Chasing Christmas

Chasing Christmas is an interesting turn on A Christmas Carol. Arnold is a single dad that decided not to observe xmas because his wife left him around that time. The ghosts of xmas past and present try and get Arnold to relent, but they screw up their jobs and send themselves on a wild ride through time showing up at various times in Arnold's past. As they try and rectify the timeline and get back to the real present, they change some things. I think they successfully pull off the updated story because of the comic relief and the talent of the actors. There are quite a few lame parts, but overall a good watch. I'd give this film an A- for content and execution.

Finally something different in the Christmas genre. This made-for-TV movie has Dickens' A Christmas Carol getting all shook up to give it bunch of different situations not in the original story. Tom Arnold is excellent in the "Scrooge" role. He, of course, is visited by three ghosts meant to show him how he has every reason to stop being a scrooge. But all does not go as planned and that's what makes this refreshing. Unfortunately a low budget hinders this kinda unique story. Bright green grass with foamy looking snow covering portions of the ground? Just terrible. Throw in more money and a more talented director and you really coulda had something much better here. Still it's refreshing. Even though it was made for the ABC Family Channel, it's not exactly charming nor is it really family-friendly unless the family consists of only adults! It's still PG but does contain adult themes. Barely any Christmas music in it so not very Christmasy. But it kept my interest especially compared to so many repetitive and formulaic takes on the classic tale.

6.4 / 10 stars

--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener

Jack (Tom Arnold) despises Christmas. Not only are his memories from childhood painful, his acrimonious divorce didn't help matters, either. So, even when his daughter is visiting, Jack doesn't want to go shopping for the trimmings or presents. Naturally, the Yuletide "powers that be" believe Jack needs a visit from, you guessed it, Christmas Past (Leslie Jordan), Present (Andrea Roth) and Future. But, what they don't count on is Past, very tired of his role, running away from Jack with his magic Christmas wand, in 1965! Now, lovely Present steps in to help Jack track down Past and work his way back into the present day. As they do so, they hop-skip to various Christmas pasts, including the one Jack spent with his new bride on a ski trip. What revelations appear! Therefore, will Jack get out of the past, lessons learned, and will Past return to save the day? This is really quite an entertaining take on the Dickens classic, where new versions come out every season. One of the reasons is that Arnold is extremely likable and humorous in the main role, as are Jordan, Roth and all of the others. Then, too, with the settings fluctuating from the fifties to the sixties, seventies and beyond, it is delightful to observe the fashions, hot gift ideas, et cetera. Also, the direction is lively and the script is cute. Ho, ho, ho, what fun it is to see Jack tied up with a string of Xmas lights and such! Need a new funny bone tickler for the holidays? Chase down this one.

OK, I like Tom Arnold and, except for the "Highway to Heaven" episode with Geoffrey Lewis, this is the funniest version you can imagine.

Arnold hate Christmas because his wife dumped him on Christmas Eve. He becomes the "Scrooge" we all love to hate. The Ghost of Christmas Past (Leslie Jordan) visits and decides that he wants to stay in the past. To the rescue is the Ghost of Christmas present (Andrea Roth). So most of the movie takes place in Arnold's past as Present tries to get him home before midnight.

Brittney Wilson was great as Arnold's daughter.

Of course, you all know how it ends.

A peculiar film which had a decent premise and an interesting variation on a Christmas Carol but the acting primarily by the two main male characters was appalling and the Christmas Past character was absolutely unbearable. He seemed to run at walking pace yet put miles between those chasing him.