Mel Gibson Returns as...the Fatman himself?

[prinCZess]

I am tangentially aware of the foul-mouthed Aussie actor having something of a limited, grindhouse comeback as an actor--even heard good things about 'Dragged Across Concrete'. But now it seems he's gotten himself a starring role in a Christmas movie.
As SANTA CLAUSE.

That''s right. The arc of history has been completed. The action movie star is now doing his best Aww shucks Jimmy Stewart impression and winking at the camera as kind ol' Saint Nick in a family-friendly foray for the ages that--


Oh.
Oh dear.
That's...Oh dear.

To save his declining business, Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson), also known as Santa Claus, is forced into a partnership with the U.S. military. Making matters worse, Chris gets locked into a deadly battle of wits against a highly skilled assassin (Walton Goggins), hired by a precocious 12-year-old after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. ‘Tis the season for Fatman to get even, in the action-comedy that keeps on giving.

It's unbelievably stupid...It somehow reminds of, like, some kind of bizarro-world Home Alone type of thing...

But I am curious?
What of others? Is this more grist of stupid garbage I'm only intrigued by because of clever marketing and the fact theaters have been empty for nigh-on half a year?
WOULD Santa Clause even team-up with the US military? Or would he be some kind'a Canadian or Norwegian collaborator? During the Cold War, did he use his own equipment to overfly places as some kinda Christmastime Nonaligned Movement Man, or did he standardize to NATO or Warsaw Pact stuff?

These are the important questions!

 

[Tzeentchean Perspective]

A Santa Clause action movie? Sorry, but I had something different in mind:



Jokes aside, I'd watch this for free for laughs and under no other circumstances.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Oh my Gaaaaaaaawd, I'm literally in stitches! The trailer just had me laughing more and more like a fool the longer it went on. At first... I thought... oh it's some guy whose portraying Santa Claus that gets into some trouble with a local gang or whatever, that's certainly novel but not beyond the pale (snigger) considering Mel Gibsons previous films lately like Edge of Darkness, Blood Father and Get the Gringo.

Then the military shows up.... and the coal shows up and some kid hires a hitman and I'm like... wait a minute... is this.... Holy... he's actually Santa Claus? I don't believe.

But by the end of the trailer I did believe Mel Gibson was Santa Claus.

Wow... what a difference a trailer makes. It made me believe. I'm so full of joy I'm laughing and still have tears in my eyes. I Believe in Santa. And I will watch this movie.

Unless it costs like twenty bucks to Stream/Rent.... in which case I'll just wait indefinitely.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

I’m guessing Santa’s Elves make machineguns

 

[KilroywasNOTHere]

missed oppurtunity, they could have played "The night Santa went crazy." by weird Al

 

[Zachowon]

Gotta say, his movies recelty have been bloody and dark, and this one looks fun as hell...
Though they are using Old Army uniforms, so shouldtake place before 2015

 

[Arch Dornan]

Is Nicholas a gun runner or a contractor who does assassinations for the US military so you can say santa claus is gunning you down?

 

[Husky_Khan]

So has anyone actually seen this movie yet?

Is it worth renting/buying or acquiring through other... sailing ventures?

If it's pretty good I'd rather do the former because I'll support all sorts of quality Mel Gibson programming, especially after Hollywood hypocritically silenced him and his genius for a decade.

 

[Skallagrim]

So has anyone actually seen this movie yet?

Is it worth renting/buying or acquiring through other... sailing ventures?

If it's pretty good I'd rather do the former because I'll support all sorts of quality Mel Gibson programming, especially after Hollywood hypocritically silenced him and his genius for a decade.

I've seen it and I can recommend it. All the critics said it was terrible, so I figured it had to be doing something right. I was not disappointed. If you're expecting a masterpiece, your expectations are wrong. If you're expecting the kind of film that snooty critics sniff at because they just hate fun... well, then settle down and have some fun.

Gibson is great in this. It would be easy to go full gritty "badass Santa", or to veer straight into silliness. He manages to avoid both. He is earnest in the role, especially in the moments where it counts. He wins your sympathy, and the film hinges on that. (Which is why the critics hate it, I think -- sympathy for Mel Gibson is simply beyond them.)

 

[CarlManvers2019]

I've seen it and I can recommend it. All the critics said it was terrible, so I figured it had to be doing something right. I was not disappointed. If you're expecting a masterpiece, your expectations are wrong. If you're expecting the kind of film that snooty critics sniff at because they just hate fun... well, then settle down and have some fun.

Gibson is great in this. It would be easy to go full gritty "badass Santa", or to veer straight into silliness. He manages to avoid both. He is earnest in the role, especially in the moments where it counts. He wins your sympathy, and the film hinges on that. (Which is why the critics hate it, I think -- sympathy for Mel Gibson is simply beyond them.)

What kind of action does it have?

Because these days I’m sort of expecting a John Wick off everything

As in quick, improvised and efficient

 

[Skallagrim]

What kind of action does it have?

Because these days I’m sort of expecting a John Wick off everything

As in quick, improvised and efficient

That's not what you should expect. That's not even what the film is about. I really enjoyed that it wasn't that. I was vaguely expecting that -- and I've seen a lot of films like that, and most are boring rip-offs -- and this turned out to be something else.

Some other people were expecting crude comedy, and it's not that, either.

This film is hard to explain, at least without just describing it. It's a hokey set-up that then gets treated straight. It's actually a genuine Christmas film, with a genuine Christmas message, but without the overt plot elements that such film usually have, and instead dressed up in the trappings of an action film. It has the pacing of much older films, and it makes that work (in part because it doesn't overstay its welcome, at 100 minutes clean).

I really enjoyed it. I don't want to talk it up too much, either, because it's certainly not some grand masterpiece that leaves you floored. But it really worked, for me.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Well that's a pretty good sell.

I'll drop a tenner and actually buy the movie for ol Saint Mel without having seen it yet.

Plus... with this as a selling point, it was hard to resist.

With review scores like that, you know it's quality entertainment for the people.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Just an update.

The movie was great. Definitely worth a rental.

I am very pleased that I watched it and it fulfilled all of my expectations and did not disappointment. It's a very good, fun and well crafted movie. Very clever.

And yes, it is a legitimate Christmas movie and reinforces those lovely themes and values that Christmas time should extoll.

 

[Zachowon]

Just an update.

The movie was great. Definitely worth a rental.

I am very pleased that I watched it and it fulfilled all of my expectations and did not disappointment. It's a very good, fun and well crafted movie. Very clever.

And yes, it is a legitimate Christmas movie and reinforces those lovely themes and values that Christmas time should extoll.

So another action movie to add to my Christmas watch list along with Die Hard 1 and 2

 

[Husky_Khan]

So another action movie to add to my Christmas watch list along with Die Hard 1 and 2

Die Hard is nice and a perfect action movie for what it is with the Christmas setting but this film is very clever in a very different manner. Very whimsical and fun and it's not due to a large amount of action scenes (though there are more then enough to keep one occupied). But it's far from a pure action film.

Explaining it would be awkward and kinda spoilery though. You should go in fresh. And as action Christmas movies go.. this is by far more Christmasy then the Die Hard films were. So it makes up for the comparative lack of action with more Holiday spirit!

 

[Zachowon]

Die Hard is nice and a perfect action movie for what it is with the Christmas setting but this film is very clever in a very different manner. Very whimsical and fun and it's not due to a large amount of action scenes (though there are more then enough to keep one occupied). But it's far from a pure action film.

Explaining it would be awkward and kinda spoilery though. You should go in fresh. And as action Christmas movies go.. this is by far more Christmasy then the Die Hard films were. So it makes up for the comparative lack of action with more Holiday spirit!

So a perfect counter to the action heavy Die Hard films. Good to know

 

[Sir 1000]

So another action movie to add to my Christmas watch list along with Die Hard 1 and 2

Reddit is down the hall and to the left😄

 

[Zachowon]

Reddit is down the hall and to the left😄

I was watching them as Christmas movies before I knew of reddit thank you very much!

 

[f1onagher]

Why is a young Ben Shapiro trying to kill Santa Claus? I'm definitely checking this out, especially after the critics gave it such a positive review.

 

[commanderkai]

Simply put, Fatman was an excellent movie. For a silly premise, they play it quite seriously, and it's rather genius.