I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas.

Director:

Arlene Sanford

Writers:

Tom Nursall (screenplay), Harris Goldberg (screenplay)

Stars:

Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Taylor Thomas	...	Jake
Jessica Biel	...	Allie
Adam LaVorgna	...	Eddie
Gary Cole	...	Jake's Dad
Eve Gordon	...	Carolyn
Lauren Maltby	...	Tracey
Andrew Lauer	...	Nolan
Sean O'Bryan	...	Max
Lesley Boone	...	Marjorie
Amzie Strickland	...	Tom Tom Girl Mary
Natalie Barish	...	Tom Tom Girl Darlene
Mark de la Cruz	...	Esteban (as Mark De La Cruz)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Tom Tom Girl Gloria
Jack Kenny	...	Gabby
Celia Kushner	...	Tom Tom Girl Mama

Storyline

A college student experiences difficulty in getting home for Christmas after being hazed by his friends. While struggling to get home in time for Christmas, he learns quite a bit about himself and the true meaning of the holiday.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | sabotage | embarrassing male nudity | male nudity | public nudity | 

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Taglines:

This yule, be cool.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and some rude humor

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eine wüste Bescherung

Filming Locations:

Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,898,293, 15 November 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$12,213,678, 17 January 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Mandeville Films, Kyra Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jessica Biel (Allie) and Adam LaVorgna (Eddie) both starred in 7th Heaven (1996), where their characters dated.

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Goofs

When Nolan is talking with Jake in the van while driving he is holding a tomato in one hand and a hamburger in the other, but when he hands them over to Jake (to catch Allie and Eddie) he only hands over the hamburger, and the tomato is nowhere to be seen.

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Quotes

Mayor Wilson: [catching Jake in the process of delivering the race money] Hey, when did Santa start using the mail box?
Jake Wilkinson: Oh, didn't you hear about the new work exchange program? The postman should be coming down your chimney a little later.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Meet Joe Black/I'll Be Home for Christmas/Dancing at Lughnasa/I Still Know What You Did Last Summer/Velvet Goldmine (1998)

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Soundtracks

I Won't Be Home For Christmas
Written by Scott Raynor, Mark Hoppus, Thomas DeLonge (as Tom De Longe)
Performed by Blink 182
Courtesy of Cargo/MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

A holiday movie worth watching on a cold, snowy day!!!

I'll Be Home for Christmas is a holiday movie worth watching on a cold, snowy day. Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays "Jake", a college student in California, who's bribed by his father to come home, in New York, for Christmas. Jessica Biel plays "Allie", who is Jake's love interest in the movie. Jake drives, hitchhikes, flies, and finally rides his way back home in a one horse open sliegh. Along his journey home, Jake learns the true meaning of Christmas. In my opinion, I'll Be Home for Christmas is the best Christmas movie that I've seen in a long time.