The Santa Project : Fatman

I'm always game for a Christmas movie that's a bit off the beaten path.  And boy did I find it here. 

Now I know a lot of people have their hatred for Mel Gibson.  I'm not going to pretend to know more than what the press has said about his words.  Most of which were said battling alcoholism.  Drunk or not, anti-semitism is stupid and unacceptable. Despite those in his corner, He has apologizing to do. Also, for what it's worth, some teetotalers who've said and done worse, manage to get elected president in this country. 

I'll move on: 

Fatman is a bizarre, but somehow enjoyable Christmas movie where the strangest things happen.  Mel Gibson plays Santa Claus (Chris Cringle, here) and business is bad.  Kids around the world are being assholes, and he's dropping more coal than gifts.  He feels his affect on children around the world is lagging.  That he's failed.

We have a young, rich shithead who literally employs hitmen to do dirty work when he feels wronged.  In this case, the hitman is a wonderful Walton Goggins (Justified, The Unicorn) who also has a history with Santa, so when called into action by this uber-brat for getting coal on Christmas, he's more than eager to take the gig.  Goggins has a serious problem with OCD, as well as letting things go.  The only thing he seems to care about is his hamster.  His sociopathy is almost as bad as the brat who employs him.

As I said earlier, Santa's business is in trouble, so he and the elves take a contract. From the government.  That's right. In order to save Christmas, The Workshop temporarily becomes part of the military-industrial complex.  Now that's hilarious in theory, and in the current modern global zeitgeist, it's fitting.

But yet, the scene where Gibson has to tell the elves of this necessary lowering of themselves is actually pretty powerful.  Mel Gibson plays this role with all the conviction he did Martin Riggs and Max Rockatansky.  Decorated actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Jack Ryan) plays his wife, Ruth, and together they actually have some pretty damn strong chemistry.  Ruth is wise, and proves herself the anchor Mrs. Cringle should be. 

The Workshop is adorable, yet rugged enough to fit the film's overall tone.  The elves are mechanical geniuses, dedicated, and in admirable servitude to Christmas and Giving, symbolized by Gibson's Cringle. Santa's impressive lived-in powers come from his generosity.

The film is part comedy, part action, yet neither.  It is such an odd construction that my laughter was mixed with cocked eyebrows quite frequently.  But in a good way. 

I highly recommend Fatman.  Disregard many of the critics, because despite the adult R-rated humor and graphic violence, its heart is in the right place.