Ben Affleck, Bill Macy, Catherine O'Hara

Ben Affleck is well-cast as Drew Latham, a millionaire on the verge of nervous collapse, a man with no sense of self who tries to buy the trappings of life--including the family that just happens to b...( read more  read more... )e living in his childhood home. He jumps around with a plastic smile on his face, trying to impose himself on the bribed household, who--even though the parents are on the verge of divorce--are still more psychologically coherent than he is. Surviving Christmas has been unfairly trashed due to anti-Affleck sentiment in the post-Gigli era; though the movie eventually succumbs to bland formula, it has some moments of bracing dark comedy and genuine empathy, mostly thanks to James Gandolfini (The Sopranos, The Mexican) and Catherine O'Hara (A Mighty Wind, Beetlejuice) as the parents--two superb actors who could breathe life into any banal script. Also featuring Christina Applegate (Anchorman, View from the Top). --Bret Fetzer

Flixster Users

39% liked it

24,118 ratings

Critics

7% liked it

108 critics

DVD Release Date: December 21, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 745 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (745)


  • December 23, 2007
    O'Hara and Gandolfini steal the show (as "unstealable" as it is) while Applegate reprises her dumb role and Affleck makes this unbearable movie even less bearable than it is. An awful piece of crap with some hilarious moments from O'Hara and Gandolfini. That's it.
  • July 14, 2007
    Good premise for a comedy. I don't know why this movie was slammed so badly - maybe October was too early for a Christmas movie to be released? James Gandolfini looks great with a beard.
  • January 9, 2007
    How Ben Affleck ever starred in another movie after this is beyond me. This movie gave me such bad diarreah that I almost died of dehydration.
  • November 20, 2006
    An advice from me to everyone reading this review do not watch this during Christmas. This movie kills every christmas spirit. It is joyless, disgusting, disturbing, random and not funny at all. It tries to tell anemotional story about a guy who's looking for a family for christm...( read more)as but it goes down with silly stupid jokes and heartless emotionless scenes that cries out loud to be takne seriously. Usually christmas movies are supposed to be happy but this one was satisfied by showing the garbage of modern societies to ruin every fun time anyone might have had in this movie, which i clearly doubt it. And the developement of the characters was very weak and briefly typical taken from every movie about a shallow guy turned mature because of family yay. arghh. Ben Affleck prooved once again what a talentless actor he really is with a very student role which is easily beaten by small kids in school plays.
  • October 27, 2006
    Why, Ben Afleck? Why must you star in such stupid movies? You're better than this.
  • October 13, 2009
    Im so happy I survived watching this movie.It was HORRIBLE!!!
  • September 24, 2009
    Ben Stiller woulda turned this one into a home run, but as it is, this is a surprisingly fun movie, with a killer cast.
  • August 7, 2009
    Nothing like spending Christmas with someone elses family.
  • July 10, 2009
    i really like this movie
  • June 6, 2009
    whatever. it's a typical 'the holidays suck' film - i don't like those types of movies. it's a tad creepy

Critic Reviews


October 22, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Maybe the worst thing that can be said for Surviving Christmas is that it doesn't succeed even on its humble level of aspiration. full review

October 21, 2004
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Some screwball moments elicit a chuckle or two, but the script is weak and the characterizations clichéd. full review

October 20, 2004
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

A grating tribute to checkbook cheer, that warm and fuzzy feeling achieved from buying and buying and buying. full review

View more Surviving Christmas reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Surviving Christmas" !

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
    The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (63%)
  • The Scorpion King
    The Scorpion King (38%)
  • Four Christmases
    Four Christmases (82%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Surviving Christm... : Watch Free on TV


Surviving Christmas Trivia


  • What actor/actress links these movies together? The Mask of Zorro Hearts in Atlantis How the Grinch Stole Christmas Fracture Surviving Picasso The Bounty  Answer »
  • Who acted in all these movies? The Mexican Surviving Christmas Crimson Tide The Man Who Wasn't There All the King's Men Get Shorty   Answer »
  • What film has Tammy Blanchard not appeared iun ?  Answer »
  • in what christmas movie does a man rent a family for christmas to impress a girl.  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Surviving Christmas. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?