A hitman sent to kill Santa, on paper this idea sounds like something that could be so good. Especially if you've seen the Christmas episodes of American Dad which is exactly what I was thinking of with this movie. Sadly up until the last 20 minutes nothing happens, it's all pretty boring and the finale is pretty rubbish. I had high hopes but was left feeling like this movie had missed everything that should of been great.
I actually really enjoyed this. It’s dark, full action and puts an interesting twist on the whole merriment. I wouldn’t suggest watching this movie if it’s the typical Christmas magic you’re craving, but it is most definitely worth a watch!
As the many professional reviews I read afterwards suggest, Fatman is a movie that doesn't live up to it's promise.
Fatman has a great premise about a gruffy slightly gritty Santa, a boy-child that feels wronged with his lump of coal and a Santa-obsessed hitman hired to kill him. I even think for the most part that tonally it mostly works. It's not overly gritty and it's not overly serious for most of it's runtime. It strikes that nice balance of casual surrealism.
The problem is that the movie knows what it wants to tell you and doesn't have any patience or subtlety in getting there. All the dramatic tension you expected from the trailer when you hear Mel Gibson's Santa yelling to the hitman about "You think you were the first to come for the Fatman?" the movie doesn't actually have much Fatman hunting. There's no series of hide and seek where we see that Santa is capable of defending himself. Even the tension the movie decides to try to generate of the Hitman even trying to FIND Santa in the first place isn't really tension. It's just a road trip without all the fun aspects of a road-trip movie. No interesting stops, No interesting road people. The movie just walks a straight lines from Point A to Point B. Nothing you see even really matters. Santa goes by Chris in this movie. In this small down he knows everybody and everybody knows him. There is however no payoff for this. He saves a woman from going home with a married man by casually reminding him of his wife and kids but while we see her again and she's clearly a friend there's no payoff. It's like a failure of the Chekhov's Gun trope.
There's a semi interesting plot line about Santa being underfunded and having to take a military contract to be able to pay his workers. In retrospect this entire plot line fails to have any narrative purpose other than world building Santa as a factory owner. In spite of their presence all over the final fight scenes these military security personnel plan next to no role in the violence. There's an even smaller plot line about Chris/Santa being grumpy because of his commercialized depictions compared to this underpaid status and while I like the characterization there it serves so little point to the plot that it feels kinda wasted.
Wasted is unfortunately the only way to describe this whole movie. I went into this hoping for a darkly humorous film with a bit of violence and while a lot of the scenes sans context imply that, this is no Ladykillers (either one).
Time for a xmas movie but not a typical one. A killer on the road for Santa. Gibson is as always shining with the acting. You may expect CGI or extreme scenes when you hear that it is a xmas movie, but there is none. I am glad there is none.
It is not the best movie ever but it is more than a timekiller. Enjoyable.
I enjoyed this movie.....oh is that wrong? was I not supposed to like this movie?
Black Mama Noel.
A fire truck for the girl.
A kitchen for the boy.
The obligatory guidelines must be fulfilled.
I was so disappointed with this movie. I thought it was going to be funny, and it wasn't. I thought the plot was fun and unique, but the story was boring. it worked much better as a trailer than a movie.
Well mel gibson pulls of a bad arse santa and suits the role, I loved the idea of the plot and it all played out well with some decent action that i’d of loved more of because I feel it was a little short and rushed but everything else was on santa’s good list.
The movies an 8 but Walton is a 10 as usual..so 10 it is...hope you haters enjoy your coal
When I saw Mel Gibson on the cast, I decided to give it try, but I'm fully regretted. It doesn't make any sense, the movie is boring and the story very poor. So disappointed. Seriously don't recommend.
Gibson and Goggins are spectacular as usual. If you like them you’ll like the flick. I liked it.... it’s not lethal weapon but it’s ok
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. not sorry. A new Christmas tradition
TRASH TRASH TRASH TRASH TRASH
I liked this, Great take on how SANTA must run the NORTH POLE in a new age, I love that they made the character so normal with a no B.S. attitude.
Anyone who doesn't like this movie probably grew up a spoiled little brat that got everything they wanted for Christmas.
I highly recommend this movie, I had a great time watching this.
Mel Gibson and Walton Goggins star in the horror-comedy Fatman. When a spoiled rich kid gets coal for Christmas, he hires a hitman to track down and kill Santa Claus; meanwhile, Santa is forced to take an Army contract to pay off his mounting debts. Both Gibson and Goggins give strong performances, but the writing is weak and feels kind of disjointed. Also, the tone doesn’t go dark enough to make a lot of violence work. Still, some of the satire is rather clever and delivers some good laughs. Yet while it has its moments, Fatman feels like two different movies that have been cut together.
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
Who am I talking about? No, not Santa, but the hitman who has been sent to kill him! A genius idea, and while I get the feeling it could have been better, it was still pretty enjoyable. A festive alternative to the rest of the schmalz that comes out at this time of year.
Loved it. Not sure how I missed this when it came out.
It's not that bad.
I would've tweaked it to have the little helpers get their protein by eating everyone that tried it on with Santa cos Skinny Man can't have been the first.
I like all these movies with bad Santa, saw the violent night and of course the first and best "Rare Exports". Here we have a more soft version of kill the santa, and more other approach. Gibson is good, he gets away from the default santa prototype and the whole premise of the XMAS. Just a silly alternative movie to see on the holidays.
Again , watch the "Rare Exports" if you like this genre.
One of the worst christmas movies to date. Absolutely atrocious. Boring story, boring acting, boring plot. Don't bother watching this.
Nowhere near as good as the premise would suggest :(
Hey. Unique Santa movie. I liked it...a lot. Solid 7/10. Action, suspence, Xmas. Not a Hallmark movie.
Given the premiss of Fatman, you'd expect it to be a comedy - and it does have some funny moments, to be sure - but it plays out as an action movie, more specifically, it's a western. This feels every bit like an epic John Wayne or Clint Eastwood western.
There is not too much to this film. It has a simple plot, and you're either on board or you're not. Billy - a boy who could be a young Donald Trump, but who looks like a young Ben Shapiro - hires a hitman to kill Santa. That's it, that's the story. The heavy lifting of the movie is done by the actors, and the tone. Our hitman, played by Walton Goggins, carries most of the runtime, along with Mel Gibson, of course.
I could see this working as a double feature with Die Hard, during Christmas time.
This really is a unique entry in the sub genre of Christmas movies that aren't fully Christmas movies... in the traditional sense.
Truly a surprisingly-good film that I will have to rewatch during December.
I regret wasting my time on this piece of crap.
I loved this movie. Definitely not your average 'Santa' movie...kind of like 'Die Hard' is not your average Christmas movie
Uneven movie.
Mel Gibson is a roller coaster. Good and bad. Separate the art from the artist, easier said than done.:smirk:
I actually enjoyed the storyline of this movie. I watched it without knowing what to expect and this was the result if you go in with a fresh mind the movie comes across as Good.
What’s less believable? Santa or Mel Gibson married to a black woman?
Wow that was bad just wow
What a terrible excuse for a movie not funny boring not much action. There are good actors here but the story was pretty stupid and ridiculous. Hollywood just can't get it together anymore.
Enjoyed the concept. Bitter child hires a hitman to take out Santa. Interesting spin on Santa coping in the modern world with a touch of cynicism. Did not though nail the landing and despite a medley of good ideas they did not really link together. Enjoyable anyway but unlikely to rewatch.
Just trash sad sad sad
Grizzled yet somehow comedic and light, Fatman is a solid Christmas action film rooted in faux-reality that's almost begging for a vigilante Santa sequel.
I took a shot at this - it was hard to know if it would be OK, terrible or great, based on the comments here. I didn't hate it, but I did enjoy it. No LOL moments, but it kept us engrossed in the story enough to watch it to the end. We've seen a LOT of crappier movies than this that were highly rated. Overall I would recommend it as long as you don't expect a lot from it. The shoot-out at the end would probably shock some people - especially kids, so be warned. Solid 7.5/10
Who the heck was looking for a gritty movie about a naughty rich kid hiring a hitman to take out Santa Claus? At one point in his career, Mel Gibson had a light touch to his films, with a glint in his eye, showing us he was in on the joke. This time....I guess I just don't get it. Not funny. Not fun period.
I enjoy the different spin they can put on a Christmas themed film. I really enjoyed the idea behind this one but felt terribly drawn out until it’s final act.
This was just a LOT of fun. This is NOT your typical Santa. Santa here is a foulmouthed, gun-toting, ornery, red-neck who is hard to kill.
Walton Goggins has a lot of fun playing the hitman and you can see it.
The whole thing is just so ridiculous, it's actually quite fun, funny, and enjoyable.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
Never going to be a Christmas Classic, Not nearly as bad as other comments!!!
While it is not the usual Christmas crap that comes on lifetime, it is a flawed movie relevant to our time. While I wanted Mr. Gibson to kick more ass, what we got was a slight variation on Santa: A disillusioned man who struggles to make ends meet. Mr. Goggins did well as a fucked up man-child, a result of a fucked up world. There's a lot of them on the news now! I found it fun; guilty as charged. Christmas is a time of hope and joy that is marred by commercialism and vanity. This is not a Christmas movie. It's a reflection of us.
Fatman is a fun twist on a Christmas movie. I found it exciting, tense and dark. I like how they translated Christmas myth into the story including references to Christmas carols and old Santa postcards and artworks. Each of the main characters are different with their own history, goals and quirks. I felt that the little elements came together to make a really interesting story. It would be a good comic series I think.
Personally I felt the ending was a bit disappointing, especially the fact that Santa is immortal - even though it was kind of obvious. I think the touching moments with Santa's wife really got me, I found them to be a great way to reconnect someone who has lost their spirit to the meaning behind their work (when she shows him letters and photos from kids he gave presents to and how that shaped their futures).
Anyway, may be my new actual favourite christmas movie.
There is lack of chemistry between the actors. Something to watch when you have nothing else to do.
Wasted my time, don’t waste yours!
I've seen many cheesy movies. This isn't great cheese like feta .. but, its still cheese. Probably goat cheese.
OMG this is my new favorite Christmas movie ever! more to real life. hopefully there's a sequel
Mel Gibson is bad ass. Older than when he appeared in South Park (I really liked him in South Park).
Good casting throughout, good acting, practical effects and sets. Pacing almost as if for kids, but...no, def not for kids!
I'm happy to get to watch something like this in 2020, as thin as it may be.
Shout by LucaBlockedParent2021-12-05T16:13:55Z
While not necessarily heavy as far as content goes, there is plenty of violence and cursing to go around, earning its R rating. It isn't the worst Christmas movie I've ever seen, and yet it's nowhere near "great", partially due to the lack of chemistry between the characters as well as the lack of self awareness the movie possesses - it plays its gimmick far too straight, saving what little combat there is for the last half an hour of the movie.
In essence, the idea is here, but the execution is worse than bad - it's uninteresting. Mel gives a great performance as "Chris" Kringle, but aside from that, this movie is a bust with no underlying theme or satisfying conclusion. It's, to put it bluntly, a waste of time.
Also, there's an off-screen Santa sex scene with him and his wife that I didn't want to think about.