Rating: PG13
Genre:
Comedy
Release Date: 12/21/2004
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 91 Minutes
Distributor/Studio: DreamWorks
Directed by
Mike Mitchell,
Surviving Christmas finds
Drew Latham (
Ben Affleck) uneager to spend another lonely Christmas in his own home. Longing for holidays past,
Drew travels to his childhood home intending to relive the experience of a family Christmas -- unfortunately, his family no longer lives there. This represents only a small snafu to
Drew, who offers the Valco patriarch and his wife (
Sopranos star
James Gandolfini and
Catherine O'Hara) a huge amount of money if they consent to pretend they are his parents and that he is a cherished member of the family. This entails participating in
Latham family traditions, such as Christmas tree selection and crowded holiday shopping excursions. Though the Valcos reluctantly go along with
Drew's requests,
Alicia, their eldest daughter, arrives at home and refuses to comply with her "brother's" wishes.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide