Watch out, John McClane. Christmas has a new action hero, and his name is Santa Claus.
To say Violent Night is a Die Hard rip-off isn't unfair. The script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller is unapologetic in referencing the classic holiday action film, as well as its sequel, while delivering a gleefully gruesome homage to Home Alone. And the film even includes a nod or two (possibly unintentional) to Silent Night, Deadly Night. Yes, Santa says "Naughty," and you're going to smile through the entire film. It might not be original, but it's a holly, gory good time.
The film opens on Christmas Eve in England, with Santa (David Harbour) taking a break from his holiday rounds to have a few pints at a bar. Yes, this is the real Santa, lamenting to a mall Santa how kids have lost the holiday spirit before leaving on his sleigh while puking on the bartender and relieving himself later while flying over another city.
Yep, this isn't the Miracle on 34th Street Saint Nick.
So, who's gonna pull over Santa?
The film moves to Massachusetts, as Jason Lightstone (Alex Hasselll) is picked up by his estranged wife Linda (Alexis Louder) and their daughter Trudy (Leah Brady), to spend Christmas at the mansion of his wealthy mother Gertrude (Beverly D'Angelo). Upon discovering Jason didn't take Trudy to see Santa at a mall, he tries to make amends by giving his daughter a walkie talkie so she can have a direct line to Santa.
Meanwhile, Santa has passed out in one of the mansion's rooms after eating some of Trudy's cookies, partaking in some fine whiskey and sitting in a massage chair. He's awaken as a group of mercenaries lead by "Mr. Scrooge" (John Leguizamo) show up to break into Gertrude's vault to steal $300 million dollars in cash that was to be funneled to the Middle East, but she kept for herself. When gunfire erupts, Santa's sleigh takes off, leaving him stranded and having take out one of the baddies with an electric Christmas tree topper.
Santa finds Trudy's channel on the villain's walkie talkie and decides he has to save her. And glorious, gleeful holiday mayhem ensues.
Look, the script hasn't much of an original thought in its running time, except for Santa's origin. And the ending is basically out of the stage version of Peter Pan. But damn it, the film works. It's not trying to hide the shameless ripoff it is, and director Tommy Wirkola keeps the pace up so you won't care. The action is perfect, brutal and bloody, but with enough humor that you'll be laughing as Santa plows through the villains. I really loved when Santa used ice skates as boxing gloves. Yeah, it's as violent as you'd expect, and I figure readers of this blog will be grinning like me as Santa smacks down a bunch of bad guys with his makeshift gloves, and other lethal winter tools.
The cast is great, playing the absurd concept straight, even as they begin to accept the idea that Santa is real. Sure, some of the slimy characters make it through the mayhem, but they do redeem themselves in a way. And Harbour is perfect as a worn out Santa, while Leguizamo holds his own as the villain.
It's nice to watch actors not chew up the scenery, yet have fun with the campiness of a film.
While it might not have an original idea in its head, other than casting Santa as McClane, Violent Night is a great antidote to the saccharin sweet holiday fair flooding cinemas and streaming sites at this time of the year. If you're looking for some awesome Christmas mayhem, without putting Die Hard in the DVD player, check out Violent Night. It might not be original, but that doesn't matter. It's the thought behind the present that counts, and this film is the perfect holiday treat.
Don't be naughty. Santa's got a sledgehammer, and he knows how to use it. Okay, that's original enough for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment