Surviving Christmas

Plot synopsis:
Drew Latham is a wealthy advertising executive. Just before Christmas, he surprises his girlfriend Missy with first class tickets to Fiji. She is horrified that he would want to spend Christmas away from his family. Citing the fact that Drew has never even introduced her to his family, she concludes that he will never get serious about their relationship and dumps him. Drew has his assistant send her a Cartier bracelet to apologize. Desperate not to spend Christmas alone, Drew calls all of his contacts to find a place to stay on Christmas, but he is not close enough to anyone to be invited.
He tracks down Missy's therapist, Dr. Freeman, at the airport, hoping to squeeze in a therapy session. The hurried doctor tells him to list all of his grievances and then burn them at his childhood home. The house is now occupied by the Valcos, who wonder what Drew is doing on their front lawn. When he sets his grievances on fire, Tom Valco sneaks up behind him and knocks him out with a shovel. After he comes to, Drew explains what he was doing and asks for a tour of the house. Thrilled to see his old room, Drew impetuously offers Tom $250,000 to let him spend Christmas with the Valcos. Tom accepts, and Drew's lawyer draws up a contract that requires the Valcos to pose as his family.
The next day, Drew forces the family to go out and buy a tree together, requiring Tom to wear a Santa cap in public. While they are trimming the tree, the eldest child Alicia arrives for the holidays and is stunned by Drew's presence. He suggests that she could portray the maid, since she was an unexpected addition to the scenario. At dinner, Drew writes a script for the family to read at the table. He hires a local actor to play the part of his grandfather, whom he calls Doo-Dah.
Drew takes Alicia and her brother Brian sledding the next day. After crashing at the bottom of a hill, he moves into kiss Alicia, who sneezes instead. Recovering back home from their growing colds, Alicia shares a childhood memory with Drew about an old tree that was coated in ice during a storm. Tom asks Drew to leave because he was planning on divorcing his wife Christine. Instead, Drew encourages the couple to indulge themselves. Tom buys a Chevelle SS, which he had when he was in high school, and Christine goes to a photographer for some glamour shots.
One evening, Drew takes Alicia to the old tree of her childhood, which he has had covered in ice again. She is touched by the gesture, but Drew overdoes it, bringing in a full pageant production to surround the tree. Disgusted by his lack of restraint, Alicia demands that he leave. Meanwhile, Missy was won over by the bracelet, and when Drew's assistant informed her that he was spending Christmas with his family, Missy visits the Valcos' house with her parents. Drew promises the Valcos an extra $75,000 if they will play along for the evening, and they agree to pretend to be his family.
The visit between the two families steadily descends into chaos, culminating with everyone seeing Christine's glamour shots manipulated into pornography on Brian's computer. Missy's parents storm out, and Drew informs her that their relationship is over. Alicia finally draws out of Drew the truth about his family. His father left them when he was just four, and every Christmas, his mother would work a double shift at the diner to make extra money. He would spend Christmas Day alone and visit his mom at the end of the night, and she would give him an adult stack of pancakes. He repeated the ritual every year until he was 18, and he has never been in a diner since. His mother died when he was in college.
Drew returns to his apartment to spend Christmas alone. Tom visits him to collect his money, and the two decide to go watch the actor who played Doo-Dah perform in the local production of A Christmas Carol. At the play, Tom and Christine decide not to divorce. Drew and Alicia make up outside the theater, and the film closes with everyone eating in the diner where Drew's mother worked.

Tags: suicidal, comedy

Review:
But the film doesn't come across like that because Affleck (as Drew Latham) plays his part perfectly, one minute a child-like adult, the next a mature man who realises he has gained everything in life apart from what he really wants.
Surviving Christmas is a surprisingly funny movie especially considering the bad publicity when it was first released.
Ben Affleck is funny as an obnoxious millionaire who pays the family that occupies his childhood home to be his family for Christmas.
At first i didn't think that Ben Affleck could really pull off a funny Christmas movie,, boy was i wrong, my daughter invited me to watch this with her and i was not disappointed at all.
James Gandolfini was funny,, i really liked Christina Appelagate, and Catherine O' Hara was good too, the storyline is what really sold me,, i mean,, too put up with family,, at the table for people you only hardly see but once or twice a year,, and probably don't get along with anyway,, you really do need as much alcohol as you're system can stand to deal with Christmas,, so i thought that the premise was good there, buying the family with 250000 dollars, was a little on the far fetched side,, but it turned out to work pretty good for me,, cause it was a riot all the way through, it shows the class struggle of the different families.
Nobody seems to have liked this twisted retelling of the story of Scrooge, and I believe I have found the answer: nobody likes Ben Affleck.Affleck plays a rich ad executive who pays a dysfunctional family to take him in and make Christmas just how it was when he was a child.
James Gandolfini is very entertaining as the constantly resentful Tom Valco whose only vice, in true Christmas spirit, is money.Ben Affleck style in comedic roles is disliked by many, but his specific brand of humour is allowed to thrive in this unnatural plot and situation driven comedy.
The character of the son (Josh Zuckerman) is underdeveloped, as is the family's relationship with its neighbours, but again the unfinished script can be held accountable.Surviving Christmas is by no means a great film, but it is certainly not as bad as it has been labelled.
i know it's not Christmas season,but i thought i'd watch this movie anyway.i didn't really have any expectations going in,so imagine my surprise when this turns out to be a watchable movie.it's not really very funny,but it has some amusing moments and it's not boring.i guess this was supposed to be a Ben Affleck vehicle,but i thought James Gandolfini and Catherine O'Hara had the more interesting characters and added more to the movie than Affleck did.Affleck does okay here,but he really has less to do than Gandolfini and O'Hara.Christina Applegate has a small role in the movie.this is a movie that satisfies you for 90 minutes,and then is quickly forgotten soon after.for me,"Surviving Christmas" is watchable and entertaining.as a result,i'll give it a 6/10.
They are shocked to find it is a Christmas movie, with Ben Affleck and it is funny.Those who watch it will not be disappointed..
Its goes right in to the bin of movies in my memory where I think, "Hmm.....that movie had a few funny parts, but overall, pretty ridiculous plot (or lack of)."I thought it seemed like Ben was trying a little too hard to be a cooky funny guy.
Surviving Christmas (2004) Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Catherine O' Hara, Josh Zuckerman, Bill Macy, Jennifer Morrison, Udo Kier, D: Mike Mitchell.
An obnoxious and one-dimensional performance by Affleck, who mainly acts with a flashy smile, makes his character come off as a mentally unbalanced creep, but Gandolfini and O' Hara breathe some life into this mess.
Ben Affleck plays a guy who buys a family for Christmas.
While it's not your traditional classic Christmas movie, it certainly comes with a lesson about family strength amidst dysfunction and some laughable moments.The star studded cast adds to the enjoyment of the movie- with Catherine O'Hara and Christina Applegate doing ane specially excellent job assuming their roles as members of the crumbling Valco family..
Being something of a big Christmas movie fan, I came to this with some trepidation after reading other reviews - but decided to give it a go with no prejudices and you know what, it's fun - it does what it is supposed to in a Christmas film, builds up tension and drama but then gives you a happy ending - perfect, and the cast are top notch.Forget what you read about all the troubles with scripting etc etc and timing of release of the movie, the fact is that it is a very enjoyable Christmas movie - yes, it may be a little "join the dots/movie by numbers" but come on...it's Christmas, it isn't supposed to be or trying to be Citizen Kane for goodness sake!.
The supporting cast, particularly James Gandolfini as Ben's "father" and Katherine O'Hara as his "mother" , create interesting, well rounded characters whose lives come together again as the result of the new family situation they find themselves in.
'tis a festive season.It takes a somewhat unexpected turn, (something you will have to wait and see for yourself) which is a good thing - dynamic aids in engaging the viewer, intrigues the viewer.I must say, I found myself (to some extent) bonding with "Drew".A family on the verge of collapse, a man who's only Christmas wish (quite the expensive one) is to get the chance to relive "the snowy bliss of his now long since passed childhood.Cons: Not much frankly...
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.
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..
He can either spend Christmas watching television or he can travel to his childhood home and revisit some memories.When he arrives on the new owners' doorstep, Ben gets the brilliant idea of asking them if he can hang with them for the holidays.
The Valcos (Catherine O'Hara and James Gandolfini) are therefore bribed to make the holidays special for Ben. Their beautiful daughter, Alicia (Christina Applegate) and son Brian do their best as well.
But if you compared to Four Christmases, Christmas with the Kranks or Fred Clause, this is about the same quality level, you have to watch this movie with your brain at off, it's entertaining and the actors do their role very well, in fact, the acting is pretty strong and the jokes are almost (all) funny !
After having seen this film for the first time tonight, I can only say that this is a good holiday comedy that is sure to brighten up any lonely person's day.
Now, in conclusion, I highly recommend this good holiday comedy that is sure to brighten up any lonely person's day to any Ben Affleck or Christina Applegate fan who hasn't seen it..
Luckily, the rest of the ensemble--Catharine O'Hara, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Udo Kier and Josh Zuckerman--fill in and keep this shadow-side-Ozzie-and-Harriet Christmas alternately hilarious, comfortable and warm.This movie is the kind you can jump up and get popcorn, and when you get back, everyone wants to back it up to show you what you missed.This is a happy film, after all, and it leaves you feeling good about life, love, family, Christmas and Chanel.
It was amusing and had a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor concerning families around holiday time.Ben Affleck is a rich guy who needs to find a family for Christmas to please his girlfriend.
People will say they don't want to see an Affleck movie, but no one has ever seen him perform like this.
and Cathrine O'Hara were excellent in their characters and Ben Affleck and Christina Applegate were just as good too, but the story sucked and I encourage anyone who sees this in the video store to not even bother picking it up and reading the back cover, but to just walk away...I don't even want to get into what the movie is about, because it is too stupid to pontificate about.Don't rent this!
Though I kind of don't like the ending  it is sick (after all they are family now), also it is work out too easily, making it just another pass time Christmas movie.Recommendation: Some Might Like It Some Might Don't.
Eh. Surviving Christmas was really a different movie for both Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini.
This movie really is worth watching once, because it really seems like Ben Affleck tries so hard to be funny during this entire movie.
Affleck is really an excellent actor at times, but this really just seemed like he was trying to take this low budget movie and turn it into an Oscar worthy performance.
A good way to describe Ben Affleck's performance ishow Doo-Dah's performance as Ebenezer Scrooge was described late in the movie.
Go see it you won't be disappointed:) Christina Applegate and Ben Affleck were great, and the Dad on this movie was too.
Ben Affleck CANNOT act, and he will hopefully realize this before he becomes another Harrison Ford who is a living proof of the fact that a complete lack of talent is not an obstacle for a life time of success.Still, children might like this flick as their more vivid imagination tends to fill in the gaps of less capable performers and storytellers.
If that isn't a sign of the studio giving up on their own picture, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better, more blunt example.Starring: Ben Affleck, Christina Applegate, and James Gandolfini.
Drew Latham (Ben Affleck, who desperately needs another movie thats actually watchable) is a brass wealthy young man who desperate to find someone to spend Christmas with decides to pay the family that now live in his boyhood home $250 thousand dollars (initially) to spend the holidays with them in order to recapture some of his childhood memories.
If you like to feel good and you want the happy, family Christmas movie, this is it.
I am going to buy the DVD, and it will be a family Christmas movie that we are going to watch every year.
So, he pays the family that lives there now, to let him share their Christmas, and make it enjoyable for him.Trust me, it's a good movie.
i have seen this movie twice now, a good fun Christmas movie, again, the critics are out for ben affleck, again, the fans are amazed and outraged, on leaving the cinemas in sussex in the uk, 3 guys were saying , it was good, not as bad as they made it out to be, affleck was good wasn't he, you know, i hope this review isn't removed as i am saying nice things about ben but , so much of the criticism of this movie is just one critic following the other, yawn yawn, i have seen much worse movies and at least ben is lovely to look at, he is realistic and funny ,he bounces of applegate well and his interaction with james gandolfini is believable, go see it, stop bashing ben(aimed at critics and media alike) and make your own judgment, who needs film critics, remember those who can do, those who cant, sit and write about it, i can never understand someone else allowing another person to make a decision for them, think for yourselves and go see it,.
Yes, it might be that my reaction is based on the fact that I looove this season of the year, but just try to imagine that other factors played a part; the casting of all characters was near perfection, you can easily characterize yourself with the dysfunctional family and in addition the movie was infused with a comedy both light and dark..
Millionaire ad executives don't act like this.The movie doesn't get much better, as Drew offers the Valcos $250,000 to stay at their house through Christmas.
The family has to play along with Drew's idea of a perfect Christmas if they want to get paid, whether they like it or not.
Similarly, the Valco family is so surly throughout the film that it's impossible to feel any compassion for them, even when Affleck's too-chipper antics, like a mental patient tripping on Saint John's Wart, get under their skin as much as they will get under yours.Although Affleck drove his acting career into the ground with a handful of flops before this holiday dreck came out ("Gigli", "Paycheck" (2003)), it's surprising to see the very talented James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, and Christina Applegate go along for the ride.
It's a terrible comedy, a horrible Christmas movie, and proof that Affleck cannot carry a leading role without Matt Damon co-starring or Kevin Smith directing.
Ben Affleck does a surprisingly good job playing a shallow, manipulative, self-inflated advertising millionaire whose girlfriend dumps him right before Christmas.
He finds the Valcos (James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Christina Applegate, Josh Zuckerman) living there now, and he pays them to have a fun family Christmas with.Ben Affleck is trying too hard.
And not just once either.Ben Affleck can do comedy contrary to what many critics have written.The second half of the movie could have used a little more work but all in all its definitely worth trying.
In fact, the hired family is a standout: James Gandolfini, as the ruthless father and Catherine O'Hara, as the restrained mother, gave a great performance and are responsible for the good moments of the movie.
A lonely corporate bigwig (Ben Affleck) decides to go back to the house from his youth and literally pay the new tenants (who he has never met before) to be his family for the Christmas holidays.
Since the holidays are without a doubt sensory overload, it can either make families come together or drift apart like no other time of the year.Ben Affleck pulls off a fairly decent job as Drew.
I am a huge fan of Christmas movies and this one will be one I watch every year with my family..
At least the superficial character of successful but lonely advertising executive Drew Latham suits Affleck better than most of the other roles he has tried.Directed by Mike Mitchell (whose most famous film is 1999's "Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo") and scripted by no less than four screenwriters (always a bad sign), the flimsy plot revolves around his character's need to "rent" a family living in his childhood home in order to live out his fantasy of having the old-fashioned Christmas he never had.
The idea sounded good (a guy can't go home for Christmas, so he barges in on an unsuspecting family for the holidays), but on the screen it was just stupid.I don't consider Ben Affleck to the best actor in the world, but I do know he has some acting ability.
Millionaire Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) looks at Christmas as some sort of silly holiday with a fat man so when his girlfriend demands to meet his family he pretty much kicks her out, which leads to him having a breakdown.
While there Drew decides to wants to try this Christmas thing out so he rents the family who lives there.
He offers James Gandolfini and Catharine O'Hara $250,000 to play his parents for the holidays There have been hundreds of Christmas movies made over the past one hundred plus years and every once in a while we're lucky enough to have one come along that makes you want to gather your family around the television set, sing songs with them and then afterwards tell all of them how much you love them.
This is not only the worst film I've seen this year but I'd also say it's one of the worst films to every come out of Hollywood.In such a wreck of a movie I really don't know where to start but I guess I'll be unoriginal and attack Ben Affleck since that's the cool thing to do right now.
I personally don't think so because I love watching bad movies because they usually have something to laugh at but this one here is so bad that it's not funny in a bad way.
Ben Affleck is just terrible -painful at times to watch, the rest of the cast (Gandolfini, Applegate, O'Hara) kind of makes up for him, and keeps things moving along but keep Affleck away from the comedy in the future.
Ben Affleck plays lonely young millionaire Drew Latham, a man with no family who stresses out every Christmas season.
James Great Ben Bad. The only good thing about this movie was James Gandolfini Ben Affleck was Horrible as usual.
The movie got terrible reviews, but I like Ben Affleck so I went to see it and was glad I did.
If you're a Ben Affleck fan, I think you'll like the movie.
Ben Affleck proves in Surviving Christmas that he can act and make us laugh.The audience laughed during most of the movie.
Who thought Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini could make us laugh!
I get the feeling that those involved in making "Surviving Christmas" didn't put much thought into the movie.
The characters are so inconsistent and the plot makes so little sense that the movie played like a rough draft of a script thrown together with little but the one-liner concept of a rich guy paying a family to let him spend Christmas with them.Ben Affleck portrays Drew Latham, the typical Hollywood image of a wealthy, egotistical advertising executive who buys his way through life.