Dear Santa is a 2024 American Christmas comedy film directed by Bobby Farrelly and starring Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key and Ben Stiller.
| 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 |
The film was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024, by Paramount Pictures.
Synopsis
editLiam Turner is a dyslexic sixth grader whose parents are having marital problems following the death of his brother during the holidays. To hope for things to get better, Liam writes his Christmas wishlist and mails it out, but unfortunately he accidentally misspells Santa as Satan. Satan soon grabs his letter and decides to make a deal with him, first claiming himself as the real Santa, in which he will grant Liam three wishes.
Cast
edit- Jack Black as Asmodeus/"Santa Claus"
- Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Finklman
- Ben Stiller as Lucifer/"Jack Frost"
- Post Malone as himself
- Robert Timothy Smith as Liam Turner
- Brianne Howey as Molly Turner
- Hayes MacArthur as Bill Turner
- P. J. Byrne as Mr. Charles
- Gavin Munn as Aidan
- Jaden Carson Baker as Gibby
- Kai Cech as Emma
- Luke Chiappetta as Jock Buddy #1
Production
editIn 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 and Alexander's second collaboration with Farrelly, after the 2001 film Shallow Hal.[4]
Casting
editThe cast was set in March 2023 with Jack Black in the lead role. Keegan-Michael Key and Post Malone were also confirmed.[5]
Filming
editPrincipal 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
editDear Santa was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024.[9][10]
Reception
editBrian 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."[11]
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."[12]
See also
edit- Dear Satan, a 2024 Filipino film of the same premise; later retitled Dear Santa
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ 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
edit- Dear Santa at IMDb