The idea of casting Ben Affleck as some kind of giddy holiday angel who drops in and makes everything all right again was doomed from day one.
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10/29/04
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Surviving Christmas (2004)
7
%
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Reviews Counted:108
Fresh:8
Rotten:100
Average Rating:3/10
Consensus: Surviving Christmas is unpleasant characters attacking each other for 90 minutes before delivering a typical, hollow anti-consumerist message
Theatrical Release:Oct 22, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $11,198,345
Synopsis: Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck ("Good Will Hunting"), Emmy winner James Gandolfini (TV’s "The Sopranos") and Christina Applegate ("View From the Top," TV’s "Married With Children") star in the... [More]
Starring: Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Catherine O'Hara
Director: Mike Mitchell
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Reviews for Surviving Christmas
Last year, we got Bad Santa; this year, we get Bad Movie.
10/27/04
Despite the obvious chemistry between the actors, yuletide comedy can’t overcome the innate nastiness and miserable spirit of its premise. **
10/27/04
What is Ben Affleck doing in a role that seems tailor-made for Martin Short?
10/26/04
Affleck runs through this erratic comedy as if he were auditioning to play Chim Chim in the "Speed Racer" movie.
10/26/04
Yuletide cheer gets a kick in the shins with this funny but forced cinematic Christmas present.
10/25/04
...the result is little more than an early candidate for the title of holiday turkey.
10/25/04
The goose that shouts AFLAC! appears to have more talent than Ben "The Grinch" Affleck
10/25/04
All these characters exist only so Affleck can prance around being impish and silly, exacting more of the damage he inflicted in last year's 'Gigli.'
10/25/04
Poor Ben Affleck has become the new kiss of death for movies.
10/25/04
It was fun to see an early Christmas comedy.
10/25/04
If one were to dwell on the logic of the story, the film would crumble.
10/24/04
...much like a poorly wrapped gift, the film’s plot just came apart.
10/24/04
Ben Affleck delivers a surprisingly on-target performance as a man who thinks money and grandiose gestures are the answer to everything.
10/24/04
Kind of an endurance test, like sitting through a bad touring company of 'The Jerk Who Came to Dinner.'
10/24/04
At least "Gigli" was watchable. Ewwww!
10/23/04
Affleck is so outrageously miscast as goofball Drew Latham that it's like watching Jennifer Lopez taking on the role of Lady Macbeth at the Scottish National Theatre.
10/23/04
Some sort of Martian comedy hell I was doomed to misunderstand...like watching Ben Affleck burn Stanislavsky in effigy for ninety minutes.
10/23/04
Surviving Christmas wusses out by trying to make itself a warm holiday movie.
10/23/04
There’s no way to approach this mess other than to evaluate who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. Guess which half of the list has way more names on it?
10/22/04
Latest News for Surviving Christmas
October 17, 2007:
Total Recall: Ben (Affleck's) Bits
In Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck directs younger brother Casey in a mystery surrounding the case of a missing Boston girl. In the spirit of Total Recall, we decided to take a look... More...
March 12, 2007:
Ben Affleck Goes Straight to Video With "Man About Town"
Okay, we all knew Ben Affleck was having some problems, and earned a few Razzie nominations several years in a row, but he's still a movie star. Could it really have gotten to... More...
December 15, 2005:
Critical Consensus: A Sly "Family Stone," A Towering "Kong"
This week at the movies, we have a giant ape {"King Kong"} and some yuletide dramedy ("The Family Stone"). Will the critics go bananas for these flicks? More...
October 25, 2005:
"Sky High" Director to Helm "Claus" Comedy
The Hollywood Reporter brings news of a new holiday-themed comedy from Mike Mitchell, director of "Sky High." It's about Santa's disgruntled older brother, and it's... More...
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