Bad Santa 2

Having garnered a cult following since its 2003 release, Bad Santa gets a belated sequel here. Unfortunately the sly, salty "bah, humbug" appeal of the original gives way to an unmeasured onslaught of over-the-top (and below the belt) dirty jokes. In the title role, Billy Bob Thornton looks a little too glazed-over while Kathy Bates is drafted in as his no-good ex-con mother, simply to spout even more outrageous filth at him while she hatches a plan to rob a children's charity in Chicago. It means Thornton must suit up again alongside Tony Cox, who returns for duty as his naughty elf. Brett Kelly also reprises his role as "the kid" Thurman Merman, only now he is 21 and his obsession with Thornton feels more creepy than cute. The heist is merely a background feature in a sluggishly paced story from director Mark Waters (Mean Girls) and while Bates throws herself wholeheartedly into the part, her constant crude put-downs have a wearying effect. There are funny moments, but tellingly they involve Thornton squirming with kids on his knee or trying to shake Thurman off. The charm of the original was in seeing this misanthrope put under pressure by so much good will, but, like Thornton's ill-fitting beard, the balance has tipped too far the other way.