BAD SANTA. 2003

If only it were possible to get past the amazing amount of foul language & randy jokes about Billy Bob Thornton doing it up fat ladies' bums, Bad Santa (or the DVD Badder Santa) is very nearly a story suitable for the whole family, because a child's affection for the Bad Santa is ultimately his salvation.

A genuine anti-Christmas story would've been better, but the script was too cowardly for that, & a mediocre C-list supporting cast (Tony Cox, Cloris Leachman, Bernie Mac) don't seem to care what film they're in just so long as someone give 'em a job.

Family values win the day. After such extreme criminality & vileness, & even some ha-ha murders, the sudden happy ending is forced & not even slightly likely. But hey, it's christmas.

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