I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

21% of critics liked it
(43 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(43,686 ratings)

Teen heartthrob and Home Improvement star Jonathon Taylor-Thomas stars in this Disney Christmas film that is a teenaged variation on the Planes Trains and Automobiles theme. Jake has missed Christmas in New York with his family these past few years, so as an incentive, his father promises him a 1957… More Teen heartthrob and Home Improvement star Jonathon Taylor-Thomas stars in this Disney Christmas film that is a teenaged variation on the Planes Trains and Automobiles theme. Jake has missed Christmas in New York with his family these past few years, so as an incentive, his father promises him a 1957 red Porsche if he makes it home by Christmas Eve. No sweat, until an unexpected twist blows up in poor Jake's face. It seems that the "cheat sheet" he supplied the college football team was incorrect, and the whole team is out to get him. For revenge, they leave him in the middle of the California desert in a Santa Claus suit (his hat and white beard are glued to his face) with no wallet, no cash, and no identification. To make matters worse, Eddie, one of the football players and Jake's arch-nemesis, is now hitting on Jake's girlfriend Allie. What's poor old Jake to do? Well, if you guessed hitchhike, freeload, con, fly, crawl, race and bully an array of colorful characters, you guessed correctly. ~ Chris Gore, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Arlene Sanford
Written By: Harris Goldberg, Tom Nursall
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Nov 13, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Nov 9, 1999
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Lael Loewenstein, Variety
Arrogance gives way to humility, making this an appropriate, if thoroughly cliched, Christmas morality tale that's sugar-coated with an attractive cast spouting sitcom-quality dialogue.
Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle
None of the cast comes off well, but they have little to work with, since the dialogue sounds like it was made up on the spot and performed without rehearsal.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A Christmas turkey.
Ted Fry, Film.com
Adequate in every way and oddly subversive in spots, but that's about it.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
Inane Christmas film has little going for it in script and character.
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times
If you've never had the urge to kick Santa Claus, this might be just the irksome misadventure into comedy that will drive you over the edge.
Common Sense Media Editors, Common Sense Media
Jon Taylor Thomas' yule tale charming for tweens.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
An innocuously entertaining comedy...
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Um filme natalino que advoga a eficácia da mentira e do egoísmo como formas de ser bem sucedido.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It gets off to a grating start, but this slight comedy eventually finds its feet and delivers a holiday-themed package made up in equal parts of mild laughs and sweet-as-sweet-can-be sentiment.
David Noh, Film Journal International
I'll Be Home for Christmas asks the impossible of us.
Kate Manning, Palo Alto Weekly
It's the cinematic equivalent of a flavored rice cake -- palatable while you're chewing and completely forgotten 10 minutes later.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Hurrah -- let's teach our kids that if you look good and are skilled at making up convincing lies, everyone will love you.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Surprisingly engaging.
, TNT's Rough Cut
Thomas has a natural screen presence and he never sheds the instinctual wit that made him a household name.
Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
The results are only slightly better than coal in your stocking.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

KJ P

Poor with some elements added in, but if you were to take those elements out, then it would be a great film. It was well worth watching, and I recommend it! It's just fun for the whole family to watch during the holidays!
Coxxie M

believe it or not, thats not the closest JTT's lips have been to big fuzzy ball
Kalel J

Below par, formulaic Christmas movie that never really extends it's welcome. But, I watch it nearly every year anyway. It's become one of those "I know it's bad, but I'll keep watching it anyway" type of movies.
Dean M

Hilarious Xmas comedy film that I really liked it. Jonathan Taylor Thomas' character did great and funny things by helping people give them good Christmas spirits from California desert to New York when he was stuck wearing a Santa Claus suit and a glue-on white beard.
Sarah P

A cheesy Disney movie, but it is fun to watch at Christmas!
Andrew P

I remember catching this on VHS years and years ago. It had a small UK release and I was lucky. It is one of the very few Christmas films I own on DVD and watch every year. I just love it, its average I will be the first one to admit that, but it gets me very christmassy indeed. The… More
I remember catching this on VHS years and years ago. It had a small UK release and I was lucky. It is one of the very few Christmas films I own on DVD and watch every year. I just love it, its average I will be the first one to admit that, but it gets me very christmassy indeed. The acting is wooden at best, but its a Disney Christmas film...you get what you pay for.