Review:

I saw this in the theater 22 years ago and all I really remembered was JTT abandoned in the desert in a Santa costume with the hat and beard glued on. To be fair, I was eight and this isn't a movie that I'm going to still recall much about in a month. I did remember correctly that the main story here is that JTT wakes up in the desert with no money and has to try and get home for Christmas (much as the title implies). I remember liking it, but I think I got more out of it 22 years later. It's a little generous to call this a family film; it's really more of a teen film. There is a side-plot with JTT and his relationship with Mary Camden that makes JTT's character insufferably bad. He's an unlikable jerk who doesn't really change at any point. I like a lovable butthead just as much as anyone else, but beyond his little quips, JTT is just a self-centered egotist for 90 minutes. He is pretty damn funny though and most of the jokes land. Surprisingly, for a 90's movie starring two 90's teen heart-throbs, this film aged pretty well up until the very 90's N*Sync cover of "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays". Before that, I was never like, "Oh boy, that is so 90's!" like I kind of wanted to. I bought the Disney Movie Club exclusive Blu Ray (because that is somehow the only Blu Ray release of this film) from Ebay just to relive my 90's childhood and there is nothing about this film that screams 90's. If I showed this to my sister and didn't ever mention what a big deal we all though JTT was going to be after Home Improvement, I could probably convince her that this is a new film. There are no dated references, the acting is all prefect, the humor is timeless, and the movie flows very well. I kind of shocked to see how low this movie is rated everywhere. Beyond JTT's character not growing at all, I loved this movie. The first fifteen minutes or so are kind of slow, but as soon as we chuck JTT into the desert, the movie becomes great. I can't tell you the last time I laughed out loud at a movie, but this one got me multiple times. It's quick and dumb, but it hilarious. Whatever, I love it.