In the overcrowded landscape of holiday streaming releases, the high-concept comedy Dear Santa aimed to stand out with its mischievous premise: What if a dyslexic kid accidentally sent his Christmas wish list to Satan instead of Santa? It’s a setup ripe for irreverent laughs, but despite Jack Black’s manic energy as the Prince of Darkness, the film fails to deliver on its naughty promise, ultimately settling for a tepid mix of sweet and sour that satisfies no one.
The Devil Is in the Details
Dear Santa, directed by Bobby Farrelly (one half of the Farrelly brothers comedy duo), centers on 11-year-old Liam, who unwittingly summons Satan (Black) with his misspelled letter. In exchange for granting three wishes, Satan will claim Liam’s soul. It’s a juicy setup that could’ve allowed for gleefully dark humor, but the script by Ricky Blitt seems unsure of how far to push the envelope.
Instead of fully embracing the absurdity, Dear Santa pulls its punches, resulting in a tonal mismatch that undercuts both the edginess and the heartwarming aspects. Black’s Satan veers between mildly menacing trickster and cuddly cartoon, his antics more grating than genuinely funny. A series of uninspired set pieces, including an overlong sequence at a Post Malone concert (complete with a shrug-worthy cameo), fail to capitalize on the film’s intriguing “what if” scenario.
Festive Family Fractures
More compelling is the impact of Liam’s infernal pen pal on his already fractured family. As his newly single mother (Carla Gugino) and father (Lukas Haas) grapple with their son’s apparent devil worship, they turn to a therapist (Keegan Michael-Key, wasted in a thankless role) for guidance. These scenes hint at a darker, more grounded take on the material, but they’re quickly abandoned in favor of juvenile hijinks and forced sentimentality.
Dear Santa is like watching Bad Santa slowly turn into Elf, an unsatisfying attempt to be both naughty and nice, ending up as nothing instead.
— According to a film critic
Wasted Potential
The film’s biggest sin is its inability to commit to a consistent tone or target audience. Is it a twisted take on holiday cheer aimed at adults, or a heartwarming lesson for kids wrapped in mildly edgy packaging? By trying to have it both ways, Dear Santa winds up as a muddled, unsatisfying lump of coal.
Even the reliably energetic Black feels constrained by the material, his shtick more exhausting than entertaining. Young newcomer Robert Timothy Smith tries his best as Liam, but he’s saddled with a character that’s more plot device than fully realized protagonist. The talented supporting cast, including Gugino, Haas, and Michael-Key, are given little to do beyond reacting to the escalating absurdity.
Conclusion: Naughty and Nice List
Despite its promising premise and game cast, Dear Santa is a misfire that fails as both edgy comedy and heartwarming holiday fare. Its handful of amusing moments are overshadowed by tonal whiplash and wasted potential. While it may find a forgiving audience among undemanding viewers seeking lightweight festive diversion, most will likely consider this one a regrettable choice from the Christmas streaming buffet.
For Black completists and those desperate for a new holiday comedy, Dear Santa may be worth a peek. But for everyone else, it’s probably best to leave this particular letter unanswered. In a season already stuffed with mediocre Yuletide offerings, this Devil-may-care dud deserves little more than a lump of coal in its streaming stocking.
