Fatman

We all keep with nostalgia an indelible imprint of characters embodied by Mel Gibson that that of Max Rockatansky (saga Mad Max), Martin Riggs (saga Lethal Weapon) but also in several American blockbusters of the 90s and 2000s (Maverick (1994), Conspiracy Theory (1997), Payback (1999), The Patriot: The Path to Freedom (The Patriot) (2000), Signs (Signs (2002)). Unfortunately his personal problems and his regular presence in the American tabloids will have taken a toll on his career, bringing him into disrepute with the Hollywood studios and leading him to redirect his career towards smaller productions in the 2010's such as Kill the Gringo (2012), Expendables 3 (The expendables) (2014), Dragged Across Concrete (2018), The Professor and the Madman (2019), Force of nature (2020) and this Noel Fatman movie released this month in the United States. However, it must be acknowledged that this orientation has not only allowed him to find his place in the ever-changing Hollywood industry, but has also brought him interesting roles and shown that he remains an excellent actor.

Fatman allows Mel Gibson to make him play a version as original as badass of Kris Cringle better known as Santa Claus. This character is shown here as an aging character and therefore not only the strength but also the magic seems to have lost its splendor. Written and directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms (Squirrel tap (2004), Lost on Purpose (2013), Small town crime (2017)) Fatman revisits the mythology of Santa Claus by anchoring it in our reality and voluntarily erasing any aspect related to magic too often conveyed in films dealing with this theme.

Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson) lives with his wife Ruth (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) on a farm near the town of North Peak, Alaska. With his income declining due to too many naughty children, the U.S. government, which maintains a stake in Chris's business, sends Captain Jacobs to offer a two-month contract to produce components for a new jet fighter for the U.S. Army. On Christmas Eve, Billy Wenan (Chance Hursfield), a spoiled rich boy, receives a piece of coal from Chris Cringle for his selfish nature and, vowing revenge, he hires his personal hitman Jonathan Miller (Walton Goggins) to kill him. Will Chris Cringle succeed in saving his declining business and confront this hit man?

The construction of the film prefers to give greater importance to the psychology of the characters rather than being as the trailer would have made one think of an action film paying homage to those of the 80s and 90s. In the same way, the script deliberately leaves a doubt as to whether or not the main character is the real Santa Claus. These doubts will be erased once certain elements of the film have been revealed and we can only salute at this level the trailer for not revealing all the best ideas of this independent American production. It must also be acknowledged that Mel Gibson's presence brings a real aura to the film and his interpretation of Santa Claus proves to be very convincing. The staging also inspired by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms makes Fatman look like a modern western reminding us of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (1992). By showing us the decline of an iconic character and his place in today's society reinforces our adherence to this film.

We would have preferred that this film had given a greater part to the action scenes and was based on a faster pace as the original idea is excellent and could have given life to a spectacular, fun and memorable film. In the same way the ending would have deserved a better treatment and leaves us on our hunger revealing that this is a simple independent production carried by the excellent comedy that is Mel Gibson.

Fatman
Written and directed by Eshom Nelms, Ian Nelms
Produced by Todd Courtney, Nadine de Barros, Brandon James, Michelle Lang, Robert Menzies, Lisa Wolofsky
Starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Music by Mondo Boys
Cinematography : Johnny Derango
Edited by Traton Lee
Production company: Fortitude International, Mammoth Entertainment, Rough House Pictures~Sprockefeller Pictures
Distributed by Saban Films
Release date: November 13, 2020
Running time: 100 minutes

Viewed on November 21, 2020