Great Film: Surviving Christmas
Subvert that genre!
Surviving Christmas
A ridiculous and perverse premise has somehow made its way onto cinema
screens this Christmas. Just like Christmas With The Kranks and The
Polar Express, Surviving Christmas winds towards a festive moral that
aims to fill the audience with yuletide cheer. The execution of said
moral in this particular seasonal release is highly questionnaire but
unmistakably funny.
Surviving Christmas has been slammed by the critics remorselessly.
Nobody seems to have liked this twisted retelling of the story of
Scrooge, and I believe I have found the answer: nobody likes Ben
Affleck.
Affleck plays a rich ad executive who pays a dysfunctional family to
take him in and make Christmas just how it was when he was a child.
This seriously strange idea could, in the right hands, been a gross out
smash hit in the Farrely brothers style. Instead, Mike Mitchell decides
to take the whole thing a little too seriously and what results is a
comedy that is uncomfortable with itself. As a result the actors are
left unsure whether to play their characters straight or exaggerated.
This can be all be blamed on the script, or lack thereof. Filming took
place without a finished draft, and thus, parts of the film were
improvised and unfunny material remains in the final cut.
Nevertheless, there are many positive attributes to this genre
subverting film. James Gandolfini is very entertaining as the
constantly resentful Tom Valco whose only vice, in true Christmas
spirit, is money.
Ben Affleck style in comedic roles is disliked by many, but his
specific brand of humour is allowed to thrive in this unnatural plot
and situation driven comedy. The character of the son (Josh Zuckerman)
is underdeveloped, as is the family's relationship with its neighbours,
but again the unfinished script can be held accountable.
Surviving Christmas is by no means a great film, but it is certainly
not as bad as it has been labelled. Unfortunately, most won't get a
chance to decide for themselves until this film is released on DVD as
it was grossly under marketed in the UK. An offbeat comedy and a
genuine step forward for the Scrooge remakes that when given the chance
to shine in its own right, works quite well.
Cast
- Tom Valco played by James Gandolfini
- Christine Valco played by Catherine O'hara
- Heinrich played by Udo Kier
- Drew Latham played by Ben Affleck
- Dr. Freeman played by Stephen Root
- Suit played by Peter Jason
- Missy Vanglider played by Jennifer Morrison
