Film Review - "Fatman"

My reviews for Soul and Wonder Woman - 1984 were on deck but we need to talk about this film.

Fatman

Directed by Esholm Nelms & Ian Nelms

Starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste

I think it's difficult to make new holiday films. Or at least new, original, holiday films. But by God...did the Nelms Brothers try, and you know what? Damn the Rotten Tomatoes critics Fatman is some kind of cinematic achievement and the surprise of the holiday season.

Chris Cringle (Gibson. Of all people) aka Santa Claus is pretty down on his luck. There are less good children in the world so his gift-giving business is declining. His wife Ruth (Baptiste) tries to keep his spirit up as best she can. The US government, who has a pretty significant share in his business, suggest a contract where he and his elves build components for a new jet-fighter. Chris reluctantly agrees because they could use the funding.

Meanwhile, a little brat (an understatement) named Billy Wenan (Chance Hurstfield) seeks revenge against Chris after getting coal for Christmas. So he hires his personal hitman (Goggins), who has his own vendetta against Santa, to take him out.

Okay first off...this concept and script is incredible. A kid hiring a hitman for revenge against Santa. It's brilliant. It's unique. I love it. You would think this film is absolutely bonkers, and it is, but also it isn't. It takes a more subtle approach and grounds the story in realism. It's kind of the perfect Santa story for 2020. He's bitter, older, and depressed with the state of the world. He has less influence than he used to. Kids, people, are meaner to one another. People (that aren't Tim Allen) are actually trying to kill him! Its like Logan but instead of Wolverine it's Chris Cringle. 

I also like how the film addresses the idea of where Santa gets the money to fund his business. I don't think any film or series has ever tried to answer that. Chris has got a line about how Christmas is the biggest economic stimulus in the world and that's pretty clever. This is kind of a nitpick, but I wish the film went more absurd with the concept. You don't see the classic red suit or the sleigh (He drives a red Ford pickup truck), and there isn't like this...big shootout in the sleigh mid-flight, as like...the reindeer dodge missiles. But I appreciate the filmmakers wanted to ground the story (The budget probably played a big factor in that, too) and I can respect that.

So Mel Gibson...we're just going to put all that controversy in a little box to the side for a second. I thought he was a really good Santa. At least this version of Santa. A grizzled, disgraced Santa who's been kicked down by life way too much. He fits, and he puts genuine effort into his performance. His deadpan delivery of the line "You think I got this job because I'm fat and jolly?" sleighed me (Sorry), and there's this really nice moment where he does see that his work still makes a difference, which was a smaller highlight of the film.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste does a great job alongside against Gibson and brings a lot of pathos to this grim, fictional world. Walton Goggins...is peak Walton Goggins. I'm convinced no one else could play this part. I only wish there was more of him in this. That's from a performance perspective and a story perspective, because we learn a little about his backstory, but not enough in my opinion. Chance Hurstfield is perfectly casted as Billy. He fits the mold of this nasty, over-achiever who will do anything to get his way, so well. He will probably be type-casted for the rest of his young career. It's ok, man. Own it. You were in a Mel Gibson-Santa Claus film.

So the story's not super tight but it's an amazing concept that honestly hits right where it needs to. The performances are on-point. There are a lot of jaw-dropping, hilarious moments. I would love to see what this film would've been like with a higher budget but it is what it is. Again, Fatman is kind of the perfect Christmas film for 2020. It's beautifully absurd. In a year where we didn't get a lot of new films, I don't think anyone should turn their nose up at this. It's really something. 

If you're still in the holiday spirit after New Years, give it a watch. If not I'll just remind you about it next year.