Jack Black Is a Jolly Ol’ Satan in the First Trailer for Holiday Comedy Dear Santa

Paramount+ has dropped the first trailer for the new Christmas comedy Dear Santa starring Jack Black. This is the first film Bobby and Peter Farrelly have collaborated on in a decade, which has some wondering whether it will be a successful return for the Dumb & Dumber creators. Based on the trailer, we’re pretty optimistic about this highly anticipated reunion.

The premise of Dear Santa follows a young man, Liam Turner, played by Robert Timothy Smith, who still believes in Santa. In order to prove all of his disbelieving friends wrong, Liam writes a letter to jolly Saint Nick himself, pleading with the legend to reveal himself. However, due to a spelling error, the letter is accidentally addressed Satan, played by Jack Black. Flattered by the unexpected letter, Satan decides to meet Liam, inciting chaos, mischief, and hilarity.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, which debuted the first look at the upcoming film, Peter Farrelly shared that they first heard the idea for Dear Santa roughly 15 years ago but felt the script needed more work. Peter wrote the screenplay alongside Ricky Blitt (Loudermilk, Family Guy) calling him the “driving force” behind perfecting the final story. Once the story came together, Bobby Farrelly, the other half of the Hollywood duo, joined the project as director.

What to Expect from Dear Santa

Dear Santa is the Farrelly brothers’ first Christmas film. Bobby apparently wanted someone who could play Satan in a “diabolical, but in a fun way” and Jack Black was his first and only choice. Bobby told Entertainment Weekly,

“Jack is just that guy that with his arching eyebrows and his faces and all that, there’s a little bit of mischievous to him at all times, but he’s eminently likable, and that’s just Jack,”

Black is, of course, a Hollywood legend for his character performances. The synopsis of the film and character description feels reminiscent of Black’s performances in 2015’s Goosebumps as the spooky writer “R.L. Stine” and 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the final boss Bowser. Most recently, Black starred in Kung Fu Panda 4 and Borderlands.

Dear Santa has built a decent supporting cast, with Jaden Carson Baker and Kai Cech joining as the youngsters of the story. Brianne Howey and Hayes MacArthur play Liam’s parents, and finally, comedy power-house Keegan-Michael Key features as Liam’s therapist. Rapper Post Malone also makes a cameo in the film as himself.

Peter Farrelly calls the film 100% family friendly for all, except kids who still believe in Santa – spoiler alert. He also gushed about the film’s “fantastic message” and teased the twist ending. As for the humor, Dear Santa still features the Farrellys’ signature edgy comedy, but not too much. Peter continued saying,

“It’s funny as s—. It really is. It’s got funny, funny stuff. It’s a little edgier than a lot of Christmas movies, but it’s not
Bad Santa. I love Bad Santa. It’s classic, but that’s a different kind of movie. And this isn’t that. Honestly, that’d be like comparing Dumb and Dumber to There’s Something About Mary. This is the Dumb and Dumber version.”