Despite the fact that children wrap around this production like Christmas tree lights, make no mistake, this is NOT a children's film. In fact, though necessary, some folks may have ethical problems with kids even being part of such a raunchy, crude, sometimes sexual work. That said, this movie can at times be very funny, and even (in as much as it wants to) a little moving.

The opening ten to twenty minutes are pretty bad, some times plainly awful. After the shock value of a swearing, uncaring, drunken Santa wears off (which is quickly), the film shows hardly any creative effort toward finding something funny in spite of the tremendous opportunity available when kid after kid hops on the lap of bad Santa.

From terrible, the film has a lot of room to grow and thankfully, it does. In ever increasing increments, the picture eventually rounds out nicely without going over the top. In fact, the whole film dons a bright clipping spring at the end of the second act.

It's a good story: down and out, drunkard fake Santa has but one life survival skill -- he can pick safes. He pairs with a fake-elf midget to acquire access to a new mall each Christmas and rob the place blind as they depart. It's seasonal work, but the take isn't so bad.

Billy Bob plays Bad Santa, a guy who doesn't even care about himself, let alone anyone else -- he eventually learns a small Christmas lesson.

For as much as Billy Bob as Bad Santa sometimes struggles for the comedic edge especially earlier on -- Bernie Mac (always funny) and John Ritter tear it up in smaller roles. Though Ritter's TV comedy seldom amused me, here he and Mac are very very funny together.

I suppose you could look at it as a modernized telling of the Scrooge classic -- but be ready for a crapload of bad language, crude references, and a few cheap sexual scenes.

Sometimes plain unfunny, lazy writing/improvising. Sometimes, very sharply scripted, shot and paced, accented with a subtle warm fuzzy mission. Overall, the picture eventually weaseled its way into my favor.