OMG, I can't even describe how bad this was. There's a gimmick involved in the film whereby Jason Bateman and Maya Rudolph aren't given a script, so they have to improvise their lines throughout. That would be fine, the idea is OK, but the execution here on everyone's part was simply terrible. The plot involves the murder of a department store Santa Claus (by a pointy candy cane no less!), and it's up to Murderville Mystery detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) to solve the crime before a passel of kids arrive to receive their Christmas presents the next morning. Jason Bateman isn't too bad, he's about the only one putting any thought or effort into his role. Maya Rudolph is pretty much clueless throughout, and while I'm not familiar with Pete Davidson, his presence solely involved laughing through every scene he was in to the point of annoyance. Come to think of it, Tawny Newsome as Mayor Palmer was pretty annoying too, it felt like she was reading her lines off a cue card someplace. For sports fans, you've got Marshawn Lynch in a quick cameo, but for the rest of it, it's a nonsense story that strikes the lowest common denominator in just about every scene. If you want to watch a bad Christmas movie, at least try "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and be slightly amused. I can't say the same here.
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery
(2022 TV Special)
"OK, don't be distracted by all this Christmas crap!"
17 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers