“Christmas Do-Over” is a made for TV movie with a plot that’s been done many times before. And most of the time done better. This 2006 ABC Family presentation stars comedian Jay Mohr as a grumpy divorcee who keeps repeating a terrible Christmas Day over and over.
I like Mohr as a comic, and he’s pretty funny here. Playing a lazy self-centered guy named Kevin, Mohr has the ability to be perfect in this type of role. Its almost like he isn’t acting at all. He’s a typical scrooge who tries to buy the affections of his son, Ben. Mohr is best when portraying a slacker. A thirty-something who can’t or simply won’t grow up.
Familiar Plot
Kevin’s ex is handled by Daphne Zuniga, who I last saw decades ago as Princess Vespa in “Spaceballs.” Zuniga is charming as the mature one in the family. There is no other recognizable name or face, and I guess that’s the point; it’s Mohr’s movie to win or lose.
I love the similar film “12 Dates of Christmas” and it was easy to figure out why its so much better. In “Dates,” the protagonist (played by Amy Smart) is easy to root for. Yes she’s selfish and aloof at the start. But she experiences personal growth as the story plods along. Here, we get Kevin. Yes, the character does have an arc, but it comes at the expense of other, seemingly decent characters.
Vespa – daughter of Roland – King of the Druids!
A big mistake is not establishing a bad guy. Or not establishing a new girl, since everyone is supposed to be paired off by the end of a story like this. This flick is a case of musical chairs, and we know that at the end someone is going to be left out in the cold.
Christmas Groundhog Day?
I don’t love the Bill Murray film “Groundhog Day” (shocking I know). There’s too much repetition that isn’t needed, and they do the same thing here. By the hundredth time its like we get it already he’s repeating the day. It takes too long for him to make any meaningful changes. I would like to see a set number or days – twelve as in the aforementioned Amy Smart movie – which is better. With this its as if he’s enjoying living within the confines of a literal curse.
“Christmas Do-Over” is below average, even as TV movie standards go. The plot has been done before, and you can easily find one done a lot better.
“Christmas Do-Over” is currently available to stream on Amazon
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