Surviving Christmas
This year, Christmas comes early. Really early.
A wealthy executive, Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has no close relationships and becomes nostalgic for his childhood home as Christmas approaches. When he visits the house and finds another family living there, he offers the residents, Tom Valco (James Gandolfini) and his wife, Christine (Catherine O'Hara), a large sum of money to pretend they are his parents. Soon Drew tests the couple's patience, and, when their daughter, Alicia (Christina Applegate), arrives, things get increasingly tense.
Production
Production
Trailers & Videos
Surviving Christmas - Trailer
Cast
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
Peter Jason
Suit
Phill Lewis
Levine the Lawyer
Hailey Noelle Johnson
Little Girl
Sean Marquette
Older Brother
Caitlin Fein
Freeman Twin
Amanda Fein
Freeman Twin
Kent Osborne
Marley
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Reviews
r96sk
The star cast elevate this a lot.
Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate and Catherine O'Hara are, honestly, the only reasons this was watchable, for me personally at least. If it was a film with a lesser known cast, I wouldn't have any positives for it.
For a festive flick, it's a little too mean-spirited. Of course that's the way these films usually go so the eventual pay-off can occur, though with this it's a bit too the other way and the aforementioned pay-off isn't all that pleasant. You gotta make the characters way more likeable if you're only gonna redeem them a tiny bit.
'Surviving Christmas' is at least only a relatively short film at around 90 minutes and there are a couple (if not enough) amusing moments. There's also a surprisingly topical commentary on unintentionally consenting your likeness away via photos - I'm looking at you, latest Instagram trend.
You've reached the end.