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Surviving Christmas (2004)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
22 October 2004 (USA) moreTagline:
This year, Christmas comes early. Really early. Like... October 22nd. morePlot:
A lonely, obnoxious young millionaire pays a family to spend Christmas with him. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
3 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(29 articles)
Shrek Forever After Movie Poster (From toxicshock. 29 June 2009, 12:00 AM, PDT)
Dreamworks Animation: 2009-2012 Lineup
(From Screen Rant. 28 May 2009, 2:22 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Subvert that genre! moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Ben Affleck | ... | Drew Latham | |
| James Gandolfini | ... | Tom Valco | |
| Christina Applegate | ... | Alicia Valco | |
| Catherine O'Hara | ... | Christine Valco | |
| Josh Zuckerman | ... | Brian Valco | |
| Bill Macy | ... | Doo-Dah | |
| Jennifer Morrison | ... | Missy Vanglider | |
| Udo Kier | ... | Heinrich | |
| David Selby | ... | Horace Vanglider | |
| Stephanie Faracy | ... | Letitia Vanglider | |
| Stephen Root | ... | Dr. Freeman | |
| Sy Richardson | ... | Doo-Dah Understudy | |
| Tangie Ambrose | ... | Kathryn | |
| John 'B.J.' Bryant | ... | Cabbie | |
| Peter Jason | ... | Suit |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and a brief drug reference.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
91 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Brazil:10 | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Netherlands:MG6 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:PG-13Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Filming did not take place in Arlington Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) because the weather was too cold. moreGoofs:
Continuity: On Christmas eve Alicia's hair changes frequently from wavy to curly as the night progresses. It seems to get curlier as it gets later. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Drew Latham: Folks, my firm's done a tremendous amount of marketing research and we've discovered two critical things, one; most Americans feel that Christmas is a time for family. Two; most Americans feel that in order to stand being around their family, for even one or two days, they need to swill as much alcohol as humanly possible.
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Soundtrack:
Christmas Wrapping moreFAQ
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Surviving Christmas
A ridiculous and perverse premise has somehow made its way onto cinema screens this Christmas. Just like Christmas With The Kranks and The Polar Express, Surviving Christmas winds towards a festive moral that aims to fill the audience with yuletide cheer. The execution of said moral in this particular seasonal release is highly questionnaire but unmistakably funny.
Surviving Christmas has been slammed by the critics remorselessly. Nobody seems to have liked this twisted retelling of the story of Scrooge, and I believe I have found the answer: nobody likes Ben Affleck.
Affleck plays a rich ad executive who pays a dysfunctional family to take him in and make Christmas just how it was when he was a child. This seriously strange idea could, in the right hands, been a gross out smash hit in the Farrely brothers style. Instead, Mike Mitchell decides to take the whole thing a little too seriously and what results is a comedy that is uncomfortable with itself. As a result the actors are left unsure whether to play their characters straight or exaggerated. This can be all be blamed on the script, or lack thereof. Filming took place without a finished draft, and thus, parts of the film were improvised and unfunny material remains in the final cut.
Nevertheless, there are many positive attributes to this genre subverting film. James Gandolfini is very entertaining as the constantly resentful Tom Valco whose only vice, in true Christmas spirit, is money.
Ben Affleck style in comedic roles is disliked by many, but his specific brand of humour is allowed to thrive in this unnatural plot and situation driven comedy. The character of the son (Josh Zuckerman) is underdeveloped, as is the family's relationship with its neighbours, but again the unfinished script can be held accountable.
Surviving Christmas is by no means a great film, but it is certainly not as bad as it has been labelled. Unfortunately, most won't get a chance to decide for themselves until this film is released on DVD as it was grossly under marketed in the UK. An offbeat comedy and a genuine step forward for the Scrooge remakes that when given the chance to shine in its own right, works quite well.