A simple spelling error leads to a deal with the devil
In short: When sixth-grader Liam Turner wrote his Christmas wishlist, a single dyslexic slip transformed a holiday tradition into a supernatural contract. Instead of requesting gifts from Santa, he accidentally summoned Satan, offering his soul in exchange for three wishes.
Released on November 25, 2024, on Paramount+ and digital platforms, Bobby Farrelly's dark fantasy comedy *Dear Santa* follows Liam Turner, a polite but insecure student struggling with a recent family move and the death of his brother, Spencer. The plot hinges on a linguistic mistake: Liam misspells 'Santa' as 'Satan' in his letter. This error brings a visitor to his room who, while appearing confused by his own mannerisms, agrees to grant Liam three wishes.
The film's supernatural mechanics involve a complex deception. The entity appearing to Liam is not actually the biblical Lucifer, but Asmodeus, a low-ranking half-demon failing his trial to become a full demon. Asmodeus uses the opportunity to play along with Liam's belief that he is Santa. As Liam uses his wishes—including one to fix his friend Gibby's teeth and another to keep his parents, Bill and Molly, together—the 'deal' for his soul becomes complicated by his unselfish actions.
Despite a $150 million budget and a high-profile cast including Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, and Post Malone, the film received generally negative critical reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 24% positive rating from 21 critics, with an average score of 3.9/10. Critics from RogerEbert.com and The Guardian described the film as unsatisfying or mediocre, though some noted Jack Black's energetic performance as a saving grace. The production, filmed in Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia, faced delays due to the 2023 actors' strike.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Dear Santa (2024 film)
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