A wealthy executive, Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has no close relationships and becomes nostalgic for his childhood home as Christmas approaches. When he visits the house and finds another family living there, he offers the residents, Tom Valco (James Gandolfini) and his wife, Christine (Catherine O’Hara), a large sum of money to pretend they are his parents. Soon Drew tests the couple’s patience, and, when their daughter, Alicia (Christina Applegate), arrives, things get increasingly tense.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Drew Latham: Ben Affleck
• Tom Valco: James Gandolfini
• Alicia Valco: Christina Applegate
• Christine Valco: Catherine O’Hara
• Brian Valco: Josh Zuckerman
• Doo-Dah: Bill Macy
• Missy Vanglider: Jennifer Morrison
• Heinrich: Udo Kier
• Horace Vanglider: David Selby
• Letitia Vanglider: Stephanie Faracy
• Dr. Freeman: Stephen Root
• Doo-Dah Understudy: Sy Richardson
• Kathryn: Tangie Ambrose
• Cabbie: John ‘B.J.’ Bryant
• Suit: Peter Jason
• Levine the Lawyer: Phill Lewis
• Santa: Tumbleweed
• Santa’s Photographer: Kate Hendrickson
• Five Year Old: Bridgette Ho
• Little Girl: Hailey Noelle Johnson
• Older Brother: Sean Marquette
• Freeman Twin: Caitlin Fein
• Freeman Twin: Amanda Fein
• Marley: Kent Osborne
• Christmas Past: Bill Saito
• Christmas Present: Mike Bell
• Fanny: Amy Halloran
• Young Scrooge: Josh Siegel
• Chad: K. Troy Zestos
• Security Lady: Sonya Eddy
• Security Man: Smalls
• Deli Man: Ron Karabatsos
• Customer: Wynn Irwin
• Cute Girl at Play: Angela Gacad
• Man Wrapping Gift: Tom Kenny
• Lonely Lady: Joan Blair
• Depressed Donator: John Carter Brown
• Choir Director: William Thomas, Jr.
• Choir: Karen Furno
• Choir: Melanie Taylor
• Choir: David Atkinson
• Choir: Linda Kerns
• Choir: Precious McCall
• Choir: Reynaldo Duran
• Choir: Cynthia Marty
• Choir: Anika Noni Rose
• Choir: Michael Kosik
• Elf: Jon Simanton
• Elf: Allison Queal
• Elf: Kacie Borrowman

Film Crew:

• Screenplay: Jennifer Ventimilia
• Director: Mike Mitchell
• Screenplay: Harry Elfont
• Screenplay: Joshua Sternin
• Screenplay: Deborah Kaplan
• Production Design: Caroline Hanania
• Costume Design: Mary Jane Fort
• Director of Photography: Tom Priestley Jr.
• Executive Producer: Patricia Whitcher
• Editor: Craig McKay
• Casting: Juel Bestrop
• Casting: Jeanne McCarthy
• Stunt Double: Lisa Hoyle
• Hair Department Head: Melissa Yonkey
• Original Music Composer: Randy Edelman
• First Assistant Camera: Makiko Carlson
• Stunts: Eliza Coleman
• Stunts: Tad Griffith
• Stunt Coordinator: Doug Coleman
• Stunts: Linda Perlin
• Stunts: Joey Box
• Associate Producer: Erin Stam
• Producer: Jenno Topping
• Producer: Betty Thomas
• Director of Photography: Peter Lyons Collister

Movie Reviews:

• r96sk: The star cast elevate this a lot.
• Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate and Catherine O’Hara are, honestly, the only reasons this was watchable, for me personally at least. If it was a film with a lesser known cast, I wouldn’t have any positives for it.
• For a festive flick, it’s a little too mean-spirited. Of course that’s the way these films usually go so the eventual pay-off can occur, though with this it’s a bit too the other way and the aforementioned pay-off isn’t all that pleasant. You gotta make the characters way more likeable if you’re only gonna redeem them a tiny bit.
• ‘Surviving Christmas’ is at least only a relatively short film at around 90 minutes and there are a couple (if not enough) amusing moments. There’s also a surprisingly topical commentary on unintentionally consenting your likeness away via photos – I’m looking at you, latest Instagram trend.