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Dear Santa Review
"Dear Santa" leans more heavily into a fictional experience compared to Bobby Farrelly's previous film, Champions. In Champions, the narrative motivation is crystal clear from the outset: a professional basketball coach must train a team of intellectually disabled players. Right from the beginning, the movie lays bare the flaws of all its characters, particularly the coach, setting the stage for a journey of transformation from imperfection to fulfillment. The characters’ confidence in confronting their flaws (for the coach, it’s a gradual process) builds trust in the viewing experience and establishes a clear trajectory for the film.
In contrast, Dear Santa takes a different approach. It is unapologetically fictional from the moment the boy, affectionately nicknamed "Little Chubby," writes Santa’s name incorrectly. This sets the tone for a wholly imaginary narrative where a supernatural Satan figure grants Little Chubby three wishes. While his flaws are apparent, the story doesn’t focus on correcting them. Instead, his shortcomings act as a catalyst for the fantastical events that follow. The film leverages this entirely fictional setup to circle back and ultimately fill in the gaps about Little Chubby’s character. This might initially seem like the plot is improvising as it goes along, but that very unpredictability helps viewers build a sense of belief. When Little Chubby attends a concert and Post Malone steps out to chat with him, how can we not believe?
Concerts and Fiction: A Parallel to Shyamalan’s The Visit
The concert scene evokes memories of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit. As Ganzo’s review aptly puts it: "The harder Cooper tries to hide the butcher’s identity, the more the butcher shapes him into an idealized American father." But in Dear Santa, neither Little Chubby nor Satan needs to conceal anything. Satan’s supernatural abilities allow him to orchestrate a Post Malone concert just for Little Chubby, with an audience cheering as he performs on stage. This becomes a dazzling centerpiece of the film, brimming with magical charm.
A Farrelly Family Affair: Comparing Fiction
Interestingly, Bobby Farrelly’s brother, Peter Farrelly, also ventured into fictional storytelling this year with Ricky Stanicky. While the two films share some conceptual similarities, the emotional impact of Ricky Stanicky pales in comparison. One reason might be that Ricky Stanicky feels compelled to rationalize every fantastical event, offering layer upon layer of justification to ensure believability. Ironically, this undermines the experience. Both the film and its audience should recognize that once we commit to believing in fiction, we no longer need excessive explanations.
In Dear Santa, the strength lies in its unabashed embrace of the unreal, pulling viewers into a world where belief is its own reward.
