Dear Santa Movie Review (2024)

Parents need to know that Dear Santa is a Farrelly brothers comedy about an 11-year-old boy (Robert Timothy Smith) with dyslexia who mixes up the letters when addressing his letter to Santa. He mistakenly writes to Satan instead, and Lucifer (Jack Black) responds, offering three wishes. The filmmakers are known for their outrageous, crude humor, and while this one is comparatively tame, it's still edgy for a kids' holiday movie. Satan makes a couple of jokes about pedophilia (creepy uncles) and bestiality ("screw the pooch" as a double entendre), and a kid who's trying to talk to his crush starts talking about cats' nipples. There's bathroom humor, plus language including "crap," "bulls--t," "s--t," and name calling like "dumbass" and "turd breath." There are references to a child's death of a child, and a kid stands up to someone who bullies others—and gets punched for his trouble. Having Satan as the star of a movie about Christmas may be unexpected, but the film celebrates the rewards of integrity, humility, kindness, and putting others' needs before our own. But it does also hinge on the assumption that Santa doesn't exist.

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Language

a lot

Language includes "ass," "bulls--t," "crap," "damn," "dumbass," "fudgenuts," "hell," "shart," "s--t," "stud," "turd," "stupid," and "t-t." Joke that a demon "screwed the pooch." "Oh my God" as an exclamation. Potty humor.

Violence & Scariness

some

One kid punches another in the face. There's a bit about standing up to those who bully others. Threats involving involving violence are delivered with humor. Images of horned devil and a menacing hamster, also wrapped in humor. References to a tragic accident involving a child, but details aren't disclosed. Joke about relatives who touch young family members inappropriately. Joke about bestiality. Parents squabble.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

some

Part of the plot revolves around an 11-year-old's crush on a classmate; they go on a date. Kiss. Racy jokes. Teacher asks student about what part of another student's body he's "ogling." Reference to cats' nipples.

Products & Purchases

a little

Satan drives a Tesla. Humorous reference to Uber Eats. Post Malone and his music are positively and heavily featured. Satan shows the life someone can have with him by their side, with images of a kid driving fast in a fancy car, gambling, and rolling around in cash.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

a little

Adults drink wine. A kid plays beer pong, but it's about the game, not the drinking. Character balks at a comment made by a child, saying, "Kid, are you high?"

Positive Messages

some

Themes of family, integrity, and giving to others/putting their needs before your own.

Positive Role Models

some

Liam is a good kid who accidentally makes a deal with the devil—he does try out some "bad" behavior like telling a teacher off and sneaking out of the house, but ultimately, his integrity shines through. Best friend Gibby is supportive, and crush Emma is kind and inclusive.

Diverse Representations

a little

The plot is set in motion by a main character's dyslexia, which is played more for humor (he mixes up "Santa" and "Satan") than treated seriously as a disability. Characters have a range of body types/sizes. The story revolves around a White family; main kid character Liam's best friend, Gibby, is Black, and his crush, Emma, is played by Chinese-Japanese American actor Kai Cech. Students seen in the background are a diverse mix of races and genders.

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