I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Arlene Sanford

Writers (WGA):

Michael Allin (story)
Tom Nursall (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Somewhere between L.A. and N.Y. Jake found the meaning of Christmas.

Plot:

A college student experiences difficulty in getting home for Christmas after being hazed by his friends...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Race Against Time | Road Movie | Teen Angst | Desert

Cast

Jonathan Taylor Thomas	...	Jake Wilkinson
Jessica Biel	...	Allie
Adam LaVorgna	...	Eddie
Gary Cole	...	Jake's Dad
Eve Gordon	...	Carolyn
Lauren Maltby	...	Tracey Wilkinson
Andrew Lauer	...	Nolan
Sean O'Bryan	...	Officer Max
Lesley Boone	...	Marjorie
Amzie Strickland	...	Tom Tom Girl Mary
Natalie Barish	...	Tom Tom Girl Darlene
Mark de la Cruz	...	Esteban (as Mark De La Cruz)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Tom Tom Girl Gloria
Jack Kenny	...	Gabby
Celia Kushner	...	Tom Tom Girl Mama

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and some rude humor.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Germany:o.Al. | Spain:T | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Leo Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jake is running from the van, the guard rail beside him seems to end, but in the next shot it appears to be continuous and unbroken.

Quotes:

Nolan: Oh man, I went and killed Santa!

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Soundtrack:

Clarinet Polka Yodel

Hmmm, not the best Disney movie I've seen.

Well, I'd give this a 6 out of 10 because I love Christmas, but really the plot was fairly thin and wasn't this same idea run through in John Hughes "Dutch (aka Driving Me Crazy) - kid doesn't want to go home (for Thanksgiving in that movie), but then he has all sorts of adventures on the road on his way home and learns his lesson, etc, etc.

The only problem with this movie is that, unlike "Dutch", I honestly didn't feel that JTT had learned his lesson at all, he was still a scam artist at the end. Disney should really learn some lessons from John Hughes / Chris Columbus, they really know how to make a kids live-action movie!

I was so disappointed because it sounded like a really fun idea, but turned into the plot of a so-so TV movie.

It's worth seeing, but go on cheap Tuesday, or with free tickets, you'll feel less ripped off!!