Surviving Christmas

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Surviving Christmas ★ 2004 (PG-13)

Affleck finds himself stuck in another boxoffice disaster as wealthy yuppie Drew, who gets dumped by snooty girlfriend Missy (Morrison) right before the holidays. Following some bad advice from his shrink, Drew decides to reconnect with his past by visiting his boyhood home. The house is now occupied by working-class grump Tom Valcos (Gandolfini), his frustrated wife Christine (O'Hara), their porn-obsessed teen son Brian (Zuckerman) and serious daughter Alicia (Applegate). For $250,000, the Valcos agree to be Drew's rented relatives and indulge his Christmas dreams. Comedic embarrassment follows resulting in a few, brief, reluctant chuckles. 92m/C VHS, DVD . US Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Catherine O'Hara, Josh Zuckerman, Bill Macy, Jenny (Jennifer) Morrison, Stephen (Steve) Root; D: Mike Mitchell; W: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont, Jeffrey Ventimilia, Joshua Sternin; C: Peter Collinson, Tom Priestley; M: Randy Edelman.

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