this was close to being good but had a lot of things i really didn’t like. santa’s gf, for example - great setup of a pretty scummy relationship, but she is way too young/clean/un-haggardly and they end up always looking happy around each other. that kind of exemplifies the whole movie for me - they touch on some dark things and act like that’s what they want the tone to be but close their eyes at the last second and keep things way too safe. not just with the dumb ending, but the character of santa throughout. he’s pretty much a one-note drunk - surly and apathetic - and as such pretty safe. the swearing loses any danger after the first 20 times he swears at the kids. also since he was just one note i never bought the suicidal aspects. he seemed content drinking a ton and being a mess and taking advantage of people so the suicidal stuff felt tacked on.
i did laugh at ‘i beat the shit out of some kids today…it made me feel good about myself.’
