I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998) Reviews

• Hmmm, not the best Disney movie I've seen.

  Cassie-71998-12-21

  Well, I'd give this a 6 out of 10 because I love Christmas, but really the plot was fairly thin and wasn't this same idea run through in John Hughes "Dutch (aka Driving Me Crazy) - kid doesn't want to go home (for Thanksgiving in that movie), but then he has all sorts of adventures on the road on his way home and learns his lesson, etc, etc. The only problem with this movie is that, unlike "Dutch", I honestly didn't feel that JTT had learned his lesson at all, he was still a scam artist at the end. Disney should really learn some lessons from John Hughes / Chris Columbus, they really know how to make a kids live-action movie! I was so disappointed because it sounded like a really fun idea, but turned into the plot of a so-so TV movie. It's worth seeing, but go on cheap Tuesday, or with free tickets, you'll feel less ripped off!!

• well and good, but...

  MusicalMagpie2008-12-20

  rules are all very well and good, but why should I have to write at least 10 lines about a movie when others have extensively critiqued it already, and all I want to do is disagree with the bad reviews? Sheesh. I almost didn't watch this film, after reading some of the comments here, but as it was on TV and I had nothing better to do, I ignored the bad reviews and was glad I did. Sure, it is lightweight and the plot is a bit far-fetched, but so what? It is a Christmas movie, folks, nothing more, nothing less. Jonathan Taylor Thonas strikes just the right note as a college student trying to get home for Christmas, and learning to shed his selfish, self-centered attitudes as he does. There were some genuinely funny moments, a lot of touching moments, and the only fart joke I have ever laughed at. The great scenery (parts of BC and Alberta pretending to be various locations in a cross-country race across the USA) added to the enjoyment of the film. I was just going to say "Ignore the bad reviews, I liked it" but I had to pad it out . IMDb, don't you know that brevity is the soul of wit?

• Childhood Memories

  hunterswanson2018-10-11

  I'm a 90' kid and this movie was a staple every holiday season. If it doesn't hold a special place for you, you probably won't think it's a great movie. Your kids may like it though!

• A charming Christmas movie

  Antantz2017-11-12

  Jonathan Taylor Thomas stars alongside Jessica Biel in this delightful yuletide story and although the plot is quite diaphanous (sometimes far-fetched) it is quite enjoyable to watch, if you just forget about those moments. The overall theme of the film is a 'finding the way' road trip where our star Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is inspired to make his way home before Christmas Day so that he can get the Porsche from his Dad, the car that he has always wanted. Through-out the movie as soon as you think he will make it home, something else gets in the way but because he is so resourceful he manages to overcome those obstacles, sometimes even breaking the law! Eventually Jake finds out that it's not about making it home on time to get the Porsche but that he spends the time with his family instead, something that he has tried to avoid - yes kind of corny and cliché. The story is just endearing, it combines sentiment with age-appropriate humour and it's just a great movie to watch at the end of the year. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel manage to hold the film together with their strong performances, but sometimes you must unplug your brain and forget about certain parts because they are just too implausible. Overall an enjoyable Christmas movie.

• nice comedy-adventure, not spectacular

  vchimpanzee2002-12-23

  Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays Jake, a college student in California who hasn't come home to New York for the holidays since his father remarried. The father makes Jake a deal he can't refuse: get home by 6 p. m. Christmas Eve, and he can have the Porsche they rebuilt together. One problem: Jake helps some athletes cheat on a final exam, but his plan is sabotaged, and 'Eddie and the boys' leave him in the desert wearing a Santa suit, with nothing but a note they signed. Eddie sets out to take Jake's girlfriend home. Jake calls her but there is a problem with her answering machine. Jake calls home for help but he has lied and schemed too many times before. It is his ability to lie that gets him on the road making progress toward his goal, but also into new jams. He sees Eddie several times (what are the chances?) but his girlfriend doesn't see him until the fourth time, and that doesn't turn out well. Of course, Eddie and Jake's girlfriend don't get along too well in their travels east. It's a fun film if not great. Jake helps several people, including himself, learn the true meaning of Christmas. Lots of great scenery in the first half of the movie, and a lot of the music is good, with styles including jazz and bluegrass. And the situations Jake gets himself into are quite funny. Have you ever seen a 5K race where all the entrants are dressed like Santa? It's a family film with a little off-color humor (I saw the edited version, so no bad language to speak of).