remember anything about the concert when interviewed).
9. Liam, changing his mind about the wishes, the discussions with Satan, hearing his parents and their reconciliation, misinterpreting, his wish that they be reconciled? And his being prepared to give Satan his soul? Satan and his encouraging Liam, to be forthright, the attack on the bully? The confrontation with the teacher? Emma and her change of heart?
10. Satan, the revelation, half-Demon, the true Satan calling him to account, the reprimands, punishment?
11. The effect on Liam, Satan’s explanation, the third wish nullified because the reconciliation happened without him?
12. The credibility of the final wish, the brother coming alive again – but the final twist that Emma likes Liam because of his devotion to his dead brother, how would he explain?