Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Con man fakes a family to score big in 2000s holiday tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Family Holiday
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE FAMILY HOLIDAY, con man Doc Holiday (Dave Coulier) is in a bad way. He owes several thousand to a large and threatening loan shark. With no legitimate source of income, he's reduced to riding around on a stolen bike, wearing various uniforms, doing quick door-to-door scams. When his rich uncle dies, he inherits millions, but only if the uncle's reps can determine that Doc has become a responsible and honest family man. Doc prepares for his greatest scam ever, rents a house, and persuades twin orphans Tim (Brant Schultz) and Amanda (Abigail Schornick), on the run from Social Services, to pose as his children for a small payout when he gets his inheritance. Will he get away with it?
Is It Any Good?
For its unforced family values and elevated depiction of kids resourcefully coping under stress (although in a comedy), The Family Holiday is a nice choice for the whole family to watch together. Dave Coulier (Full House) has a breezy, matter-of-fact manner that is a good fit for the seemingly morals-free Doc. But when Doc's turnaround as a human being occurs by the story's end, Coulier's sweetness feels just as believable as the bad boy side.
One of the movie's assets, and also what makes it a potential draw for kids, is that the young street-smart Tim, as played by Brant Schultz, speaks to Doc with a no-nonsense savvy, as if they're equals, and Doc, realizing the kid is smarter than he is, treats Tim with appropriate respect.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the talent and resourcefulness it takes to be a successful con man. Do you think those qualities can be put to use for good?
Do you think a dishonest person can change into an honest one? What do you think it takes to make the leap?
Why do you think Elizabeth changes her mind about Doc?
How does this compare to other holiday movies you've seen?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 7, 2007
- Cast : Dave Coulier , Alexa Fischer , Brant Schultz
- Director : Craig Clyde
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories , Holidays ( Christmas )
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 2, 2025
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