the audience applauded

Let's be realistic.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Surviving Christmas is a lame and offensive comedy that suffers from a silly and unbelievable story and a really obnoxious lead character.This 2004 comedy stars Ben Affleck as Drew Latham, a young and extremely wealthy businessman who, after being dumped by his fiancée, travels to his hometown where he plans to spend Christmas. He goes to the actual house he grew up in and offers to pay the family currently residing there a stupid amount of money to allow him to move into his old bedroom for Christmas and for this family to actually pretend to be HIS family for the holidays. We watch as Drew butts head with the family patriarch (James Gandolfini), brings Mom (Catherine O'Hara) out of the shell she didn't even realize she was in, and begin a very rocky romance with the daughter (Christina Applegate) home from college who is adamantly against this whole arrangement.This film grates on the nerves from jump, primarily because the leading character has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. We see the way he runs his business and the way he throws money at anything that doesn't go his way and you just want to punch the guy in the face. Affleck's performance doesn't help matters, which can best be described as uneven.What the film does have going for it is a pair of first rate performances from Gandolfini and O'Hara as Tom and Christine Valco, the couple who agree to this charade despite the effects it has on their holiday season and their marriage. Gandolfini's dry and understated delivery is a perfect compliment to Affleck's scenery chewing and almost makes the proceedings bearable...almost. Strictly for hardcore fans of the late James Gandolfini.

Pros:I honestly think this movie was quite decent. Not so say it was anything near perfect in it's every regard, though still, I found it captivating.It did put me in a Christmas mood, but filled me with a sense of sadness, or should I say emptiness.The concept of spending Christmas alone, may to some seem unbearable, (although I know of a certain someone whom finds joy in this even) since after all... 'tis a festive season.It takes a somewhat unexpected turn, (something you will have to wait and see for yourself) which is a good thing - dynamic aids in engaging the viewer, intrigues the viewer.I must say, I found myself (to some extent) bonding with "Drew".A family on the verge of collapse, a man who's only Christmas wish (quite the expensive one) is to get the chance to relive "the snowy bliss of his now long since passed childhood.Cons: Not much frankly... To me it seemed a bit rushed, wraps up a bit too quickly - who knows, maybe I need to watch it once more, before passing such judgment.Summa summarum: all in all, I liked it and believe you will too.

If you love Christmas…If you want to feel the magic…Try your best to Survive 'Surviving Christmas.' This movie is the #1 worst excuse for a Christmas movie. It makes 'Christmas with the Kranks' bearable. It's built on lies, deception, desperation and an incredible lack of humor or homage to the Christmas spirit. At very least, it has Scrooge's blessing, before he becomes good, that is. Here's the deal: Stay clear of 'Jingle All the Way,' 'Christmas with the Kranks' and 'Surviving Christmas' and you will have a blessed holiday season this year. 1/5 Stars.IMD(b) is making me write more. How much more can I say about this? I hated this movie with a Christmas Passion. Jamie Lee apparently was good for one role. Okay, I liked her in TRUE LIES. But other than those two, and I hope you know other role I am referring to...

I recognised the title, then I spotted both the leading actor, old "Assface" himself (LOL) and how many stars the critics give this film, only one, so it being near Christmas I was willing to give it a go, from director Mike Mitchell (Sky High, Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter). Basically executive Drew Latham (twice Razzie nominated Ben Affleck) is the rich playboy with a lot to be happy with, but living a shallow lifestyle and recently splitting with girlfriend Missy Vanglider (Jennifer Morrison) he faces another Christmas all by himself. Wanting to experience his childhood and have a family Christmas once again he phones many relatives with no success, so he decides to go to the house he grew up in, and meet the new Valco family living in it. Drew offers father/husband Tom (The Sopranos' James Gandolfini) a very high financial reward if he lets him stay in the house and pretend that he is part of their family, along with wife/mother Christine (Home Alone's Catherine O'Hara) and teenage son Brian Valco (Austin Powers in Goldmember's Josh Zuckerman). The overly eccentric millionaire house guest won't give the family a break as he is very annoying with with overactive enthusiasm to celebrate Christmas. Older daughter Alicia (Christina Applegate) comes home, and Drew is very irritated as he never had a sister and it doesn't go with his "script", so he does his best to work around it and pretend she is not there. He also goes to the trouble of hiring a fake granddad with actor Saul, or Doo-Dah (Bill Macy) to Drew, he wants his Christmas to be exactly as he remembers from his past. Slowly Alicia finds herself falling for Drew's lovable attitude to the approaching holiday, but of course his more vibrant personality stop her from giving into any real connection or feelings. Then Drew gets a phone call from Missy saying that she not only agrees to go to Hawaii with him, being tempted by his bracelet he gave her, but he is on her way to the Valco house bringing her parents to the meet the family. So the Valcos do their best to follow Drew's instructions and get on with the visitors, despite an understudy actor as Doo-Dah (Sy Richardson), and Alicia trying to get him caught out. Eventually Drew draws everyone away, and it looks like he is going to be alone after all, but a heart to heart solves everything, and he and the Valcos go to a diner for a friendly Christmas dinner. Also starring Ace Ventura: Pet Detective's Udo Kier as Heinrich, David Selby as Horace Vanglider and Stephanie Faracy as Letitia Vanglider. Affleck is the most irritating rich boy character you could come across with his constant smiling and shouting, Applegate's career time is wasted, and that of Gandolfini's and O'Hara's. The story is ridiculous and all over the place if it tries to patch up, any attempts by supporting actors with their less is more acting doesn't make any difference, and it just isn't the sort of thing that's going to create holiday cheer or laughs, an awful Christmas comedy. It was nominated the Razzies for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay. Poor!