Dear Santa (2024) is directed by Bobby Farrelly and stars Robert Timothy Smith, Jack Black, Jaden Carson Baker, Kai Cech, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, P.J. Byrne, Keegan-Michael Key, Post Malone, Cate Freedman, and Gavin Munn. The film follows Liam Turner (Smith), a middle schooler struggling socially after the death of his younger brother. When he decides to write a letter to Santa, his dyslexia unfortunately causes him to accidentally address the letter to Satan (Black) instead. Satan soon appears and offers Liam 3 wishes, but if the last one is used, he gets to take Liam’s soul. What ensues is a series of wacky misadventures that see Liam attempt to woo his crush, Emma (Cech). Unfortunately, things quickly go south when Liam realizes that Satan’s wishes come with unexpected consequences.

Although the film is elevated by Jack Black’s veteran comedic performance as Satan, it’s not a performance that’s going to win him new fans. I’ll go as far as saying that if you don’t like Jack Black, it’s going to make the movie even worse than it sort of already is. I hate to criticize such young actors; it’s not an easy job. However, “awkward” is the only way to describe their performances. And let me be clear, I don’t mean awkward in the way middle schoolers usually are, I mean awkward in the sense that they don’t seem comfortable in front of a camera. It also doesn’t help that jokes consistently fall flat – but that’s not due to the performances, it’s despite them. 

When the film asks us to care about the various characters in the third act, we have no reason to do so. The film portrays them mostly as silly caricatures but then jarringly takes them seriously as soon as it’s convenient. It doesn’t help, as well, that the writing often feels contrived in the name of creating fake drama. For example, there’s a sequence in the third act where we’re supposed to believe a character’s life is ruined simply because his parents embarrass him by acting goofily overprotective. There’s no buildup to this tension, and it simply feels like a lazy attempt to bring them apart so it can bring them back together in the final reel. Even though he’s a kid and it’s believable that he’d overreact, it’s tough to take seriously for anyone over the age of 18. 

Although the tone eventually settles on an inoffensive level of silliness, there’s a disappointing lack of Christmas vibes. On top of this, Satan is written as a disappointingly tame character who’s often no more evil than the typical frat bro. It fits the film’s more family-centric approach but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to add some menace-fueled fun. Despite all this, the script still somehow manages to deliver a satisfyingly heartwarming ending that’s unexpected and filled with strong holiday themes. That being said, the film’s message is a tad confusing. Our main character doesn’t learn anything besides what’s seemingly “be a dick and you’ll get what you want.” That’s probably not the intention, but it shouldn’t even be something the viewer considers.   

Overall, this is notably lackluster holiday comedy when considering its unique premise and strong comedic lead. The jokes stink, the editing is poor, and most of the acting eliminates any opportunity for immersion. It’s clear that of the two Farrelly brothers, Bobby is the weaker director. He provides the duo’s iconic silliness, but everything things else is missing. It’s a movie that feels like a huge swing and miss and I don’t see it appealing to many kinds of audiences. That being said, it’s an easier watch than the first ten minutes would make you believe. As a holiday streaming option, it’s bad, but watchable enough to justify its runtime. I think kids are more likely to find enjoyment here than anyone else. D