Dear Santa (2024 film): Difference between revisions
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Liam Turner is a [[Dyslexia|dyslexic]] and meek, but polite sixth-grader whose parents Bill and Molly are having marital problems following the recent death of his brother Spencer and their move to another town. Adding to the problem is that Liam is too insecure to properly introduce his new friend Gibby to his parents and keeps embarassing himself over his schoolmate and crush Emma, who is the only one in his class to defend him for his disability. |
Liam Turner is a [[Dyslexia|dyslexic]] and meek, but polite sixth-grader whose parents Bill and Molly are having marital problems following the recent death of his brother Spencer and their move to another town. Adding to the problem is that Liam is too insecure to properly introduce his new friend Gibby to his parents and keeps embarassing himself over his schoolmate and crush Emma, who is the only one in his class to defend him for his disability. |
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To hope for things to get better, Liam writes his Christmas wishlist and mails it out, but unfortunately |
To hope for things to get better, Liam writes his Christmas wishlist and mails it out, but unfortunately his dyslexia causes him to accidentally misspell "[[Santa Claus|Santa]]" as "Satan". Satan receives the letter and appears the very next night in Liam's room. Though confused by his visitor's appearance and manners, Liam still believes he is Santa. Satan decides to play along and offers to grant Liam three wishes. Liam offhandedly wishes that Emma would give him a chance, and Satan appears to Liam the next day in school and encourages him to approach Emma. Despite his awkwardness, Liam succeeds in getting a date with her at a [[Post Malone]] concert, for which Satan even provides VIP tickets. |
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Liam later tells his mother and Gibby about his encounter with "Santa", whereupon Gibby informs him of his mistake. Liam confronts Satan and tries to get out of the deal, but Satan refuses and tries to entice him into making his two remaining wishes, with his soul as final payment. When Liam returns home, he finds his parents waiting with child psychologist Dr. Finkleman, because of their worry that Liam's "fantasies" are gradually getting out of hand. The session is interrupted by |
Liam later tells his mother and Gibby about his encounter with "Santa", whereupon Gibby informs him of his mistake. Liam confronts Satan and tries to get out of the deal, but Satan refuses and tries to entice him into making his two remaining wishes, with his soul as final payment. When Liam returns home, he finds his parents waiting with child psychologist Dr. Finkleman, because of their worry that Liam's "fantasies" are gradually getting out of hand. The session is interrupted by Gibby and Satan (disguised as Gibby's father), who take Liam to the concert. With a little help from Satan, Liam is called onto the stage and amidst raving cheers dances onstage alongside Emma and Malone, followed by a cheek kiss from Emma. Gibby, who feels left out, leaves early after a girl rejects him due to his overbite. |
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Later at home, when Liam talks with Gibby per phone about the concert, he notices his friend's disappointment. When Satan visits him later, he uses his second wish to fix Gibby's |
Later at home, when Liam talks with Gibby per phone about the concert, he notices his friend's disappointment. When Satan visits him later, he uses his second wish to fix Gibby's teeth and invites him to a joint date with Emma at the local Christmas carnival. However, Bill and Molly have overheard his phone conversation, and with their worries increased, they pull Liam away from his date the following night and bring him to Finkleman's clinic. However, their assumption that Liam has gone delusional is shattered by a nurse who visited the concert and has video of Liam's performance. In addition, Satan tries to make Liam use up his third wish by showing him images of Gibby and Emma apparently enjoying the carnival without him. |
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Back home, Liam angrily locks himself in his room, and his regretful parents begin to reconcile. Overhearing them and mistakenly believing they're about to break up for good, Liam sneaks out and visits Satan at his motel room, asking him to use his third wish to keep his parents together. Satan agrees, but declares that he will not take Liam's soul until he has died naturally, and tells him to have "a good time" until then. With the deal closed and his soul lost, Liam begins to talk back to his everyday tormentors, |
Back home, Liam angrily locks himself in his room, and his regretful parents begin to reconcile. Overhearing them and mistakenly believing they're about to break up for good, Liam sneaks out and visits Satan at his motel room, asking him to use his third wish to keep his parents together and in love forever. Satan agrees, but declares that he will not take Liam's soul until he has died naturally, and tells him to have "a good time" until then. With the deal closed and believing his soul has been lost, Liam begins to talk back to his everyday tormentors, alienating Emma. |
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In Hell, Satan is revealed to be a |
In Hell, Satan is revealed to be a half-demon under trial for becoming an actual demon, which he failed. Chastised by the ''true'' lord of Hell and his master, [[Lucifer]], for granting Liam two unselfish wishes, which rendered the deal for his soul invalid, he is granted one hour to say his goodbyes before getting banished. The demon visits Liam and tells him about the deal's cancellation, and Liam figures out that he is a faker after noticing his missing horns. Before leaving, the demon confesses how much he has come to like Liam and explains that his third wish is invalid because his parents made up on their own. The demon explains that he used the contents of Liam's original letter in order to fulfill his third and final wish. |
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When Christmas arrives the next day, Liam finds |
When Christmas arrives the next day, Liam finds his brother resurrected to celebrate Christmas with his family in their new home. But then he gets a call from Gibby, who has convinced Emma to give Liam another chance by appealing to her sympathy and telling her about Spencer's death, causing Liam to panic. |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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Revision as of 07:39, 27 November 2024
| Dear Santa | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Bobby Farrelly |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | C. Kim Miles |
| Edited by | Julie Garcés |
| Music by | Rupert Gregson-Williams |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 103 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Dear Santa is a 2024 American Christmas comedy film directed by Bobby Farrelly, and starring Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key and Ben Stiller.
The film was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024, by Paramount Pictures.
Synopsis
Liam Turner is a dyslexic and meek, but polite sixth-grader whose parents Bill and Molly are having marital problems following the recent death of his brother Spencer and their move to another town. Adding to the problem is that Liam is too insecure to properly introduce his new friend Gibby to his parents and keeps embarassing himself over his schoolmate and crush Emma, who is the only one in his class to defend him for his disability.
To hope for things to get better, Liam writes his Christmas wishlist and mails it out, but unfortunately his dyslexia causes him to accidentally misspell "Santa" as "Satan". Satan receives the letter and appears the very next night in Liam's room. Though confused by his visitor's appearance and manners, Liam still believes he is Santa. Satan decides to play along and offers to grant Liam three wishes. Liam offhandedly wishes that Emma would give him a chance, and Satan appears to Liam the next day in school and encourages him to approach Emma. Despite his awkwardness, Liam succeeds in getting a date with her at a Post Malone concert, for which Satan even provides VIP tickets.
Liam later tells his mother and Gibby about his encounter with "Santa", whereupon Gibby informs him of his mistake. Liam confronts Satan and tries to get out of the deal, but Satan refuses and tries to entice him into making his two remaining wishes, with his soul as final payment. When Liam returns home, he finds his parents waiting with child psychologist Dr. Finkleman, because of their worry that Liam's "fantasies" are gradually getting out of hand. The session is interrupted by Gibby and Satan (disguised as Gibby's father), who take Liam to the concert. With a little help from Satan, Liam is called onto the stage and amidst raving cheers dances onstage alongside Emma and Malone, followed by a cheek kiss from Emma. Gibby, who feels left out, leaves early after a girl rejects him due to his overbite.
Later at home, when Liam talks with Gibby per phone about the concert, he notices his friend's disappointment. When Satan visits him later, he uses his second wish to fix Gibby's teeth and invites him to a joint date with Emma at the local Christmas carnival. However, Bill and Molly have overheard his phone conversation, and with their worries increased, they pull Liam away from his date the following night and bring him to Finkleman's clinic. However, their assumption that Liam has gone delusional is shattered by a nurse who visited the concert and has video of Liam's performance. In addition, Satan tries to make Liam use up his third wish by showing him images of Gibby and Emma apparently enjoying the carnival without him.
Back home, Liam angrily locks himself in his room, and his regretful parents begin to reconcile. Overhearing them and mistakenly believing they're about to break up for good, Liam sneaks out and visits Satan at his motel room, asking him to use his third wish to keep his parents together and in love forever. Satan agrees, but declares that he will not take Liam's soul until he has died naturally, and tells him to have "a good time" until then. With the deal closed and believing his soul has been lost, Liam begins to talk back to his everyday tormentors, alienating Emma.
In Hell, Satan is revealed to be a half-demon under trial for becoming an actual demon, which he failed. Chastised by the true lord of Hell and his master, Lucifer, for granting Liam two unselfish wishes, which rendered the deal for his soul invalid, he is granted one hour to say his goodbyes before getting banished. The demon visits Liam and tells him about the deal's cancellation, and Liam figures out that he is a faker after noticing his missing horns. Before leaving, the demon confesses how much he has come to like Liam and explains that his third wish is invalid because his parents made up on their own. The demon explains that he used the contents of Liam's original letter in order to fulfill his third and final wish.
When Christmas arrives the next day, Liam finds his brother resurrected to celebrate Christmas with his family in their new home. But then he gets a call from Gibby, who has convinced Emma to give Liam another chance by appealing to her sympathy and telling her about Spencer's death, causing Liam to panic.
Cast
- Robert Timothy Smith as Liam Turner
- Jack Black as Satan / "Santa Claus"
- Jaden Carson Baker as Gibby
- Kai Cech as Emma
- Brianne Howey as Molly Turner
- Hayes MacArthur as Bill Turner
- P. J. Byrne as Mr. Charles
- Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Finkleman
- Gavin Munn as Aidan
- Post Malone as himself (credited as "Austin Post")
- Luke Chiappetta as Jock Buddy #1
- Ben Stiller as Lucifer / "Jack Frost" (uncredited)
Production
In April 2023, it was announced that Bobby Farrelly would be directing and producing the film, with Peter Farrelly as producing along with Jeremy Kramer, for Paramount Pictures. The Farrelly Brothers and Ricky Blitt wrote the script from an original idea by Dan Ewen.[2][3]
The film is Black's second Christmas film, after The Holiday in 2006; it is also his second collaboration with Farrelly, after the 2001 film Shallow Hal.[4]
Casting
The cast was set in March 2023 with Jack Black in the lead role. Keegan-Michael Key and Post Malone were also confirmed.[5]
Filming
Principal photography began in March 2023 in Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia, where Decatur Square was transformed into an outdoor Christmas festival.[6][7] In July, production was halted because of the 2023 actors' strike.[8]
Release
Dear Santa was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024.[9][10]
Reception
Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 34 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[11]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film one out of four stars and wrote, "There was a time when Jack Black reuniting with the Farrelly brothers to make a family comedy would have made a few cultural waves. This is not that time. Most people probably have no idea that Bobby Farrelly's Dear Santa has been buried on Paramount+, released on a Monday with almost no promotion at all. Why? The marketing team probably had no idea how to sell a movie that seems resolutely made for no one."[12]
Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It should hardly come as a revelation that Black's hardworking comedic efforts are the film's saving grace. Adopting a deep growl that makes him sound like late-period Jack Nicholson, the actor is clearly having a ball with his colorful role, and the fun proves infectious. He makes the many bad jokes bearable and the decent ones even funnier with his typically manic, perfectly timed delivery."[13]
See also
- Dear Satan, a 2024 Filipino film of the same premise; later retitled Dear Santa
References
- ^ "Dear Santa (12)". November 11, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (March 15, 2023). "Jack Black & The Farrelly Brothers Reunite For Christmas Comedy 'Dear Santa' At Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (March 15, 2023). "Jack Black, Farrelly Brothers Team for Paramount's 'Dear Santa". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Bedard, Mike (June 3, 2024). "Jack Black Is Unrecognizable As Satan For A New Christmas Movie". Looper. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (March 16, 2023). "Dear Santa: Jack Black to Lead Farrelly Brothers' Christmas Comedy". Comingsoon.net. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Ho, Rodney (March 16, 2023). "Jack Black, Farrelly Brothers reunite for Dear Santa comedy shooting in metro Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Hesse, Dean (March 2, 2024). "(Photos) Film crews turn Decatur Square into Christmas wonderland … in March". Decaturish.com.
- ^ Chmielewski, Dawn; Richwine, Lisa. "How the Hollywood strike is scrambling film, TV schedules into next summer". Reuters.
- ^ Huff, Lauren (November 6, 2024). "Jack Black is 'diabolical, but in a fun way' as Satan in Dear Santa first look (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (November 7, 2024). "Bobby Farrelly's 'Dear Santa' Starring Jack Black Unveils Trailer, Paramount+ Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Dear Santa". Metacritic. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (November 25, 2024). "Dear Santa". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (November 25, 2024). "'Dear Santa' Review: A Devilishly Fun Jack Black Elevates Paramount+'s Mediocre Holiday Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
External links
- Dear Santa at IMDb