While the premise is so often overdone, family drama (exploited for comedy), I still had hopes that there would be something here to enjoy. Joel McHale plays the successful son who is embarrassed by his family and moves states away (did that myself!) to avoid the conflict. He is so embarrassed, he cuts his father's picture out of the family portrait. Ouch.
Robin Williams and Candice Bergen play the parents who seem to be living through a delusional dysfunction. Neither is given enough room to be funny, and come off looking a bit tired and wishing it was over. I sort of expected the giant Christmas miracle at the end to fulfill the schmaltz, but even that is lacking. The mysterious 'Santa' turns out to be a drunk, homeless guy. Nothing magical about it.
I wish they would have played more along the family issues. The family pervert really is just another drunk member of the family. The son with PTSD is really just overly weird as a defense mechanism, and the successful son hates his job and wishes he were an artist. Cue the eye rolling.
Robin Williams and Candice Bergen play the parents who seem to be living through a delusional dysfunction. Neither is given enough room to be funny, and come off looking a bit tired and wishing it was over. I sort of expected the giant Christmas miracle at the end to fulfill the schmaltz, but even that is lacking. The mysterious 'Santa' turns out to be a drunk, homeless guy. Nothing magical about it.
I wish they would have played more along the family issues. The family pervert really is just another drunk member of the family. The son with PTSD is really just overly weird as a defense mechanism, and the successful son hates his job and wishes he were an artist. Cue the eye rolling.