Amazon To Counterprogram Violent Night 2 With Schwarzenegger As Santa

This is kind of funny because Amazon dropping a movie two days before Violent Night 2 is clearly on purpose. They want people to watch this first then still go watch the other one in theater. Schwarzenegger playing Santa with PG rating sounds strange to me because I only know him from action movies where people get hurt a lot. But maybe that is the point, he can finally do something light for once. Alan Ritchson as a thief is good casting, he has that tough look. Awkwafina as an elf makes me curious how her humor fits into Christmas story. I don't know Adam Shankman movies that much but Hairspray was good so maybe he knows how to make fun family movies. I will probably watch this with my little cousins during the holidays, looks safe enough for kids.

Reply Like

I think people are underestimating how much a PG rating can still be entertaining. Not everything needs blood and violence to be good, sometimes a lighthearted chase movie with good jokes is exactly what families want for Christmas. Arnold has done kid friendly roles before like Jingle All The Way and that movie still has fans today after so many years. This could become the same kind of guilty pleasure classic. Alan Ritchson being the thief character is smart because he has action experience too from his other roles, so the physical comedy between him and Arnold could actually land well. I am more curious about Awkwafina honestly, her comedic timing in other films was great and if she gets good lines this could be the most quotable character in the whole movie, even more than the two leads.

Reply Like

I read the headline twice because I thought it was satire at first but no, this is really happening, Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Santa suit chasing down a bag thief with the mastermind behind Rock of Ages directing it. The part that gets me thinking is how the article mentions the irony of Harbour basically copying Schwarzenegger's old action hero persona for years and now they are indirectly competing for the same holiday throne. It is such a specific kind of nerdy observation that only people who watch a lot of action movies would notice and appreciate. I hope the writing leans into comedy more than trying to be a serious heist movie, because with this cast, comedy is clearly the stronger lane. Awkwafina alone could carry several scenes if given the chance, she has that natural charm.

Reply Like