Contrary to popular opinion, Dear Santa rests on Robert Timothy Smith’s shoulders (...) His awkwardness, innocence, and charm feel so organic and honest that it doesn’t look like he is putting on a performance.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 20, 2024

It appeals to neither kids or adults.

| Original Score: C+ | Dec 14, 2024

Dear Santa is schmaltzy, dumb, and does nothing to earn its PG-13 rating outside of mild profanity and a couple of poop jokes. Avoid.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Dec 10, 2024

It wasn't funny enough to overcome its very uncomfortable premise

| Dec 7, 2024

Jack Black does all he can with his character, working as a sort of Christmas-time genie with a lot of naughty energy, but the movie needs more than just that.

| Original Score: 3/10 | Dec 6, 2024

Dear Santa is an empty movie. The Farrelly brothers used to do crude humor way better than this.

| Dec 5, 2024

SEND IT TO HELL.

| Dec 5, 2024

The humor is so mean-spirited and tone-deaf that it feels like it’s aimed at adults who haven’t laughed since Matt Dillon made fun of Warren in There’s Something About Mary.

| Dec 2, 2024

All of the unbelievable aspects of "Dear Santa" would be forgivable if it was just funny or sweet. It's neither.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Dec 2, 2024

This is no trace of the humor or even the heart that brought the Farrellys to comedic consciousness. Jack Black is left to shoot blanks from a script that has no edge except in the most tragic of ways

| Original Score: 1/4 | Dec 1, 2024

Black’s manic energy generates some goofy laughs in this holiday comedy with a thin premise that’s otherwise short on seasonal cheer.

| Nov 29, 2024

A boy’s Christmas wish goes awry when he summons Satan instead of Santa, Jack Black shines, but forced humor and chaos hold Dear Santa back.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 29, 2024

Whether it’s the charming cast or the outlandish plot, Dear Santa is aware of what it’s going for and infuses plenty of heart alongside its humor. 

| Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 28, 2024

Although I'm not really sure who this weird little holiday movie is made for, the premise is funny, Jack Black is a hoot, and the irreverent jokes made me laugh. It’s actually not that bad, despite all things pointing to it being unwatchably awful.

| Nov 28, 2024

The fact of the matter is that most of the notable heart from previous Farrelly brothers' films is gone, replaced with a healthy dose of frat-ish humor that misfires more than most.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Nov 28, 2024

There’s just nothing all that inventive despite the broad rule-free canvas.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 26, 2024

Dear Santa takes its seemingly irresistible premise and never does better than toy with it.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Nov 26, 2024

It’s just another reminder that the Farrellys need to leave the 1990s behind.

| Original Score: D+ | Nov 26, 2024

If Christmas movies can’t be good, they can usually at least be pleasant distractions. Dear Santa is neither. It’s a regrettable film, one that wasn’t ever worth the wordplay that started it.

| Original Score: D | Nov 26, 2024

Jack Black's goofy charm steals the show in this lightweight Christmas comedy.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 26, 2024