Mention Christmas movies, everyone will think of the 1939 'It's a Wonderful Life' or perhaps 'Home Alone' or even Nakatomi Plaza, John McClane and the' Die Hard' franchise. I bet nobody would want to remember 'Bad Santa'. Most, if not all, Christmas movies try to spread the message of love and the joy of giving in general. In their own way, they try to convey that good prevails over evil, and the Grace of God will help overcome any adversities. Even the antithesis of Christmas - Charles Dickens' Uncle Scrooge in 'Christmas Carol' came around to finally see the spirit of the Yuletide. No, not in Billy Bob Thornton's depiction of Santa Claus.
Come to think of it, nobody likes to dresses in a fat man's suit to listen to children demands (yes, not request) for Christmas presents. These days, children are too smart to believe that there is an old saint up there in the North Pole who works all through the year with his elves making gifts for them as per request. And he has a list of who had been naughty or nice. To top it all, he can deliver all his presents in a single night on a one-man open sleigh squeezing through a chimney for a cookie and milk. DHL would be out of a job.
I remember an episode on 'Family Guy' (S9E3 -The Road to the North Pole) where Stewie and Brian go to the North Pole to discover an ailing Santa Claus because of exhaustion, wilting to the pressures of a highly materialistic world and a 'sweatshop' like working conditions of the elves in keeping with the demands of an exploding population number. It is not a gratifying to be a provider as they soon discover when they took over the ailing Santa's job. People are suspicious of anything free, and the idea of their child sitting on a hirsute old man with a lousy dressing sense does not excite any average parents. Whatsmore, in the pandemic times, coming in contact with someone who has been wandering around.
Come to think of it, nobody likes to dresses in a fat man's suit to listen to children demands (yes, not request) for Christmas presents. These days, children are too smart to believe that there is an old saint up there in the North Pole who works all through the year with his elves making gifts for them as per request. And he has a list of who had been naughty or nice. To top it all, he can deliver all his presents in a single night on a one-man open sleigh squeezing through a chimney for a cookie and milk. DHL would be out of a job.I remember an episode on 'Family Guy' (S9E3 -The Road to the North Pole) where Stewie and Brian go to the North Pole to discover an ailing Santa Claus because of exhaustion, wilting to the pressures of a highly materialistic world and a 'sweatshop' like working conditions of the elves in keeping with the demands of an exploding population number. It is not a gratifying to be a provider as they soon discover when they took over the ailing Santa's job. People are suspicious of anything free, and the idea of their child sitting on a hirsute old man with a lousy dressing sense does not excite any average parents. Whatsmore, in the pandemic times, coming in contact with someone who has been wandering around.
Dan Cowley @riflerangeboyII just sent me a song in the spirit of the occasion. Ariana Grande's 2014 hit song asks Santa to tell her whether her new beau is for real or he will be one of her love interests who would disappear into the dark of the night. Maybe, it is just me, but I think this song would only excite a paedophile. The backup singers/dancers, even Grande herself, are way too young to be having many previous romantic trysts! The dancers look mere tweens for Christ sake.
Anyway, in the spirit of eternal hopefulness of better times ahead, Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021.
