Synopsis
Boyd Mitchler and his family must spend Christmas with his estranged family of misfits. Upon realizing that he left all his son's gifts at home, he hits the road with his dad in an attempt to make the 8-hour round trip before sunrise.
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Cast
- Joel McHaleBoyd Mitchler
- Robin WilliamsMitch Mitchler
- Lauren GrahamLuann Mitchler
- Wendi McLendon-CoveyShauna Welnke
- Candice BergenDonna Mitchler
- Clark DukeNelson Mitchler
- Matt JonesCowboy Dick
- Pierce GagnonDouglas Mitchler
- Oliver PlattHobo Santa
- Jeffrey TamborSnowman (voice)
Recommendations
- 63
New York Post
The film’s mix of elements of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “Bad Santa” is amusing. - 40
The New York Times
It’s a testament to Williams’s energy that even in an unfortunate part as Virgil, an angry, alcoholic dad, he comes across as the most vivid member of the cast. - 38
RogerEbert.com
There are a few nice moments of performance and filmmaking (including the elaborately choreographed final shot), but not enough to redeem a film that seems to flinch from the harsh truths it was presumably created to address. - 38
Slant Magazine
Whereas "Bad Santa" was nastier and riskier, as well as more mischievously winsome, A Merry Friggin' Christmas is as curiously timid as it is morally dubious. - 33
The A.V. Club
Williams made some terrible movies, but he never phoned them in. On both counts, this one’s no exception. - 30
The Dissolve
A Yuletide comedy so slight, it sometimes feels like a bonus-sized Christmas episode for a sitcom that never should have been green-lit in the first place. - 30
The Hollywood Reporter
Representing one of Robin Williams' last films, A Merry Friggin' Christmas lives up to its bah, humbug title. Not only because it's terrible, although it is, but rather because one desperately hoped that the beloved actor would go out on a high note. - 30
Variety
Neither warm and fuzzy in the best holiday movie traditions, nor edgy and irreverent a la “Bad Santa” (coincidentally also co-starring Graham, to better effect), it’s something of a mystery what audience A Merry Friggin’ Christmas intends to serve.
