Bad
Santa 2 4K: Unrated
(2016/Broad Green Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)
Picture:
A-/B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: C+
It's
been longer than a decade (since 2006 to be exact) since Willy Stokes
(Billy Bob Thornton) has graced the silver screen drunk out of his
mind wearing a crusty santa suit and insulting every human that
crosses his path. In fact, many questioned if it ever would (or
should) happen again. Clearly Bad
Santa 2
(2016) isn't going to win any Academy Awards but doesn't every
Holiday Movie Season need a flick that rebellious teens can sneak
into at the multiplex?
Low
and behold, Director Mark Waters (Mr.
Popper's Penguins)
brings us his vision of Bad
Santa 2
(with the original director Terry Zwigoff nowhere in sight), and
reunites many of the original cast members (Tony Cox, a now grown up
Brett Kelly who was much more effective as a kid) and exploits the
raunchy and slightly dismal humor that made the first one so funny.
This time, Kathy Bates and Christina Hendricks are along for the ride
in a film that certainly isn't a cheery Holiday special... but rather
the most hateful Christmas film ever made... but that didn't stop it
from still making me chuckle more than once.
Just
when Willie is about to give up on life, he is propositioned by
Marcus (Cox) yet again to go on another Christmas heist... this time
it's ripping off a holiday charity for over two million dollars cash.
Once he ends up in Chicago to do the job, Willie discovers his
estranged crooked Mother (Bates) is in on the scheme as well, much to
his dismay. Reunited with the kid that won't go away, Therman Merman
(Kelly), and meeting the lustful Diane (Hendricks) - who is running
the Charity along with her cheating Husband (Ryan Hansen) - Willie is
in for an adventure that he won't soon forget.
The
highlight for me is Billy Bob Thornton, an actor that nails virtually
every performance he is given and should really be given some more
respectful movies rather than those of this caliber, though you can
tell he's having fun embodying his character here. Kathy Bates is
believable as Willy's Mother: a normal almost Senior Citizen that
appears warm and gentle until you see her strip away her tough
exterior into a rowdy and mean you know what.
The
presentation on both discs here is fantastic, but the most impressive
is the 4K (2160p with HDR (high dynamic range 10-bit color) transfer
of the UHD disc, which has a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with a
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless track. This isn't the type of
film that needs a Dolby Atmos remaster, so I felt that the 5.1 track
was fine. The cinematography in the film isn't too stylistic but
maintains realistic tones and the detail is impeccable in 4K UHD.
The
regular Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with a
widescreen presentation of 1.85:1 and the same DTS-HD Master Audio
5.1 track, which still looks pretty good for the format.
Surprisingly, no digital copy is included.
Special
Features...
Two
cuts of the film - Unrated (95 min) and Theatrical (92 min)
Thurman
Then and Now
Just
Your Average Red Band Trailer
Jingle
Balls
''That's
My Willie'' Original Animated Series
Gag
Reel
Alternate
Opening and Ending
Deleted
Scenes
A
fun sequel to the first film doesn't really bring anything new to the
table but delivers some raunchy laughs and a few memorable sequences.
I wouldn't suggest it to people who can't handle strong language and
sexual situations, but for the viewer that likes off-kilter adult
humor this is one of the more satisfying I saw last year.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
