The last couple of films in my Countdown to Christmas have not been very good so I hoped that this would be at least enjoyable. It wasn’t the best film or even in my top five but certainly better than Bad Santa 2 and Scrooged.
A rich, lonely businessman goes to visit his childhood home to try and get rid of his feelings of loneliness around the holiday season. He meets the family now residing there and on a whim makes them an offer. He will pay them £250,000 if he can be part of their family for Christmas. At first, the family are shocked at this stranger’s offer but agree to do it for the money.
They must commit and pretend that Drew (Ben Affleck) is their son and brother. When the older sister, Alicia (Christina Applegate) comes home, she finds the situation very odd and wants Drew to leave. She is convinced when she is told her parents find it fun. It is never revealed whether she knows about the money. Everything is going as smoothly as it can after Drew then hires a local community actor to play ‘Doo-Dah’ the grandfather. His girlfriend, Missy who had gone to spend the holidays with her parents then invites herself and her parents around for Christmas.
Meanwhile, Drew and Alicia have bonded after a wild toboggan ride and the family as a whole have become closer due to Drew’s presence. I liked this film. It was a good All-American family film although with a dubious plot but great acting from Catherine O’Hara, James Gandolfini and Jennifer Morrison. Overall I give this film 3/5.