SummaryBoyd Mitchler (Joel McHale) and his wife Luann (Lauren Graham) are forced to spend a dreaded Christmas at his parents' house with his eccentric father (Robin Williams). When he realizes that he left his son's gifts at home, Boyd, his younger brother Nelson (Clark Duke) and their father hit the road to retrieve the gifts before sunrise.
Directed By:Tristram Shapeero
Written By:Phil Johnston
A Merry Friggin' Christmas
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
28
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
28
9% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
82% Negative
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
Nov 12, 2014
63
The film’s mix of elements of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “Bad Santa” is amusing.
Nov 9, 2014
38
Whereas "Bad Santa" was nastier and riskier, as well as more mischievously winsome, A Merry Friggin' Christmas is as curiously timid as it is morally dubious.
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
35% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
55% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Dec 23, 2015
7
As one of the last films to feature Robin Williams it's not hard to wish it was at least a little bit more. It's disappointing that one of his last movies is far from his best work, especially given that it's a Christmas flick. Yet, what is here is amusing and has some very funny moments. Rather than focusing on the true meaning of Christmas (something it touches on, but quickly leaves behind), the movie is more about mending broken family relationships. The problem is we never get to see if the main character's relationship with his father was as bad as he said it was. It's missing a certain punch to really sell it's lesson and give us an emotional hook to latch onto. Thankfully the movie has enough laughs to keep us watching and at least it does try to be emotional. The strong cast really helps sell things. Williams is just as wonderful as ever and the rest of the cast is also strong. It's not a hilarious laugh riot or even the most touching Christmas film out there, but if you are looking for some laughs and a great cast for a quick watch this holiday season then it's worth a look. An overall solid holiday movie and it's great to see Robin William's in one of his last performances, even if the movie isn't among his best.
Dec 2, 2014
6
As the holidays season is upon us so is the stream of Holiday movies, most of them are usually mediocre and sadly "A Merry Friggin Christmas" Is one of **** movie has a good cast and potential but some jokes fall flat and made me feel like this could have been a much better film. Robin Williams has one of the best characters and does a good job at delivering it, Clark Duke's character also delivers some of the best laughs. At times there was a bit of a "National Lampoon" feel to the film. But the mature subject matter of something like "Bad Santa". With that said Merry Friggin' Christmas is a decent holiday film to watch with Friends/Family but some jokes by go over the young one's heads.
Nov 7, 2014
38
There are a few nice moments of performance and filmmaking (including the elaborately choreographed final shot), but not enough to redeem a film that seems to flinch from the harsh truths it was presumably created to address.
Nov 12, 2014
33
Williams made some terrible movies, but he never phoned them in. On both counts, this one’s no exception.
Nov 6, 2014
30
Representing one of Robin Williams' last films, A Merry Friggin' Christmas lives up to its bah, humbug title. Not only because it's terrible, although it is, but rather because one desperately hoped that the beloved actor would go out on a high note.
Nov 6, 2014
30
A Yuletide comedy so slight, it sometimes feels like a bonus-sized Christmas episode for a sitcom that never should have been green-lit in the first place.
Nov 7, 2014
14
In attempting to work through its family issues, it arrives at catharses that are contrived and unearned, and in attempting to find humor in this pungent situation, it fails to deliver laughs.
Mar 13, 2015
5
Boyd Mitchler: "Look kids it's snowing". Mitch: "It might be ashes". Boyd (Played by Joel McHale) and his family (Played Robin Williams) who are forced to spend a dreaded Christmas at his parents' house with his eccentric father that he has been avoiding for years. When he realizes that he left his son's gifts at home. This movie has it's good, it's bad and lot of scenes that made me go "No way, I can't believe they did that". Some of the acting in this was pretty good: Joel McHale, Clark Duke and the great Robin Williams all do fantastic job in their roles. While watching this movie I go that sense of the Christmas spirit in side of me, which I always like when movies or TV shows get that sense of feeling of whatever season it's celebrating right. This movie has it's bad like: Some of the acting in this movie wasn't all that good and the movies message about the true meaning of Christmas got lost in it's messy script and it's numbing characters. Joel McHale character in this movie was such a Jerk and a peace of work. I hated his character so much, because he was so annoying and so rude to his father, and yes I know his father abused him when he was a little kid but we never see that, even in the the flash backs when he was a little boy and his father didn't abuse him at all. At times his father seems really nice and really caring for his son, at one point he tries to his son and the son pretty much says "F'ck off!", to him. A Merry Friggin' Christmas has it's ups and downs, but the three good actors really done carry this movie for me making it a merry Christmas indeed.
Jan 5, 2017
4
I don't understand what this movie is about. Joel McHale has a complex where his son must believe in Santa forever because he had some **** Xmases during his childhood? Nothing in this movie makes sense, what a waste **** cast.
Nov 22, 2014
4
The kind of movie you watch just to pass time, which is really all its worth. A merry friggin christmas is not extremely bad, but sometimes you wish it was just a little more, especially with it being one of Robin's final movies.
Dec 11, 2014
2
1/5★What a great example of a film that wastes a great cast with an awful plot, worse directing and coma inducing boredom. One of Robin Williams last films, even he couldn't save it: the bad sitcom humor, unlikable people and the depressing thought that this piece of garbage is one of Williams last films just ruins it. Verdict: Ho Ho Horrible.
Production Company:
- Sycamore Pictures
Release Date:Nov 7, 2014
Duration:1 h 28 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:Spend it with the ones you loathe
