‘A Sudden Case Of Christmas’ Review – Overly Sentimental Holiday Hijinks, But Still Better Than A Hallmark Flick

No, we are not dashing through the snow in a one-horse-open sleigh, but we are summering in Italy for a clunky, sentimental, and generally generic Christmas romp. A Sudden Case of Christmas has the decor and setting of a Hallmark special but with a cast of respectable and accomplished actors. This holly jolly flick is unlikely to result in Bah humbug insults on the screen, but it will unlikely cause anyone’s heart to grow three sizes.

Christmas is a big deal for ten-year-old Claire (Antonella Rose). Her family travels to her grandfather’s hotel (Danny DeVito) each year to spend the holiday, except there is a switch this year. The parents (Lucy DeVito and Wilmer Valderrama) are on the verge of breaking up. They bring their daughter to her happy place over the summer to cushion the breakup blow. However, Claire is precocious and suspects her parents’ pending separation. Fearing the family will not be together for Christmas, she proposes that the whole family celebrate the holiday in August. The result is a family reunion and some Ho-Ho hijinks.

In addition to Claire’s maternal grandfather Lawrence (DeVito), the paternal grandparents (played by Andie MacDowell and José Zúñiga) also join the party. These unexpected Christmas festivities bring the whole family under the same roof but are not all good tidings. As Claire’s parents attempt to work out their marital woes, her paternal grandparents are experiencing their own growing pains. Oh, and a lost puppy must be found!

Now, the tension is never more than surface-level. The feel and execution are like Hallmark movies, with sappy dialogue and sweeping locations. Hot Balloon ride, anyone? The film wants to be a slightly less melancholy version of the song; We Need a Little Christmas, popularized from the Broadway musical Mame and replayed song and verse every holiday season. The problem is the film is never as snappy as the song. The other issue is that this movie tells us everything we need to know in the first ten minutes. Overall, the next eighty minutes feel like a running skit with a few Michael Bublé Christmas songs sprinkled in for good measure.

Yes, there is sentimentality. The performance by Rose is the right amount of Christmas cheer, and her sunny goodness is enough to keep this Christmas tree from going completely dark. There is also the presence of DeVito, who is working less for laughs in this outing and more as the grandfatherly figure. The added measure of the two sets of parents on the verge of a breakup feels like an overcooked Christmas pudding. It might have been better left on the cutting room floor rather than acting as a stocking stuffer.

MacDowell is always welcome in any role but mainly recites poetry and practices archery. If a strong enough case exists, the investment is found in Claire’s optimism. She loves her family and sees Christmas as the great unifier. That may be the film’s silver lining—a timely reminder of the holiday season’s true meaning.

Now let there be no misunderstanding: A Sudden Case of Christmas is not a Christmas classic in the waiting. I would not stack this alongside It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story. However, it is at least more serviceable than the manufactured slop of goddy gingerbread cookies, and overzealous Santa we find streaming on Hallmark the day after Halloween. The premise of Christmas in the summer is more a stand-in than a focal point of the plot. However, it is a clever reminder of the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  

Christmas is a time for family and a reminder that the greatest gift is family. While the message in this film is a bit on the bright red nose, it is heartfelt and universal.

A Sudden Case of Christmas is currently playing in select theaters and is available on Digital platforms courtesy of Shout! Studios. The film will debut on DVD on November 19, 2024.