A Very Sunny Christmas (9 Dec. 2010)

After years of being mistreated by Frank during the holiday season when he buys gifts for himself, Dennis and Dee decide to teach him a lesson by contacting his old business partner, Eugene... See full summary »

Directors:

Fred Savage, Matt Shakman

Writers:

Rob McElhenney (developer), Glenn Howerton (developer),

Stars:

Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Charlie Day	...	Charlie Kelly
Glenn Howerton	...	Dennis Reynolds
Rob McElhenney	...	Mac
Kaitlin Olson	...	Dee Reynolds
Danny DeVito	...	Frank Reynolds
David Huddleston	...	Eugene Hamilton
Gregory Scott Cummins	...	Luther
Sandy Martin	...	Mac's Mom
Lynne Marie Stewart	...	Charlie's Mom
Pablo Schreiber	...	Ricky Falcone
Ryan Michelle Bathe	...	Woman Office Worker
Mike Beaver	...	Man Office Worker
Derek Waters	...	Toy Store Clerk
Mark Povinelli	...	Tiny
Preston Bailey	...	Young Mac

Storyline

After years of being mistreated by Frank during the holiday season when he buys gifts for himself, Dennis and Dee decide to teach him a lesson by contacting his old business partner, Eugene, for help to make the mean-spirited and nihilist Frank see the Christmas spirit of giving, rather than taking. Meanwhile, Mac and Charlie reflect on their childhood Christmases, and realize that they were not as joyous and wonderful as they remembered from Mac remembering being taught how to break into peoples houses to steal their Christmas presents by his career-criminal parents, and Charlie who remembers his single, boozed-out, coked-up mother inviting a slew of "Santas"/clients over at her house.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | christmas spirit | christmas present | business partner | mace | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

43 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Frank is laying in the hospital bed the camera point of view changes a few times, during this Frank's foot is covered by a blanket and then uncovered after each pan.

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Quotes

Dennis Reynolds: How are we doing over here?
Dee Reynolds: Uh... Not well. This is ridiculous. People are definitely starting to notice.
Dennis Reynolds: Of course they're starting to notice. There's a grown man crammed inside of a couch for Christ's sake. They're going to notice. So let's just talk to somebody. Can you grab that guy?
Dee Reynolds: [to two office workers] Hey you two!
Dennis Reynolds: Heyyyyy! So how we doing at the Christmas party? We having a good time?
Woman Office Worker: Yes, great time.
Dee Reynolds: Great! So uh... Frank Reynolds?
[Makes thumbs down motion and blows raspberry]
Dennis Reynolds: Oh yeah...
[...]

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Connections

References Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Temptation Sensation (Main Title)"
Written by Heinz Kiessling
Performed by Heinz Kiessling

User Reviews

Christmas special: Typically twisted festive humour

It's Christmas in Paddy's and of not everything is silent. Charlie and Mac love their Christmas traditions of putting up decorations last minute and then spending the morning throwing rocks at passing trains. However, for Dennis and Dee Christmas has always been about Frank buying the presents they wanted but for himself – to somehow teach them a lesson about having to earn everything that you get. When this happens again the siblings set out to change Frank in a Christmas Carol-esquire way, while both Charlie and Mac head down memory lane and uncover things about their respective Christmases that never occurred to them before.

Although IMDb have this as the season finale of last year, I didn't realise it existed until this Christmas and it seemed like the right time to watch it as otherwise the TV is generally full of heart-warming festive cheer or movies that everyone has already seen twice before they roll up on terrestrial; at least with this show you never have to worry about it being sentimental since you have to have a heart to be sentimental and none of the characters here have any love in them beyond the large amount they feel for themselves. And so it is even at Christmas as we have Frank "Christmas Caroled" – a plan that involves the sight of a completely naked and sweaty Danny Devito crawling from a leather sofa in the middle of a Christmas party, while Mac works out that all his presents had been stolen from other families and Charlie tries to bury the memory that his mother worked as a prostitute in return for her johns dressing as Santa and bring her son presents – so, yeah, not a lot of festive cheer.

This special contains the same morally bankrupt humour that fans will know to expect and it easily fills the double episode running time. It is consistently hilarious in the dialogue, the performances and more imaginative bits like Frank's Christmas vision. The cast are a strong as ever and thrown themselves totally into it – as best demonstrated by the sight of DeVito's ass. Overall a very funny Christmas special where yet again the standard is set high. This should tide me over till I get the sixth season but it has also made me want it all the more. Great stuff.