Product Description

In the spirit of the season, Disney presents the hilarious comedy adventure that celebrates the believer in all of us. Jake Wilkinson (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a self-centered college student, has one thing on his mind -- get home for Christmas dinner or forfeit the vintage Porsche his father promised him. Just days before his deadline, Jake awakens in the California desert -- stranded and penniless, wearing a Santa suit and white beard! Desperate to claim his gift, he flies, crawls, cons, races, bullies, and even sleighs his way east. But his nonstop mission turns into a nonstop comedy of errors as a multitude of colorful and offbeat strangers look to "Santa" for help and kindness. The closer Jake gets to home, the closer he gets to the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of family. I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is a trip your entire family will enjoy taking all year long!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2886 in DVD
• Brand: Disney
• Released on: 2002-10-08
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 86 minutes

Amazon.com
Jonathan Taylor Thomas stars as Jake, a shallow huckster attending college in Los Angeles who finds troubles aplenty and, eventually, redemption on a road trip home in this youth-oriented Christmas vehicle. The action begins with Jake dumped in the desert dressed in full Kris Kringle regalia as payback for a scheme gone wrong, making Taylor Thomas the second Home Improvement cast member to don a Santa suit for film. (The first, of course, was his TV dad Tim Allen in The Santa Clause, for those of you who snoozed through recent Christmases.) With Jake stuck in the dunes, his stranded girlfriend (Jessica Biel from TV's Seventh Heaven) accepts a ride from his rival and thus begin the cross-country shenanigans that lead to a Christmas sleigh ride in their shared New York hometown. Look for Gary Cole (a.k.a. Mike Brady in the movie version of The Brady Bunch) playing another wise father. Although it may be hard for adults to buy the diminutive Taylor Thomas as a college student (and what's with the high school lockers at the so-called college?), Taylor Thomas and Biel have plenty of swoon appeal for young fans 10 and up. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

Great Movie!
I'll Be Home For Christmas is a great movie for the whole family! My mom and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was romantic, cute, and funny. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel really shined in their roles. My favorite scene is when Jake and Allie are sitting in the sleigh together. I also liked how Jake changed from stuck up to sweet. I am planning on buying this movie but where's the soundtrack? I thought the music was great! My favorite song is "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by 'N Sync. If you haven't seen this movie, buy or rent it today. You're missing a great movie!

Great holiday movie for the whole family
I'll Be Home For Christmas is your typical fluffy holiday movie. If you don't like fluffy, feel good movies with happy endings, chances are you won't like this movie.

But, for those of us who aren't quite so cynical, this movie is pretty good. I don't really care for Jessica Biel's acting ability, so that's basically my only issue with it. On the other hand, I felt Jonathan Taylor Thomas (J.T.T. as he was known as by my teenybopper sister back in his heyday) was perfect in his role. (What ever happened to that kid?)

Anyway, J.T.T. plays Jake, a college (or prep school, not sure which) student, who is trying to get home for Christmas because if he does so, he gets his dad's vintage Porsche. Not only does Jake have the Porsche over his head, he also needs to make good with his girlfriend Ally, who after being stood up by Jake, takes up an offer of a trip back east with Jake's archenemy, Eddie.

What follows is Jake's cross-country journey where he runs into one adventure after another all the while being dressed in a Santa suit. All of which we found to be pretty entertaining! Of course, he eventually makes it home and he fixes his relationship with Ally and all is happy by the time the closing credits role. Ah, aren't these predictable holiday movies great? I love them.

I'd recommend this for families with children of most ages. My four-year-old actually watched this movie the whole way through. That's impressive!

Great for kids or adults
This movie was a cute movie for the whole family. I would suggest it to add to your holiday collection.