Here's the good news: when you lump this in with all the Christmas movies, including the (seemingly) thirty or forty dozen small screen, made for television each and every single year, this isn't that bad. But comparing it to other big screen Christmas films: meh, not very impressive. I do think the IMDb rating and several (many) reviews gives this a worse rap than it deserves. It's not unfunny, in fact, there are a few very good, seriously funny moments and plenty of small laughs throughout. Problem is it's just so lame at times. It seems like it wants to be National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, in a way. That's been done and it's a classic. Why, then, couldn't they come up with enough originality for this script to make it a great holiday movie? Danny DeVito gives it his best to counteract Matthew Broderick but the whole story never allows the comedy to happen as much as it should have. Then the ending, oy vey, ay caramba. MTV News? The spontaneous O Holy Night? It falls apart quickly and dissolves into a fizzle. Not even Harold's best friend Kumar can save the show. Oh well. Amazingly, if you're watching a few dozen Christmas movies during a cold and snowy Christmastime, I'd recommend throwing this in the mix... maybe while recovering from a root canal surgery or a really bad sleigh ride crash. The pain killer meds should help make this more entertaining than it is.
6.1 / 10 stars
--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
6.1 / 10 stars
--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener