NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

vchimpanzee A good way to describe Ben Affleck's performance ishow Doo-Dah's performance as Ebenezer Scrooge was described late in the movie. "He's not bad." "He's not that good, either." I may not be remembering that exactly, but it's close.It's also never explained why Drew has so much money. He doesn't seem to be very good at his job, which led me to believe maybe a relative owned the company and he got an inheritance. But his family situation, explained late, which I will not give away, does not make this very likely. I will only say wherever his money came from, he doesn't have anyplace to go.But nearly everyone else does a good job.Christina Applegate is the standout performer here, with Alicia always giving everyone attitude until she finally gets to the point where she can stand Drew. If the movie was being made today, Kaley Cuoco would be perfect in the role. That's how similar their styles are.James Gandolfini is so good as the overly protective but greedy father. No, he doesn't want this lower around ... oh, wait, you have money? Come on in, son. Tom doesn't continue his generous attitude without conditions, but more money could change his mind.I saw the name Jennifer Morrison and then forgot about her, but she's not a blonde here. She was so good for so many years as Emma Swan, the real-world daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming who was sent across a portal and eventually met her parents in the same real world. She's not that easy to like here, and while one expects her to be a minor character after what appears to be a breakup, she will be back. She's actually quite good (Emma too had an attitude) but greedy and shallow, and do we really want that for Drew?Last night I saw Bill Macy as Walter for the first time in years as Norman Lear was honored by the Kennedy Center. That was nice, and it's always good to see him. Doo-Dah is the nickname of Drew's "Grandpa" (the reason for the quotes I will not reveal), and despite what they said about him as Scrooge, he is pretty good here.And I will say this about "A Christmas Carol". Everyone in that does such a good job. I especially liked Ghost of Christmas Present. Too bad they have only a few lines.It's fun to watch Drew's scheme almost fall apart in several scenes, and to see his family struggle to keep his secret when it becomes necessary.The son in Drew's "family" spends lots of time on the computer and looks at porn--and one image is particularly inappropriate but it's better if you learn why by watching--so this is one of several reasons most kids shouldn't see this. Yes, it's silly, and it's formula, and it's not quite family-friendly, but it's fun.

FlashCallahan Drew Latham is leading an empty, shallow life with only wealth on his side. Facing another lonely Christmas, Drew wants to revisit his old childhood home and possibly relive some old holiday memories. But when he arrives, he finds that the house in which he was raised is no longer the home in which he grew up. Inhabited by another family, Drew offers a nice financial reward that has the family ringing...First thing to know is, that it's nowhere near as bad as you've heard it is. It's illy and absurd, but hen aren't all Christmas movies.Your ability to like this, is how much you tolerate Affleck. This isn't Argo Affleck, its Gigli Affleck, and he really grates when he gets to his family house.When he reaches the front door, it's as if someone from the crew has pumped him full of glucose, because he starts bouncing off the walls for the next hour.Other than that, the rest of the cast are fine, it's not a particularly festive movie, but it rings a little message, and doesn't outstay it's welcome.a late night Christmas treat.

mmqc_l Grab your eggnog and sit back to watch Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini push and pull this dysfunctional family into the holiday spirit one battle at a time. This movie is the one you want to pop in just after you get home from a long day of shopping. With such strong actresses as Catherine O'Hara and Christina Applegate, the guys have a tough time claiming all the comedy here. But you will laugh out loud all through this film. Each new cast member is added just at the right moment and you will be wanting the story to go on even after the final battle has been won.'Surviving Christmas' will become one of the family favorites and one not just to be watched during the holidays.

elshikh4 This doesn't deserve neither the poor profits nor the evil reputation (released to DVD 9 weeks after its release !). True Ben Affleck is here but – surprisingly – it's not as bad as in other movies ! The story is simple with funny characters. It achieved a good balance between comedy and having a message. Though, the main problem remains in the script. Some weakness blemished it, especially in the second half with forced love story; between the lead and the family's daughter, making up situations between them through a snow ride that didn't complete, let alone unintelligible reconciliations between all at the end; the husband and wife, the lead and the daughter.So the climax is brittle to an extent weakens the final effect, but nothing could deny the cuteness of the characters, even if their details were improvised (as Gandolfini said once, critically!). I loved the opening credits with parodying the too happy Christmas's songs, with wicked dark sense that ridiculed as well as lamented our present days. The pace was talented. The situations, if a bit ribald, were comic. In fact there was distinct humor all over it; remember the fake dream that Affleck's character prepared then canceled in the nick of time; lovely cartoonish (in terms of cartoon; all the movie works as a Simpsons episode). And it's enough to say that I liked Affleck in a comedy, well, it's like saying I watched the devil in paradise !Overall, there was a comedy and a meaning. Both did survive eventually. And if this movie was called names, nominated for Razzies, then watch other Affleck's movies, and other Christmas's ones, to know how clever (Surviving Christmas) is. Then watch real BAD movies, from the same year, that didn't get any nomination for even one Razzie, such as Soul Plane, The Whole Ten Yards, The Ladykillers, Ocean's Twelve, The Village, and Napoleon Dynamite, to know how wronged (Surviving Christmas) is, also !