Billy Bob Thorton is back in one of his most memorable roles of all time, giving the spirit of Christmas a new meaning.
“Fueled by cheap whiskey and greed, Willie Soke (Academy Award-nominee Billy Bob Thorton), teams up once again with his angry sidekick, Marcus (Tony Cox), to knock off a Chicago charity run by curvaceous Diane (Christina Hendricks). But the arrival of Willie’s horror story of a mother, Sunny (Academy Award-winner Kathy Bates), and “the kid” – Thurman Murman – may upset their plan. You better watch out, Bad Santa 2 is coming to town!”
Bad Santa 2 returns proving that the lines they crossed in the first film can indeed be surpassed by disgusting and vulgar humor the likes you have never seen. Fans of Bad Santa will know exactly what they are getting themselves into while watching the second, which continues the story thirteen years after the original.
After meandering his way through life, countless dead-end jobs with no purpose in sight, Willie Soke is at the end of his rope, literally. But, like everything he does, he fails miserably, even trying to kill himself. When he can’t sink any lower, he gets a message from his former partner, Marcus, who has been released from prison and has an opportunity too good to pass up.
As Willie learns about this new score that promises millions, he discovers that Marcus has teamed up with Willie’s estranged mother, Sunny. Thanks to a sordid past and terrible relationship with her, Willie uses every ounce of strength he has to continue the job while dealing with her and her failing health. To add to the distractions, Thurman Merman has followed Willie to Chicago like a lost puppy, added to milk the relationship between him and Willie again hoping to find some of the glory from the original. As alliances are made and broken, Willie struggles with his skewed sense of morality and whether or not to go through with their plan.
If you’re a fan of the original, you’re pretty much going to get the same thing, which may or may not be a bad thing depending on your expectations. One thing that seems blatantly grafted on is the relationship with “the kid”, Thurman, who is now 21 years old and the exact same character as before. You feel a lot sorrier for this kid as you did before, because it is much clearer that he has some sort of disorder, which isn’t funny. The only unique thing brought to the table is Kathy Bates as Willie’s mother. It’s a much different situation than the first and can be quite funny at times. Although the film can’t quite find its feet standing independently, it does make a good companion piece for the first film. It is a sequel that people kind of forgot about asking for, so the fact that you get more of Billy Bob Thorton in the role tailor made for him can’t be all bad.
Video
This set contains both the 4k and blu-ray versions of the film. The 4k is presented in 2160p Ultra High Definition 16×9 Widescreen 1.85:1, and the blu-ray in 1080p High Definition 16×9 Widescreen 1.85:1. The 4k transfer is beautiful, with a very noticeable clear image, especially during the brighter scenes. Color levels are excellent, and no defects noticed.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. A lot of the information is going to be coming from the center channel mainly, but levels are good and dialogue is clear and concise. The soundtrack utilizes the full surround and sounds quite nice.
Special Features
This disc contains both the Unrated and Theatrical versions of the film. It also has quite a few special features contained on the blu-ray, all are interesting and well worth a watch if you enjoyed the film.
- Thurman Then & Now
- Just Your Average Red Band Featurette
- Jingle Balls
- “That’s My Willie” Original Animated Series
- Gag Reel
- Alternate Opening and Ending
- Deleted Scenes
Bad Santa 2 definitely has its moments that make it a lot of fun and well worth watching. It never set out to outdo the first film, so as long as you keep your expectations to a minimum for this Christmas comedy sequel thirteen years after the original, you won’t be disappointed.
