A Merry Friggin' Christmas

Film begins with a nostalgic scene of a young boy hiding behind a Christmas tree. Suddenly, a drunken father stumbles in, prompting the boy to shout, “Santa!” to which the father responds with a dismissive remark, “I’m the only Santa you’ll ever have, kid.” Fast forward to the present day, where Boyde is taking his son Douglas to see Santa. As they approach a retail Santa, Boyde is disheartened by the sight of a rambling Santa who seems more like a wine-drunk bum on the sidewalk. The curious boy questions the existence of two Santas, but his father assures him that Santa is indeed real. Meanwhile, his older sister Vera, with unfiltered candor, drops a bombshell about hearing gossip regarding Santa’s reality that leads Boyde to choke on his coffee. His wife safely navigates the awkward family dynamics when she asks, “Do you know what a BJ is?” prompting Vera to confuse it with a more innocent term, “I think it’s a but-jam.” Boyde quickly steps in, pleading with his daughter not to spoil the holiday magic for little Douglas.

That night, Boyde lays in bed next to his wife, Luann, who attempts to rekindle their intimacy. He gently declines, insisting that they let Douglas believe in Santa for just one more year. A phone call interrupts the moment; it’s Boyde’s brother Nelson, who jovially shares a mix of chaotic parenting antics, like blending a frozen burrito for his baby. He invites Boyde to be the godparent at the baby’s Christening on December 24, which strikes fear in Boyde’s heart as he realizes it means spending Christmas with his family in Wisconsin.

As the scene shifts, Boyde is seen hiding a Christmas present for Douglas, trying to protect the magic of the season. The drive to Wisconsin in a white BMW SUV takes a turn when Boyde is pulled over for speeding, adding to the mounting stress. At the family homestead, Boyde is met with the eccentricities of his relatives. His father Mitch is displeased with Boyde’s refusal to eat venison at Christmas dinner, while his mother, Donna, is on a frantic search for her lost camera—exclaiming, “Help me find my GD camera!” Rounding out the chaos, Boyde’s sister Shuana demands milk for her son, insisting that he must wait until the adults have finished their meal, while the younger children turn the yard into their own playground of destruction by vandalizing Christmas lawn decorations.

As the old family dynamics unfold, Boyde experiences a mix of absurdity and nostalgia, particularly when he discovers that his family has served him squirrel for dinner, and watches as his nephew Rance engages in a remarkable feat of gluttony by consuming ten dinner rolls in under a minute. Amidst the chaos, the children are tucked away in the basement, leading Boyde to hatch a plan for a late-night drive to retrieve Douglas’s present from Chicago before the boy awakes. However, a breakdown of his car leads to a comical road trip with Mitch in an old Custom Deluxe flatbed and even more chaos ensues.

Their journey is filled with mishaps—like receiving another speeding ticket, a heart-stopping pickle-eating contest instigated by Rance, and a family argument about Christmas music. They share heartfelt moments, including Boyde regaining his composure after a lighthearted argument with his brother-in-law, while Boyde’s sister regrets her insecurities stemming from their mother’s influence.

Once they finally arrive, Boyde’s troubles aren’t over, as he realizes he forgot the keys to his house and resorts to breaking a window to retrieve the present. In a surprising turn, he discovers a family photo that has been altered to exclude Mitch, leading to heightened tensions between brothers. A phone call to Luann only adds to his frustration, as he learns that the dog sitter can’t communicate in English. Amidst the unfolding chaos, they hit the road back to Wisconsin with the present in hand, only to have Boyde outrun the same police officer who ticketed them earlier, resulting in a wild chase that ends with him crashing into a port-o-potty.

In a twist of fate, they enlist the help of an unexpected ally— a wine-drunk Santa—who gladly drives them the last stretch home on his vintage snowmobile, sparking laughter and wonder. Arriving just in time, they manage to deliver the present to little Douglas, who takes Santa’s hand and says a heartfelt, “I believe in you.” While Boyde’s gift doesn’t impress Douglas at first, he is overjoyed to receive the vintage Bridge for Kids game that Luann discovered in the attic. The family steps outside for more playful antics, filled with love and laughter as the credits roll.

Last Updated: October 28, 2024 at 08:23