I'll put it out there: This was not an intelligent movie. One could check off the Christmas Movie Clichés easily:
Little Kid that helps revive the Christmas Spirit? Check
Nasty villain that is turned by Santa's goodwill? Check
Last minute, "against all odds", rush to save Christmas? Check
Said plot to save Christmas based upon the base revival of the Christmas Spirit? Check
The list goes on. So, having said that, why rate it so high? Because it is exactly what it says it is, no more, no less. One does not go into this movie expecting Citizen Kane, hell, not even Rainman. It had a juvenile charm that worked perfectly for this movie. Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti played wonderfully off of each other. And while it was not a character study in the emotional depth and familial tension of the Claus Clan, they still made them believable and humorous.
Modern day references, such as health worries, down sizing, corporate outsourcing, etc. add to the campiness a bit, it is an interesting and well used departure from the norm. But, it still remains fun, and it still remains funny. So while I did not walk away changed, enlightened or anything resembling such, I had a good time. And for a movie that was about that, it performed well.
Turn off your brain, be a kid again and enjoy.
Little Kid that helps revive the Christmas Spirit? Check
Nasty villain that is turned by Santa's goodwill? Check
Last minute, "against all odds", rush to save Christmas? Check
Said plot to save Christmas based upon the base revival of the Christmas Spirit? Check
The list goes on. So, having said that, why rate it so high? Because it is exactly what it says it is, no more, no less. One does not go into this movie expecting Citizen Kane, hell, not even Rainman. It had a juvenile charm that worked perfectly for this movie. Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti played wonderfully off of each other. And while it was not a character study in the emotional depth and familial tension of the Claus Clan, they still made them believable and humorous.
Modern day references, such as health worries, down sizing, corporate outsourcing, etc. add to the campiness a bit, it is an interesting and well used departure from the norm. But, it still remains fun, and it still remains funny. So while I did not walk away changed, enlightened or anything resembling such, I had a good time. And for a movie that was about that, it performed well.
Turn off your brain, be a kid again and enjoy.