This movie is an irreverent look at Christmas and the family get-together. Boyd Mitchler (Joel McHale) does not like his father (Robin Williams) who did allow him Christmas spirit as a child. He does not go home for Christmas. But this year is different. His brother, Nelson (Clark Duke), has a new baby and asked Boyd to be Godfather. The baptism is Christmas Eve. Boyd and his wife (Lauren Graham) head home, four hours, for Christmas. He really wants his youngest son, Doug to have the spirit of Santa Clause. His mother's (Candice Bergen) Christmas dream is that the whole family be together. This includes sister, Shauna Weinke (Wendi McLendon-Covey) and her husband Dave Weinke (Tim Heidecker) and their two older children, who do not believe in Santa and are pretty rowdy.
When they get there they discover they left Doug's present home. Boyd decides to go home to get it. If he hurries he can just make it. His car breaks down and dad comes to rescue him. Dad is a porta-potty delivery man. They discover Nelson in one of the potties. He had fallen asleep. A police men pulls him over a few times as he speeds. Last time he doesn't stop but the policeman lets him go, it is Christmas. They run over a drunk hobo Santa Clause (Oliver Platt). He appears dead, but just as they are going to chop him up to bury him he wakes up. They take home home, arriving too late for gift opening, ao the hobo Santa takes thre gift in, a sleigh. They have no snow, but a different gift pleases Doug.
Some chuckles, but not the greatest film. It does display Williams' wit and humor but as a grouchy old man, who is overcoming addiction. There is some growth as Boyd interacts with his father, and gets past some of his childhood trauma.
No comments:
Post a Comment