Bad Santa

Plot synopsis:
Willie T. Soke and his dwarf assistant Marcus Skidmore are professional thieves. Every year, Willie disguises himself as a department store Santa Claus and Marcus disguises himself as an elf in order for both of them to rob shopping malls at night, using Marcus' wife Lois as their getaway driver and accomplice. Marcus takes his duty as an elf seriously, but Willie is a sex-addicted alcoholic, and is gradually unable to appropriately perform his Santa duties with children, plus his safe-cracking performance is being affected, much to Marcus' dismay. When they are hired at the Saguaro Square Mall in Phoenix, the vulgar remarks made by Willie shock the prudish mall manager Bob Chipeska, who brings them to the attention of security chief Gin Slagel.
At the mall, Willie is visited by Thurman Merman, a friendly but exceedingly naive and gullible, overweight boy who thinks Willie is really Santa. Thurman is a constant target of bullying by a teenage gang of skateboarders. At a bar, Willie meets Sue, a woman with a Santa Claus fetish, and they begin a sexual relationship. Willie is harassed by a man in the bar, but Thurman intervenes. Willie gives Thurman a ride home, then enters the boy's house where he lives with his senile grandmother. Thurman reveals that his mother died, and his father, Roger, is away "exploring mountains" (he is actually in jail for embezzlement) until next year. Willie tricks Thurman into letting him steal from the house safe and a BMW owned by Roger.
Bob informs Gin that he overheard Willie having sex with a woman in a mall dressing room and Gin starts to investigate. Willie goes to his motel room and sees it being raided, causing him to take advantage of Thurman's naivete and live in his house, much to Thurman's delight. The next day, Marcus gets angry at Willie for taking advantage of Thurman, and states his disapproval of Willie's sex addiction when Willie makes a rude remark about Thurman's grandmother.
Gin's investigation of Willie includes visiting Roger, who indirectly reveals that Willie is staying with Thurman illegally. Gin confronts Willie and Marcus at the mall, and takes them to a bar. There, he reveals that he has figured out their plan, blackmailing them for half of the cut to keep silent. Marcus tries to reason with Gin for a smaller cut, but Gin is adamant. With Willie and Marcus now in a corner, their partnership begins to falter, which is exacerbated further when Willie shows up to work clearly drunk or hungover and destroys the Santa attraction, much to Marcus' and Gin's shock.
Willie attempts to commit suicide by inhaling vehicle exhaust fumes. He gives Thurman a letter to give to the police, confessing all his misdeeds and information about a heist that will take place in the mall on Christmas Eve. Willie notices Thurman's black eye, which persuades him to make an example of the skateboarding bullies. He confronts and beats up the gang's leader, frightening the other members into stopping their acts towards Thurman.
Enraged at Gin for blackmailing him, Marcus and Lois set up a trap for Gin, feigning needing a jump start for their vehicle. Lois hits Gin with the car, then Marcus kills him via electrocution.
As Christmas draws closer, Willie and Thurman set up for the holiday, with help from Sue. On Christmas Eve, when the heist is almost complete, Willie goes to get Thurman a pink stuffed elephant that he had wanted for Christmas. Just as he gets the elephant, Marcus reveals to Willie that he intends to kill him, fed up with his increasing carelessness year after year. Lois tells him to hurry up and kill Willie so they can get away with the money and merchandise. But just as Marcus is about to shoot Willie, the police swarm the trio, tipped off by the letter Willie gave to Thurman. When Marcus opens fire, the police shoot at him and Willie flees. Determined to give Thurman his present, he leads the police on a chase to Thurman's house, ignoring orders to freeze. He is repeatedly shot on Thurman's porch, but survives.
The epilogue is told through a letter from Willie, who is in a hospital recovering. He expresses his gratitude for Thurman in giving the letter to the police and his name was cleared of the robbery, adding that he will be working for the police as a sensitivity counselor. The shooting of an unarmed Santa embarrassed the police, and Sue is granted guardianship over Thurman and his house until Thurman's father is released. Willie also explains that Marcus and Lois are doing time behind bars for their actions, while expressing hope that Roger is wise to avoid the two. Willie ends the letter by telling Thurman that he should be let out of the hospital soon and for him to be ready for his return. When the lead skateboard bully harasses Thurman again, Thurman finally stands up to him by kicking him hard in the crotch and riding away on his bike.

Tags: comedy, dark, murder, adult comedy, cult, suicidal, violence, humor, melodrama

Review:
It has hilarious humour and its almost an unique growth story of a man that has grown tired of his miserable life and finds something worth fighting for.The thing that bothers me is that some people criticize the film cause it has too bad language.
But it's Christmas,and even for losers third,fourth,fifth,or 50th chances sometimes show up.Watching Billy Bob's character 'grow-up'during the film is surprisingly heartwarming.For a broken man,he does the best he can once he allows himself to 'give-a-damm'.
Hilarious from start to finish, this movie covers the story of an alcoholic safe cracker who works as a shopping mall Santa to steal money from the mall on Christmas eve.
When I first saw the trailer for this film I thought that it was basically just gonna be a funny little dark comedy that would be a nice distraction from the annoying family movies that are being dumped into theaters around this time.
Instead a good movie, I got a great one, with good direction and a wonderful script and, best of all, the performance of Billy Bob Thornton, who makes the film what it is.
Without being sappy, unlike almost any other film I've ever seen, "Bad Santa" is able to make this an emotional journey for a contemptable character, get us to like him, and disguise it behind dark, sick humor.
That in itself makes Bad Santa a very welcome surprise and a great time at the movies..
The first time I saw Terry Zwigoff's latest effort (co-executive produced by the Coen brothers) Bad Santa, I didn't know whether I was watching a comedy that had astonishingly funny and madcap moments, or if it was a really bad movie.
This man is Willie, played by Billy Bob, as something of a loser, low-self esteem, boozing, cursing, and a thief, though only at Christmas time.
On the first viewing of Bad Santa, along with not knowing whether I was seeing a good or bad film, I didn't know whether Billy Bob was pushing the 'rotten-dude' envelope over the top or just right.
But I think Bad Santa is one of those movies that merits a repeat viewing- you may laugh less or harder at certain jokes and moments of outrageousness, some may fly over your head completely or make you go "eww".
In fact, that's something that can be said about Bad Santa, is that it feels like a work in the vein of Parker and Stone, but since it's from the director of Ghost World it comes off a little fresher, with an appeal all its own..
Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) is a drunk who plays store Santa for Christmas.
If you like Christmas movies with more of an edge and lots of comedy however, "Bad Santa" might just be your new favorite holiday movie.
In my mind, usurping "A Christmas Story" and "Scrooged" as the funniest holiday movie yet, Bad Santa (or BS as I like to call it) pulls no punches as it delivers a raunchy, yet funny, and yes, even a little bit of a touching film.Billy Bob Thorton is a drinking, fornicating, defecating thief who freeloads for the whole year, only to work 25 days in December while robbing a mall of all it's holiday proceeds.
But the acting is superb, the script hysterical, and the unbelievable jokes and inappropriate situations are just so entertaining you won't care about anything else.Bernie Mac and Lauren Graham deliver polished supporting roles, as does John Ritter in his final film role before his death.
The kid doesn't have many lines (and I want to slap him for the ones he does deliver), but just looking at him makes me laugh, so I can't complain there.Basically, this is the ultimate inappropriate Christmas movie; one that makes you stand up and scream, "Holly s*!t I can't believe they did that!" This movie is just so blatantly wrong, the only other film I can compare it to is "South Park: The Movie." Just as South Park crosses every line of decency that previously existed, so does BS.
Typically, around Christmas you will find yourself watching a generic, feel-good, moralistic "Christmas movie", Bad Santa is the "reversed" version of the Christmas genre.
No, Bad Santa is not It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and nor is it Home Alone, yet it still incorporates features from all of those films and that is what makes it such a special take on the Winter holiday.Willie (played by Billy Bob Thornton) is a perverted, alcoholic, part-time conman, who during the Christmas season indolently works in shopping malls with his fellow criminal in disguise, Marcus (Tony Cox).
While working at a mall in Arizona, Willie meets a child who teaches him the meaning of Christmas, whilst falling in love with an attractive waitress and having law-enforcement hot on his trail.When a film starts off with a guy in a Santa outfit, sitting at a bar, drinking his life away you know you are not watching your average tale of "good tidings".
I honestly believe that Billy Bob Thornton's performance in Bad Santa was worthy of an Oscar nomination.It is not a case of whether you are a lover of Christmas or not although, it would come as an advantage when viewing the film- as Bad Santa is continually entertaining and at times, even charming.
There's not a lot of stretching required of Thornton to get into character in this flick which capitalizes on the grosser than gross sense of comedy/humor as it wends its way through a simple tale about a scamming Santa and his dwarf/elf sidekick who rip off a department store a year to avoid honest toil.
It is mean spirited at times but it is not trying at all to be a "Politically Correct Hallmark Movie".Billy Bob Thornton is very good in the role.
And, oh yeah, it's funny and I like it!Every single character in "Bad Santa" is damaged goods.
Throughout most of the year he crashes and burns around good ol' US of A eating (and drinking) into the money he made/stole the previous Christmas while anxiously waiting for the next one to roll around since he's usually dead broke by June.He and his partner Marcus (Tony Cox) who happens to be a handicapped black midget have an annual ritual of getting jobs as mall Santa and his helper Elf, which allow them to scope the place out and rob it blind after closing time on Christmas Eve. It's an uneasy 8-year relationship based solely on mutual financial interest, but more serious cracks are showing every new Christmas.
By the time they reconvene in Phoenix for yet another holiday score, Willie is at his alcoholic, lecherous, unprofessional worst - showing up drunk for work almost every day, having quickie sex in the plus size department, etc, etc...Despite his abhorrent veneer, he is befriended by not one, but two local oddballs whose names he doesn't even care to ask, simply referring to them as the Girl and the Kid. The Kid (later we find out his name is bully-friendly Thurman Merman) is lonely, wide-eyed leech capable of creeping you out of your shoes one moment and melting your heart with his sweetness the next.
Also memorable are Bernie Mac as oily mall security chief, late John Ritter as mall manager and Lauren Tom as Marcus' greedy girlfriend Lois.Watching this film doesn't make you feel good about the state of humanity but IT IS funny, and since that's really the only thing they were going for - mission accomplished.
While the swearing and cussing provide humour, they also make the characters more authentic.'Bad Santa', in spite of the language and sexual content is kind of a sweet movie.
Otherwise he's quite adequate.Basically 'Bad Santa' is one of the darkest funniest Christmas films, one that has a strong repeat value as it still makes me laugh in repeat viewing and sometimes when I think of the situations in the film, I at least end up with a smile.
This is movie is great, especially because for once it is Christmas for grown up and not some little kid movie.I like the movie because it got so much to offer its viewer starting from the brilliant directing and lighting of Terry Zwigoff.
First, to all those IMDB'ers who are just SHOCKED by the bad language and general depravity depicted in this movie: what in blazes do you expect in an R rated film anyway?
Quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen all the way through to the end, with the possible exception of Cats & Dogs or Pokemon that I had to stay through with my son.When the funniest part is Cloris Leachman sleeping in a recliner, you know you're in trouble.Career lows for Billy Bob and the Gilmour Girl as well as Bernie Mac, what were they thinking, did they read the lousy script?
Swearing drinking swearing drinking swearing at kid, pissing self (twice believe it or not) swearing at more kids, drinking and smashing bottles, trying to kill himself, getting laid totally inexplicably by the beautiful Gilmour Girl (are you kidding me?)...They must have saved a lot of money having not to hire any comedy writers.Save yourself the time, get a bottle of Old Grand Dad, dress up as Santa, drink the entire bottle, swear at every kid you see, then collapse in the gutter covered in your own excrement and you will have lived this sorry movie for yourself....
Billy Bob Thornton is the lowest of them all as Willie, an alcoholic dirtbag criminal con man who poses as a mall santa every year just so he and his 'elf' partner in crime Marcus (everyone's favorite black midget, twitchy Tony Cox) can rob the department stores blind after hours.
Throw in Bernie Mac as a preening mall detective and the late John Ritter as the moronic mall manager, and you've got a feel-bad holiday gem that's always worth a watch.
It just turned out to be another movie that proves that Hollywood keeps creating movies for the dumbing down of America and the fact that people laugh at anything.The movie starts off with Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) who is posing as Santa and his little friend Marcus (Tony Cox) who is posing as an elf.
I mean Billy Bob Thornton playing an alcoholic mall Santa, who would have thought he could do that?
The late great John Ritter, who was extremely wasted in the film and had a look on his face throughout the movie, which seemed to pose the question `Why, am I here?' John Ritter acted along side Billy Bob Thornton in a movie called Sling Blade, which was brilliant.
They think because they use a lot of bad language that it will make the movie funnier which it doesn't it only makes it worse since there is no need for it and the performances are average if not poor all around.The director Terry Zwigoff has suffered from the Hollywood curse.
The good news is that Terry Zwigoff is going back to the Independent films after this crap and making a movie called Art School Confidential which is another underground comic book from the writers of Ghost World so I am looking forward to that and I am glad he didn't let Hollywood drag him in fully and take all his talent away.
Warn your friends, warn your family, warn anyone you can because Bad Santa is an awful movie and one of the years worst films.
Bad Santa is the funniest Christmas movie ever.
The drunkard Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner, the midget Marcus (Tony Cox), work once a year, near Christmas, dressed like Santa Claus and his helper elf in department stores.
However, their intent is to rob the place in the Christmas Eve. When Willie meets a lonely fat boy (Brett Kelly) and the hot bartender Sue (Lauren Graham), he learns the meaning of Christmas and gets in trouble."Bad Santa" is a gem of black humor, and certainly one of the most "politically incorrect" movies I have ever seen.
Billy Bob Thornton does all of these bad things (and more) while working dressed as Santa Claus along a couple of days before Christmas.
An alcoholic con man Willie(Billy Bob Thornton) and his midget sidekick (Tony Cox)pose as Santa and his little helper for the children every year in a different mall.
When it tries to be funny it's only crude and clichéd (this film cannot even execute its lamest jokes), the characters are about as dimensional as a black hole (Billy Bob Thornton playing an alcoholic?
The acting by Billy Bob Thornton (Willie = Bad Santa), Tony Cox (Marcus), Brett Kelly (The Kid), Lauren Graham (Sue), Lauren Tom (Lois), Bernie Mac (Gin), John Ritter (Bob Chipeska), and Ajay Naidu (Hindustani Troublemaker) is wonderful.So what's wrong?
It all works out well though for the movie and it makes its comedy and originality stand out.Billy Bob Thornton is a Santa Clause unlike any other.
Truly finally a Christmas movie that got aimed completely toward the adult audience.Of course part of the reason why the movie works out so well is Billy Bob Thornton's performance, for which he even received a Golden Globe nomination but lost to Bill Murray, for his role in "Lost in Translation".
There's no other way a movie could suck the life out of so much great talent.If Bad Santa worked on its own merits, then Santa's intense profanity would fit his character.
Setting aside BAD SANTA's dubious aim to offend it's viewers; overlooking its casual contempt for childlike innocence and the simple pleasures of the Christmas season; showing a momentary indifference to the way it churns out obscenities like snowflakes in a midwinter blizzard, the film still remains awesomely incompetent.
Billy Bob Thornton plays the scumbag thief who every year works as a shopping mall Santa so that he can rob the safe of one of the department stores.
There will be those that will argue that you shouldn't make too much of the fact that BAD SANTA targets children and Christmas for its abuse, because, after all, it is not a kids' film; it is made for adults.
And even then it was nudity free so what's the point.The movie summary states that an 8-year-old befriends Billy Bob Thornton's character and shows him the spirit of Christmas.
anyway that is what a call a poor excuse for a movie, Billy Bob Thornton don't do it again please, how it was possible so many people actually liked that mediocre film as bad as 80s b-movies.My rating: 1/10..
Dark comedies are tough movies to do, and seeing Santa on a drunken rampage sounded like a good idea.
Bad Santa reviews and TV promo clips looked like it would be an amusing film she might enjoy.
One of the worst movies I have ever seen, the story revolves around Billy Bob Thorton's "stupid" Santa and his unbelievable exploits (and unbelievable mouth).
BAD SANTA (2003) *** Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Lauren Graham, John Ritter, Bernie Mac, Lauren Tom, Cloris Leachman, Brett Kelly.
There are some feel good moments, like when Billy Bob Thorton becomes attached to the "kid." Bad Santa is funny almost all the time, seemingly without even trying.
Bad Santa obviously isn't for people with a huge Christmas spirit, but it is still such a great comedy.One of the funniest films EVER made, without a doubt..
The actor who played the Kid was good even though his character is annoying.Overall, this is a very funny film.
It goes without saying that Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant but every supporting character is also perfectly cast, performed and directed.I watch this movie at least annually and every viewing makes me laugh more than the last.
Bad Santa is not a movie for everyone which is what makes the film a great Christmas classic.
Marcus has three important jobs: He plays Santa's elf and keeps Willie just sober enough to snarl at the kids who come to the malls' North Pole castles.Others may find it stale, while the reviews have been overwhelming great and the film is just popular today, even more so than when it was released back in 2003, now after watching it on Christmas day 2015.
Billy Bob Thornton is absolutely brilliant as Bad Santa and even got a Golden Globe Nomination for his performance.
In Bad Santa's case the producers went back and filmed additional scenes to make the movie more mainstream.
Billy Bob Thornton plays Santa Claus at various shopping malls every Christmas.
"Bad Santa" is not the typical Christmas film, but it still touches your heart with its unique way..
It's got one hell of a funny and extremely profane script, and presents a man who just may be one of the worst Santas ever.He's Willie (Billy Bob Thornton), a miserable alcoholic with a bad case of self hatred who lets himself get dragged into one department store robbery after another by his conniving "elf" partner, Marcus (Tony Cox).
The reason is that i'm not a big fan of Christmas films and also i'm not a big fan of Billy Bob Thornton (only in The Man who wasn't there, that's a great performance).
Bad Santa (2003) Directed by Terry Zwigoff Starring: Billy Bob Thorton, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, and John Ritter Rated R for Pervasive Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Some Violence"Bad Santa" is really good film.
The movie is about a santa named Willie (Thorton) who works in a shopping mall meets a girl (Graham) and a kid who won't seem to leave him alone.
Willie is drunk half the time and cusses at the kids, its one of Billy Bob Thorton's best films!
Both Bad Santa and Badder Santa: The Unrated Version are now available on DVD.In this outrageous Christmas tale, we meet Willie (Billy Bob Thornton, Slingblade); a department store Santa with a serious drinking problem; and Marcus (Tony Cox, Friday); a dwarf who works as the store Santa's elf during the holiday season.