About time I started getting into the Christmas spirit, right?
Look, every criticism that's been thrown at this movie is completely warranted. The jokes are mostly cliches, the improv is tired and tedious, the physical comedy is marred by obvious CGI, and the resolution is dumb as hell. We're not exactly dealing with a masterpiece here. But you know what? I was in the mood for a silly little holiday comedy, and a silly little holiday comedy is exactly what I got.
Sure, that's maybe not the most bulletproof defense in the world, but I'm gonna stand by it. I tend to like these dark, deadpan Jason Bateman vehicles (Game Night might be my favourite comedy of the 2010s), and this one comes with added doses of lunacy and heartwarming sentimentality, not to mention some hamminess from the supporting cast. Your mileage may vary when it comes to deciding whether these qualities are infectious or irritating, but I enjoyed the unrestrained energy and goofiness, and thought it made for both a fun and cozy watch. It also made me laugh quite a bit.
Like a lot of "bad" Christmas comedies (Jingle All the Way and How the Grinch Stole Christmas come to mind), I think people will slowly come around to this one with each passing December.
Grade: B+
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