Surviving Christmas (2004)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Mike Mitchell

Writers (WGA):

Deborah Kaplan (story) &
Harry Elfont (story) ...

Release Date:

22 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

This year, Christmas comes early. Really early. Like... October 22nd.

Plot:

A lonely, obnoxious young millionaire pays a family to spend Christmas with him.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Childhood Home | Suicidal | Suburbia | Christmas Tree

Awards:

3 nominations

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
John 'B.J.' Bryant	...	Cabbie
Peter Jason	...	Suit

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and a brief drug reference.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Brazil:10 | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Netherlands:MG6 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Jon Favreau was offered a chance to direct, but made Elf (2003) instead.

Goofs:

Factual errors: About halfway through the movie Ben and Christina are sick and they turn on the TV. The song (video) playing was "Cherry Pie" by Warrant. The captions say, "Poison: Cherry Pie"

Quotes:

[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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: 'Surviving Christmas': Unwrapping the Comedy (#11.20)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Not as bad as I heard

This movie isn't as bad as I heard. It was enjoyable, funny and I love that is revolves around the holiday season. It totally has me in the mood to Christmas shop and listen to holiday music. When this movie comes out on DVD it will take the place of Christmas Vacation in my collection. It will be a movie to watch every year after Thanksgiving to get me in the mood for the best time of the year. I heard that Ben's character was a bit crazy but I think it just adds to the movie and why be so serious all the time. Take it for what is it, a Christmas comedy with a love twist. I enjoyed it. No, it isn't Titanic and it won't make your heart pound with anticipation but it will bring on a laugh or two. So go laugh and have a good time:)