Bad Santa 2

While the original Bad Santa (2003) was a comedic antidote to Yuletide treacle, this sequel is more like a lump of coal. Safecracking alcoholic Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton) is having a really bad day when his old crony, Marcus (Tony Cox), sends him cash and an offer to rework their Christmas robbery scam in Chicago. Of course, Marcus betrayed him before, so how can Willie trust him? But in Willie's world, greed triumphs good sense, so he heads to the Windy City, where Marcus reveals that the true mastermind of the operation is Willie's estranged mother, larcenous Sunny Soke (Kathy Bates). Sunny volunteers at a Salvation Army-like charity, run by sexy Diane (Christina Hendricks) and her philandering husband (Ryan Hansen), that provides shelter for homeless men—dressing them as Santa Claus and sending them out to solicit money during the holiday season. Sunny has carefully planned the $2 million heist to take place during a Christmas Eve concert. But the crooks have to obtain certain keys carried by a hefty security guard (Jenny Zigrino), whom diminutive Marcus, and then lecherous Willie try to seduce. Complicating matters, the now-grown Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly) still worships cantankerous Willie, following him to Chicago so he won't spend Christmas alone. Unfortunately, director Mark Walters just can't reproduce filmmaker Terry Zwigoff's crass, maniacal nastiness from the first Bad Santa. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the original animated “That's My Willie” segments (4 min.), a “Thurman Then & Now” featurette on costar Brett Kelly (3 min.), a “Just Your Average Red Band” featurette (2 min.), deleted scenes (3 min.), an alternate ending (3 min.), a gag reel (4 min.), a brief alternate opening, the spoof song “Jingle Balls,” and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing sequel.] (S. Granger)