BAD SANTA 2 (2016)

 

Directed By: Mark Waters

Written By: Johnny Rosenthal And Shauna Cross 

Based on characters Created by: Glen Ficarra & John Requa 

Cinematography: Theo Van De Sande 

Editor: Travis Sittard

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Kathy Bates, Christina Hendricks, Ryan Hansen, Brett Kelly, Jenny Zigrino, Octavia Spencer, Mike Starr

Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed, and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus, to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve.

The worst part of this film is that it’s an unnecessary sequel. I don’t know if it was the studio's idea or something that was pitched, but the first one could’ve stayed a classic as this film ends up being bad not as bad as you might think but pretty much, disappointing

Luckily, it’s not a straight-to-streaming or direct video by having some other person star in the film or be some kind of distant relative or only getting the supporting players back while not being able to get the star Billy Bob Thornton, who seems pretty much auto-pilot. As he has played this type of role many times before it’s hard to differentiate them sometimes other than the other antiheroes are jerks that he has played in comedies have some pride, and are usually trying to hide the other part of themselves or here what you see is what you get.

The only surprise in the film is that Kathy Bates agreed to play a supporting role in it as it just seems like more of the same from the first film, though it seems here it tries to be meaner and more over the top and its nastiness and humor is definitely more sexual 

It’s pretty much the same story new city, where the plan seems to basically be the same only shifting loyalties, even though no one trusts each other in the first place. 

It also seems to be darker and more low-budgeted again makes you wonder who was really demanding this or deemed it necessary. It looks dirtier. 

Even Christina Hendricks seems cast more to capitalize on her bombshell looks and does play a character in the film who is Ingal to the plot, but doesn’t really have much to do except be a sex object for an actress of her caliber you would have more to do or at least be better written. She also seems here to give Billy Bob Thornton’s character the closest thing to a kind of love interest that he’s going to get. She is the most likable character in the film.

There are some scenes that can be funny. There’s not enough to truly make a necessary feature. One would warn fans of the first film. You can skip this as it’s the same movie only cheaper and you know the characters more so you know what to expect if anything it kind of darkens, the first film offers a cheap knockoff that’s familiar and almost similar to the first film only with not as big names think the hangover sequels.

It feels like a movie, a studio mandated more than they’re actually being a need or reason by the filmmakers or cast to return even though it’s shocking considering the material was so controversial and risky when the first film came out. Though it might be watered down in many ways, the jokes pack a little more mean-hearted venom

Grade: C-