Gibson satire a mix of naughty and nice
Controversial actor brings conviction to hefty role in uneven but clever ‘ Fatman’
Hate Mel Gibson all you want for his vile outbursts, but if you have a liking for sick, “Bad Santa” style Christmas movie satires, you still might want to give “Fatman” a try.
Gibson, his face a relief map of alcohol wrinkles partially obscured by a dirty white beard, really could not be better cast as the film’s Chris Cringle. He’s Santa imagined as a fedup Alaska businessman whose governmentsubsidized toymaking operation has fallen on hard times because, well, kids these days. Too many of them are naughty, so he’s dutybound to bring them coal, and Washington only pays by volume of good gifts.
“This is Christmas, we’re not handing out participation trophies,” Cringle grouses with the outrage of a guy who keeps lists. Only a man with total conviction and no shame could sell a line like that. Mel’s our guy.
That’s just one of Santa’s troubles, though. The U. S. military is willing to cover the funding shortfall if the elves will spend a couple of months making fighter jet control panels, which doesn’t sit particularly well with the Christmas spirit. Oh, and ruthless rich brat Billy Wenan ( Chance Hurstfield) has put out a hit on the Fatman for unappreciated coal delivery.
The assassin Billy hires is Jonathan Miller, a. k. a. Skinny Man, who has has worked for him before ( he terrorized a tween girl who beat Billy at the school science fair). Miller also has a grudge against Cringle; his hobby is collecting other people’s Christmas presents from Santa, since all he ever got during his abused childhood was a Matchbox police car. Right as Gibson is for his role, Walton Goggins is even more committed to playing Miller, with all the insinuating sociopathy the “Justified” villain can command. If this wasn’t a comedy, he’d be the scariest bad guy of the season.
But hey, “Fatman” is also a Christmas movie, so there’s some warmth. It’s mainly in the form of Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s Ruth Cringle, Santa’s supportive wife who’s always there with the freshbaked cookies Chris is addicted to — when he’s not pounding back whiskey and Alka-Seltzer shots. Yes, she knows how to use firearms, too. And Mr. and Mrs. Claus have a sex life, in case you’ve ever wondered.
In the humor department, “Fatman” is a scattershot but often clever affair thanks to the film’s director brothers, Ian and Eshom Nelms. Their last feature, the eccentric desert noir “Small Town Crime,” worked positive human connections into a dark, violent framework, so that seems to be a theme dear to the Tulare Countyraised siblings.
It’s hard to say, however, how much the film’s political viewpoint reflects
its star’s regressive stances. While we constantly hear about how the younger generation has gone off the rails, the only real example of it is YoungRepublicanin themaking Billy ( who may remind folks of a mini Donald Trump) and some kid who used Santa’s sleigh for deer gun target practice on Christmas Eve. The military element is portrayed as both threatening and a partnership with some good people. And the film’s critiques of statesupported capitalism, consumerism and commercialization of the season are all over the place — though it makes for some of the funniest lines.
“We want your holiday spirit,” a straightfaced fed assures Cringle. “It generates holiday spending!”
“I’ve lost my influence,” Cringle later bemoans. “I should have charged them royalties for my image.”
The project’s ( probably toxic) nostalgia isn’t limited to ownership of the socalled Christmas spirit. Fans of 1980s action movie mayhem, and spaghetti Westerns too, will find lots of nice presents in the third act of “Fatman.” A bloodied Mel Gibson in a cruddy tan parka may be something haters want to see as well. He’s the picture of Scary Santa by the end and, frankly, what could be more apt for Christmas 2020?