Not your grandma's Santa

After directing films like "Crumb" and "Ghost World," you get the idea that Terry Zwigoff has a soft spot for social outcasts and misfits. In "Bad Santa" he takes this affection to the infinite degree to create an aggressively funny and surprisingly touching movie that goes above and beyond the traditional comedy.\nBilly Bob Thornton and Tony Cox play a mall Santa and elf in order to annually rob shopping mall safes on Christmas Eve. When they get to Arizona for their latest gig, Thornton gets involved with a dedicated Santa fetishist (Lauren Graham) and a young boy (Brett Kelly) who seeks companionship in the boozing, womanizing Santa Claus.\nAt first it seems like the film's dedication to crass humor is just a gimmick, but it is in fact a powerful tool used to celebrate character-driven comedy. Thornton's whiskey-fueled performance is perfectly contrasted by his supporting cast, which creates not only funny situations, but also genuinely heartfelt ones as well, showcasing Zwigoff's gift for finding emotion in the most unlikely of places.\nExtras include added footage (hence, "Badder Santa"), deleted scenes, outtakes and a featurette. Any fan of daring comedies should check out "Bad Santa"