I'll Be Home for Christmas - PG
Common Sense Note
Parents should know that the main character helps athletes cheat on an important exam and lies to get out of sticky situations (though he redeems himself later).
Families who see this film might discuss the popularity of Christmas movies. Compare and contrast it with other titles, such as It's a Wonderful Life, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas or A Charlie Brown Christmas. Do you see any common themes? Why do you think there are so many Christmas films and so few dealing with other major religious holidays, such as Ramadan or Passover?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Common Sense Media
A cynical and selfish college student learns the true meaning of Christmas when he travels across the country on his way home for the holidays.
Wisecracking college freshman Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) has refused to go home since his dad remarried after his mother's death. But he changes his tune when his father says he'll give Jake his treasured Porsche if he gets home by Christmas Eve. Allie, Jake's girlfriend, is delighted because they get to travel home together.
Plans change when Jake gets into trouble helping some football players cheat on an exam. Pretty soon, he ends up dumped in the desert dressed in a Santa Claus suit while Allie hitches a ride home with Eddie, Jake's sworn enemy.
Jake is determined to get to New York. Still dressed as Santa, he makes his way across the country, fast-talking his way out of every sticky situation. As he travels, he begins to realize the importance of friends and family. By the time he gets home, he doesn't even care about the Porsche.
It's hard to find a Christmas movie for younger teens that isn't too corny or childish. I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS may fit the bill, since it combines sentiment with age-appropriate humor. Adults may find this holiday story dull, but teens will probably enjoy Jonathan Taylor Thomas (of Home Improvement fame) and his con man persona.
Thomas is a surprisingly skilled actor, and makes his character's transformation from self-absorption to sensitivity believable and appealing. As Allie, Jessica Biel (from TV's 7th Heaven) is refreshingly real, too. Allie isn't afraid to speak her mind; she lets Jake know what she thinks of his bad behavior.
Although the story has no real surprises, it's kept afloat by Jake's rakish ingenuity. He's at his best when he's forced to dispense "hot" appliances to tiny tots, or when he coaches a bashful cop in a performance to win back his estranged wife. Each episode along the way teaches Jake a lesson about being honest and helping others, and by the end of his journey, he drops the con man pose and lets his real self come through.
Teens may also enjoy the quirky but hilarious A Christmas Story. It has a younger main character, but plenty of mature humor.
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