OK, this "Bad Santa" is really bad! Maybe not in the traditional sense of the word, but still. . . .

The title character of this dark, politically incorrect and extremely R-rated comedy is a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking, unrepentant louse of a department store Kris Kringle (Billy Bob Thornton), who has complete disregard for others — especially children — and an even worse attitude.

Get the picture?

Obviously, "Bad Santa" is not for everyone. At times, it's not for anyone. But for those who can take the constant assault on their senses and sensibilities, this grimy, unsavory movie is also one of the funnier holiday comedies to come along.

Thornton stars as Willie T. Soke, a career criminal. Along with sidekick Marcus (Tony Cox), a black dwarf who's actually the brains of the operation, Willie robs department stores and malls that are dumb enough to employ the two of them.

Here, they have come to Phoenix, where Willie's drunken shenanigans are setting off all sorts of alarms with the new mall manager (played by the late John Ritter). Consequently, he sics his security manager (Bernie Mac) on them, hoping to find some reason to fire the gruesome twosome.

At the same time, the burned-out Willie actually seems to have come back to life. He's (sort of) seeing a woman named Sue (Lauren Graham), a bartender who finds herself drawn to him (sort of), and he's become a father figure (sort of) to Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly), a sad sack child.

Though the film's screenplay is credited to John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, it was allegedly heavily re-written by the Coen brothers ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?" "Intolerable Cruelty").

As for Thornton, he seems to be reveling in the role of such a low-down character. And he's well-matched with Graham. However, both are nearly upstaged by the supporting cast. In his final big-screen role, Ritter reminds you of his comic brilliance.

"Bad Santa" is rated R for frequent use of strong sexual profanity; extremely crude humor involving, and references to, sexual and other bodily functions; violence (fisticuffs, gunplay and slapstick), simulated sex and other sexual contact, and glimpses of nude artwork. Running time: 93 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com