Fatman

An eccentric version of one of the most familiar legend. Great job of Mel Gibson, giving all the bitterness of tired old age to his character, dark humor in large slices, well crafted bad guys. A seductive film, with few very familiar parts , with nice moral and drops of Terminattor . And , sure, political correct.

Fatman was a watchable christmas story told in a little different way ,so if you are not fan of a sweet and cheesy Holiday films then this one may to be one for you.Gibson was fun to watch as a cranky tired of life Santa and he sold his character in a fun and good way.Goggins was also good as assassin and he was maybe only real character in a film except Gibson one.Story wasnt nothing brilliant but it had some fun moments in it that worked for me.Parts with kid who hired assassin were weaker parts but i can ignore that.Fatman was a solid Christmas based film in a different way

Every Santa Claus movie I have seen is a pretty faithful take from the traditional story, even Will Ferrell's "Elf." But this Mel Gibson movie breaks all the Santa rules, it is like nothing I have ever seen.

The key plot point is a 12-yr-old boy who is not very nice at all, and when he receives a box of coal for Christmas he steals one of his grandmother's checks and hires a hit man to find Santa and take him out. Yes, assassinate him.

Walton Goggins is a superb actor and he is really good as the hit man. First off it isn't very easy to find where Santa and his workshop are. Once there the carnage starts, but Kris Kringle is a tough old guy.

It is a jolt to your system to see this type of movie about Santa, after watching it I admire what the filmmakers did but overall I can't give it really high marks, just a bit too strange.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library.

After Kurt Russels more family friendly Santa outing, we get mel Gibson in a more mature Santa outing. Way more mature, though I reckon there are still some lines that are not entirely crossed ... or at least they seem smoothed over. And that is one thing that I really sort of dreaded in this movie. Because while it seems like a mean Santa (Bad Santa, Kill Santa) outing, there are things or lines the movie does not cross. Pulling punches if you want to call it that.

Having said all that, the actors do an amazing job. Walton Goggins for example is quite restraint. While I wasn't sure if that was the right way to go (over the top would have also been an apt or even better choice), his soft and calm demeanor might play more into some other viewers expectations. The jokes are dry, the pace is slow .. there is nothing fancy about this outing and ... re-imagening of the myth that surrounds Santa Clause. Not more apparent than in the commercial aspect and contracts Santa is obeying by ... While I imagined this to be way more fun, it still can entertain, if you let it

I can't believe this movie exists. It's high production, actors are good. Many may say the story is stupid and too straight forwards...but this is a movie, that could've been made in the 80's. People who grew up with movies which don't take themself too serious like "Commando" for example really miss such movies. And i'am not talking about cheaply made C-movies. In the 80's there was an audience for this kind of movies and that's why they were highly quality produced. It's about the fun. And i had fun watching this movie. It's just this kind of flick you tell your friends about "Hey have you seen this crazy movie where Mel Gibson as Santa Clause saves christmas with guns?" And of course they answer with no. And then you tell them: "Well, buckle up, kiddo. You're in for a good time, get the whiskey!".

Nothing more to add. We need more films like that,