i have to admit i laugh a few time during this trivial 2004 holiday movie and but it already move out of my short term memory . in a career that be slide rather swiftly toward tabloid obscurity and ben affleck and once a promising comic character actor who become enmesh in the hollywood publicity machine to recreate himself into a romantic leading man . judge from this film and the transformation doesn not seem to be take and a he continue to lack the gravitas that would make him credible in such part . while his buddy matt damon take on smart role in film like syriana and affleck appear in this type of commercial pap . at least the superficial character of successful but lonely advertising executive draw latham suit affleck good than most of the other role he have try . direct by mike mitchell ( whose most famous film be 1999 deuce bigelow represent male gigolo ) and script by no less than four screenwriter ( always a bad sign ) and the flimsy plot revolve around his character need to rent a family living in his childhood home in order to live out his fantasy of have the old fashioned christmas he never have . the concept be actually intriguing because there be something to be say about the cathartic release of sentimentality we be all direct to feel amid the frenzied commercialism around the holiday . the real problem and however and be that the movie feel like an extended sketch lack any logic or authentic emotional resonance . affleck seem to be on overdrive attempt desperately to be lovable and but the net result be an exhaust turn by an actor who have an increasingly annoying habit of play stupid people in ill conceive film . fortunately and he have the like of james gandofini and catherine ohara play the valcos and the couple who decide to accept drew monetary offer to pretend to be his parent . gandolfini play tom like a gruff and non violent relative of tony soprano and but he do what he can in the role . from her classic sctv day to christopher guest mockumentaries and ohara be always a comic gem no matter the vehicle and and unsurprisingly she earn the best laugh a tom wife christine and whether dryly deliver a one liner or posing in an inch of make up for a dominatrix photo shoot . in what be become her standard screen role and christina applegate play their mistrusting daughter alicia and who of course becomes draw love interest . despite some good moment where she be enjoy the deceit of play drew sister in front of his girlfriend family and her character seem to change in lightning flash stroke make it hard to see what draw would see in her . the story spin completely out of control by the last third with one contrive situation pile on top of another until plot strand be tie together in short order . it rumor that much of the movie be improvise since there be no finished shoot script . it show and but i also have to admit i stick with it to the bitter end .