Willie is one of the 10 worst movie mentors

WHO IS HE? Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) is a safecracker who, with his elf-sized accomplice Marcus (Tony Cox, right) spends each December casing a different mall while working as a department-store Santa. Each Christmas Eve, Willie and Marcus get themselves locked inside and loot the mall. One year, Willie latches on to a pathetic, bullied, nerdy kid (Brett Kelly) whose luxurious suburban home and lack of parental supervision make a fine crash pad.

BAD INFLUENCE Besides being a thief, Willie is bitter, alcoholic, incontinent, foul-mouthed, promiscuous, and self-loathing. (Not unlike Thornton’s Buttermaker in the 2005 Bad News Bears.)

REDEEMING QUALITIES He does teach the hapless kid some self-defense moves — and a little self-respect.

EW MOVIE GRADE D (Read the review)