I'll Be Home For Christmas
Director(s): Arlene Sanford
Writer(s): Harris Goldberg and Tom Nursall
Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna, Sean O'Bryan, Gary Cole and Adam Lauer
Reviewed by: Ian Evans on
Release Date(s)
Nov 13, 1998 - Wide
I can safely state that the Evans family Christmas night tradition of toasted turkey sandwiches, eggnog, and a viewing of White Christmas is in no danger of being usurped. Walt Disney Pictures’ I’ll Be Home For Christmas is a totally unoriginal, uninteresting film that isn’t even worthy of going straight to video.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays Jake Wilkinson, a scheming college student in California. His father (Gary Cole), in attempt to lure him back to New York, promises him a vintage Porsche if he gets home by 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.
There wouldn’t be a film if there wasn’t an obstacle, so the wisecracking student finds himself in the middle of the desert in a Santa suit and glued-on beard. Miles from anywhere, he must hitchhike his way east in order to get the car and patch things up with his girlfriend (Jessica Biel), who’s currently being driven to New York by the school’s top jock, Eddie (Adam LaVorgna).
This film is bad. So bad that not even the most devoted Jonathan Taylor Thomas fan should go see it. The storyline is predictable. JTT’s character is a smart-ass, a completely unlikable person. He plays a photocopy of all the other scheming college con artists you’ve seen right down to the smaller nerdy assistant who helps him carry out his schemes.
The supporting characters are either bland (his girlfriend), stereotypical (the arrogant jock) or a rehash of an actor’s TV character (Andrew Lauer duplicating his role on Caroline in the City]). Nothing in this film is fresh, interesting, or funny.
Do your kids a favor. Rent A Christmas Story, pour some eggnog and have some fun. Avoid this movie like the plague.