Christmas Rush (2002) (TV)

Director:

Charles Robert Carner

Writer (WGA):

Charles Robert Carner (written by)

Release Date:

1 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

The Christmas rush has just begun.

Plot:

In the season of giving, the department took his badge. Criminals took his wife. Now, one cop is taking matters into his own hands |

Plot Keywords:

Die Hard Scenario | Christmas

Cast

Dean Cain	...	Lt. Cornelius Morgan
Erika Eleniak	...	Catherine 'Cat' Morgan
Roman Podhora	...	Rich Rajinsky
Richard Yearwood	...	Kid Blast
Bernard Browne	...	Wayne
Santino Buda	...	Simulus
Aleks Paunovic	...	Petrovich
Angelo Tsarouchas	...	Joyner
Eric Roberts	...	Jimmy Scalzetti
Jack Wallace	...	Santa
Larry Mannell	...	Eric Norman
Chris Benson	...	Al Quigley
Rothaford Gray	...	Rashid Buckley
Sarah Deakins	...	Aurora's Mom
Jessica Smith	...	Aurora

Also Known As:

Breakaway (USA) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:PG | Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Sony Pictures Television

Quotes:

Aurora: [after Aurora and Santa are held at gunpoint] Santa, help!
Santa: [opening his flask for a drink] Santa don't get paid to play gladiator.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Jurassic Park (1993)

Definitely worth a look

I have to say that I enjoyed this movie, mainly because I like Eric Roberts.

Once again Eric transcends the material he is given. His sister may be more famous, but Eric is definitely more talented. I keep waiting for him to land the role that will showcase his talent to a mass audience. If you want to see him at his best, watch "Star 80."

It was refreshing to see Erika Eleniak play a Christian who didn't apologize for nor tiptoe around her faith. Neither was she an in-your-face fanatic. She was much like most Christians - faithful and trusting. The movie gets high marks from me for this alone. After decades of seeing caricatures of Christians in movies, it's nice to see a regular person who just happens to be a believer.

I have to agree that the bit with the go karts in the sewer was hokey, especially since they seemed to move about 10mph. Why Dean Cain chose to chase in the 3rd go kart rather than just run them down on foot is beyond me. This has to be the slowest chase scene since "The Jerk" when Steve Martin tried to escape from M. Emmett Walsh in a car with no wheels. If the ending hadn't been what it was, the go kart scene might have been too much, but "Christmas Rush" redeemed itself in the climax where Roberts' character was forced to make a tough decision. Roberts brings a human side to his character that seals the movie very well.

No, it's not a classic and, yes, it is "Die Hard in a mall" (just like "Air Force One" is "Die Hard on a plane"), but for a quick seasonal action film to watch on basic cable on a weeknight, you could do worse. I mean, you could be paying seven bucks to go see Rob Schneider in "The Hot Chick." That ought put it heavily into perspective.