Although the movie concept was an interesting one, it failed to generate many nostalgic laughs, nor did it remind me very much of the 1985 era, or of my own family Christmas's, thank goodness. The movie's concept is supposed to be that dad wraps up a used VHS video camera for the family Christmas gift that he had to settle taking in lieu of a $2,000 debt owed to him by a shady friend played by Dave Foley who used the video camera to make his amateur porn.
Grandma is played by Jayne Eastwood, and she is just not happy with anything about Christmas other than the hard liquor. Grandpa is deaf as a door nail, and his three daughters do not have much use for him as they are reminded how awful their childhood was with him as their dad.
Jason Jones is the sad sack dad, whose Don Juan smarmy brother played by Peter Klegehan continues to make passes at his sister in law who just happens to be about four months pregnant when coincidentally was the last time the two secretly met. Rounding out the dysfunctional adults is the heavy drinking mullet head brother in law played by Mike Beaver.
So by now you have probably figured out that when you mix a lot of heavy drinking, a dysfunctional family with a few teenage kids who are also a bit warped. and provide them with their first ever video camera, nothing is off limits. In one particular scene dad, played by Jason Jones is sitting on the toilet doing what comes naturally and this is where I thought the movie should have ended......on the bathroom throne.
This is a two star flusher, with a pretty bad smell. Don't waste any more time watching it than you would exert on a good bowel movement.
