# Bad Santa **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766 "2003-11-28T20:26:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/1 "2003-11-28T20:26:56Z")
Anyone see “Bad Santa”? How was it? Is it as funny as the critics are saying? We’re thinking of seeing it tonight. Otherwise my girlfriend wants to see CatintheHat:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/2 "2003-11-28T22:32:17Z")
It’s great! Fantastic! Wonderful! You’ll love it! It’s a hilarious romp! A cross between “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Mad Max!” Tell your girlfriend I said she’ll enjoy it way more that “Cat in the Hat.” I haven’t actually seen it, you understand. But randomly piecing together outtakes from “Plan Nine from Outerspace” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” would make a better movie than CitH, or, as one reviewer dubbed it, “Mike Myers, Asshole in Fur.” Not to mention that the only remaining audience for CitH are people who haven’t got the reading skills to understand the reviews. This includes pretty much the entire U.S. population under the age of 4. “Bad Santa,” however, is rated R. What’s not to love about an R rated Christmas movie? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/3 "2003-11-28T23:03:54Z")
Cat In The Hat looks bad bad baaaad. It’s got a 13% rating at [Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/) . (It got 16 good reviews, and 106 bad reviews) **Bad Santa** has an 80% rating (70 Good, 18 Bad). > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Truth Seeker \* > \*\* “Bad Santa,” however, is rated R. What’s not to love about an R rated Christmas movie? \*\* Yes, and also that it was directed by Terry Zwigoff ( **Louie Bluie, Crumb, Ghost World** ), it was executive produced by the Coen Brothers, who also provided the story, it’s John Ritter’s last role and it’s about a foul-mouthed, obscene, criminal guy playing Santy. How could it not be great?? (I’ll see it myself tomorrow) Here’s a LOT of information about **Bad Santa** (maybe too much, but it’s a great read): [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/BadSanta-1127300/about.php#notes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/BadSanta-1127300/about.php#notes) ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/4 "2003-11-29T04:51:32Z")
Just saw it-especially good if you are a Billy Bob Fan- very funny. For once I agree w/ reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/5 "2003-11-29T11:34:07Z")
It had it’s moments. Got a little tiring with all the drinking, but that’s just me. But I could spend two hours just watching that chick from _Gilmoure girls_. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/6 "2003-11-29T18:00:11Z")
Thumbs up. Way up. I saw it yesterday, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. Crude and vulgar, yes. But funny, with a lot of heart, and real charm to it too. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/7 "2003-11-29T20:49:49Z")
My wife and I just went to see it. Nasty, obscene, vulgar…I loved it!😃 It had some “laugh 'till you cry” moments! Really funny! **’DUKE** , if Pam is looking forward to seeing the Cat in the Hat, she might not like Bad Santa. It’s crude and mean spirited, especially towards children! ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/8 "2003-11-29T21:22:23Z")
How large is John Ritter’s role? The commericals and such imply that it’s fairly prominent, but I have a hunch it’s only about 30 seconds of screen time all told. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/9 "2003-11-29T21:22:37Z")
The underlying story was rather anemic, but the vulgar stuff was very funny. I was almost embarassed at how hard I laughed at the scene in the boxing ring. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/10 "2003-11-29T22:34:09Z")
Just saw it; liked it a lot. Sometimes it’s good to see a grown man in a Santa suit beating the shit out of a teenager. The trailer I saw gave a completely wrong impression of the picture; glad I read Ebert’s review. John Ritter gave a very good, understated performance. Not a lot of screen time, but he nailed the part. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/11 "2003-11-29T23:23:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Truth Seeker \* > \*\* . . . randomly piecing together outtakes from “Plan Nine from Outerspace” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” would make a better movie than CitH . . . \*\* . . . Actually, I’d really like to see that! ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/12 "2003-11-30T00:53:30Z")
Murcielago is right- just one premise really, but w/ funny dialogue-BTW I checked my watch because the movie seemed quite brief-it was :one hour ,twenty minutes. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/13 "2003-11-30T00:56:58Z")
That smilie was an error. ---
**Author:** ![Oat1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Oat1957](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oat1957)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/14 "2003-11-30T01:19:32Z")
We saw it today. I haven’t laughed so hard at a movie in a long time. Lots of profanity, sex and violence. Just the way I like 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/15 "2003-11-30T04:05:53Z")
Bad Santa=Good Movie. I liked it alot! ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/16 "2003-11-30T16:14:01Z")
It was hilarious. People were literally stomping the floor in my theater. One of the most cuss strewn scripts in ages. There is just something inherently funny about a surly drunk in a santa outfit asking a 10 year old if he was dropped on his fucking head. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/17 "2003-11-30T16:44:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pkbites \* > \*\* It’s crude and mean spirited, especially towards children! \*\* Sounds right up my alley! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/18 "2003-12-02T09:21:48Z")
Another thumb up from me… the character of the kid was frickin’ brilliant. He was like Ralph Wiggum come to life. I can’t stop laughing whenever I think about the Christmas Present he gave… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/19 "2003-12-02T13:26:01Z")
I **LOVE** The Coen Brothers! I **LOVE** Terry Zwigoff! I **LOVE** Mean-Spirited Vulgar Humor! I **LOVE** Sex and Excessive Drinking! I **LOVE** Midgets and Fat Kids! **I HATED HATED HATED FUCKING HATED THIS MOVIE!!!** [QUOTE] _Originally posted by Equipoise_ **it’s about a foul-mouthed, obscene, criminal guy playing Santy. How could it not be great??** Great, indeed, for about _five minutes_! But that’s really about all I feel like I was offered (over and over and over). Please note the preferences I noted above, I’m no prude nor am I a stranger to outlandish dark humor. Fact is this movie just didn’t do any of it well and was entirely lacking in creativity. Big ol’ heap of Christmas Poo! . ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-santa/215766/20 "2003-12-02T16:49:52Z")
bienville, So you were on the fence?