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We\u2019ve been waiting for a festive sequel for over a decade now, where we can gleefully revel in Billy Bob Thornton<\/span><\/a>\u2019s sozzled loser Santa telling kids harsh life truths once more. However, we don\u2019t get to enjoy every adult\u2019s favourite wicked St Nick this time for a number of reasons \u2013 and it\u2019s not actually Thornton\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n This time, Willie Soke (Thornton) is about to put himself out of his miserable existence when another opportunity arises to make a crooked buck, thanks to old sidekick Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox<\/span><\/a>). Willie is reluctant at first because his former \u2018diminutive\u2019 partner in crime tried to top him last time, but the loot is too great to miss out on.<\/p>\n The hapless pair decides to rob a charity, but there\u2019s only one hiccup; Willie will have to play Santa again. Also, Willie discovers it\u2019s all his jailbird mother Sunny\u2019s (Kathy Bates<\/span><\/a>) idea – who he has never liked much. Can he put their differences aside and don the red suit to get to the prize?<\/p>\n Robbing a charity at Xmas is a risky plotline to start with, especially trying to make it seem \u2018hilarious\u2019. However, as wrong as that sounds, the biggest single issue is everything done to excess in this. There is too much swearing, too much shouting and too much Bates. Indeed, Sunny is meant to be as appalling as her offspring, but she dominates proceedings, and when she locks horns with Marcus, it\u2019s a competition to be the meanest, ugliest character in the room, making Willie almost a saint. In fact, Willie is drowned out in the furore, so we don\u2019t really get to hear him spout his poison.<\/p>\n Also, the Thurman Merman \u2018man child\u2019 character – who is much older and dumber and still played by cuddly Brett Kelly<\/span><\/a> as in the 2003 film \u2013 just does not work this time around, short of squeezing a tear out of Willie. Thurman\u2019s wide-eyed innocence in the original flick brilliantly contrasted with Willie\u2019s nastiness. In this film, not only is he an afterthought, but an embarrassing attempt by the writers at rekindling the magic.<\/p>\n Christina Hendricks<\/span><\/a> as pushover glam charity owner Diane Hastings must be a good sport as she merely fulfills all her fans\u2019 Xmas wishes here by being a horny, busty conquest for Willie \u2013 and little else.<\/p>\n