Based on the ads, I went into this thinking I had the story figured out. But I was wrong, and enjoyed the movie a lot more because of it.

Halle Berry? There’s nothing bad anyone can say about her except that her ex husband is a moron for being Mr. Ex- Halle Berry. She’s a great actress. Her performance really makes me wish her agent got her more challenging parts, because she is capable of a lot more than being Storm in X-men.

She comes across as believable psychiatric professional who is concerned about her patients. The best adjective I can think of for her in this film is empathetic. That’s why she is so believable, she can empathize with her characters, and her co stars, like Penelope Cruz, and it comes across on the screen.

Penelope had a great handle on the creepy secret lurking in the psych ward.

The dialogue was good, there were hearty doses of memorable lines, and the premise and story was sound. A few moments could have been milked for additional suspense, but it was a very good outing for everyone involved.

I liked Gothika. It’s worth a DVD purchase if you didn’t catch it in the theaters.

In an era where even the toughest of guys are sensitive, Bad Santa shines like a beacon above the din of political correctness and cultural literacy. The material is so wrong, so far afoul of everything good and pure that it’s funny. Very funny.

Billy Bob Thornton has found his niche as a foul mouthed, alcoholic, down and out sleazy Santa Claus. Yes, this Santa is bad to the bone, and we love him for it.

Ah, but there is more to like about Bad Santa besides Billy Bob. For instance, his sidekick Marcus, played by Tony Cox, succeeds so well as the comic foil for Santa, that he often one ups his partner. Brilliant! Miramax should market a Marcus doll next year. Just push his button and he barks a random and vicious insult loud enough for the entire store to hear.

The relationship between the Santa and “The Kid” is dysfunctional, yet oddly appropriate. We never learn “The Kid”‘s character name. Lauren Graham does an excellent job as the love interest coming across as both sexy and sensible.

On a sadder note, this was the last movie the great talent John Ritter completed. That’s the only down point about Bad Santa, because seeing his goofy face on the screen, reminded me that he’s gone now. As for his performance, it was up to the classic John Ritter standards. He joked. We saw. We laughed. We miss you John.

Bad Santa is absolutely, positively not for children, so please, leave them at home with a responsible baby sitter and age appropriate DVD or video.