The Coen brothers' latest movie "Bad Santa" is, without a doubt, the most subversive holiday film ever made.
This ultra foul-mouthed take on the holiday season is not only offensive, it just may be a new Christmas tradition for all of the Scrooges out there. Playing the antithesis of holiday cheer, Billy Bob Thornton is Willie T. Stokes, a drunken department store Santa with greed in his heart, piss on his pants and a dwarf for a sidekick. Tony Cox plays Marcus, Willie's three-foot-tall partner in crime and the mastermind behind their yearly felony heist.
In a recent conference call, Thornton said he could identify with some aspects of his character.
"When I was a kid I wasn't really popular," he said. "I've felt like a loser. He (Willie) likes beer, cigarettes and women, so we have some things in common."
The duo travels across the country every year, sets up shop as Santa and elf, emotionally scar children for life, rob the store and move on to a sunnier life for the next 11 months. The only setbacks in the plan are Willie's uncontrollable drinking, a love for back-door beauties who shop in the plus-size department and a vocabulary that would make even an exceptionally foul-mouthed sailor blush.
"I try to play a different part in every movie," Thornton said. "I laughed on every page and I wanted to play a character that I didn't have to hold back whatsoever."
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The dark tone won't come as a surprise for those who are familiar with previous works from the Coen brothers ("The Big Lebowski" and "Fargo"). However, the crude, in-your-face style of comedy may still shock a lot of people who are looking for standard holiday cheer. Even Thornton admits that "Bad Santa" is not a movie for the kids.
"I don't consider it a family film in terms of taking your seven year old, but I've talked to journalists who have taken their wives and loved it," he said. "So for anybody over the age of 16 - or whatever it takes to get into an R-rated movie - it's great."
"Bad Santa" is tremendously funny, though the humor does get repetitive at times. The characters, all expertly cast, manage to squeeze a lot of miles out of the same booze and sex jokes. While some may be offended that this movie used actual children - instead of clones perhaps - the contrast of the hoards of cute, innocent children against the main characters is effective and hilarious.
At one point, a chubby introverted kid (newcomer Brett Kelly), follows Willie around like a loyal puppy and asks the bad Santa for a Christmas present. Willie advises him to defecate in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first. Thornton describes his co-star as a smart kid who never worried when Thornton had to be mean to him.
One of the most impressive aspects of "Bad Santa" is how it didn't sugar coat anything. The characters reach their epiphanies in realistic ways, never calling the movie's authenticity into question.
"That was the trick," Thornton said. "If the movie would have become too sentimental in the end, it wouldn't have worked. If there had been a scene where I broke down and cried it wouldn't have worked. Once you play a character, you have to commit."
All of the commitment paid off for Thornton - his character is a comic blast whose biting sarcasm and bleak outlook make for one truly disreputable character. Even more impressive in his role is Kelly, who somehow endures all of Thornton's profane ramblings without the slightest twitch.
Rounding out the cast is Bernie Mac as the mall security officer and Lauren Graham as the perky Sue, a sweet girl who just happens to have a major Santa fixation - she makes him do it with his Santa hat on.
Thornton also spoke about working with long-time friend John Ritter, who played the store manager. It was Ritter's` last role.
"It was a joy as always," he said. "We were like brothers. When I heard he was going to be in the movie, I was thrilled. It was amazing to work with him. He always cracks me up."
"Bad Santa" is the perfect movie for anyone who wants a break from the standard holiday cheer or who just desperately needs to see people in worse shape than they are. Still, Thornton is far from a scrooge when it comes to holiday films.
"I love the formula for X-mas movies," he said. "You have someone who gets lost along the way and finds himself at the end. Or you believe in Santa and have your dream crushed and then your dreams come true. And I don't mind if every movie is like that from now on."
