I'll Be Home for Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas
PG | 13 November 1998 (USA)
I'll Be Home for Christmas Trailers

Estranged from his father, college student Jake is lured home to New York for Christmas with the promise of receiving a classic Porsche as a gift. When the bullying football team dumps him in the desert in a Santa suit, Jake is left without identification or money to help him make the journey. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Allie, does not know where he is, and accepts a cross-country ride from Jake's rival, Eddie.

Reviews
GazerRise Fantastic!
Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
callanvass A manipulative college student named Jake initially decides to change his tickets from going back home to something else. When he learns that his dad is bribing him with 1957 Porsche, Jake quickly changes his mind. There is only one catch. He must be home by 6 PM. On the eve of going back home with his girlfriend Alley (Jessica Biel) , Jake gets kidnapped when a scheme goes wrong, thrown into the middle of the desert. Jake's main rival Eddie (LaVorgna) ends up driving Jessica home in lieu of Jake. What follows is a string of misadventures for Jake, while he attempts to not only get his girlfriend back, but get home in time as well.I love this movie and I'm not ashamed of it. I watched it countless times as a teenager and it was one of my favorites. I have many fond memories of it. When I was a teenager, I had the biggest crush on Jessica Biel. I used to envy Jonathan Taylor Thomas in this movie. Now that I'm older, I don't feel the same way. This is the first time I've seen this movie since 2003. That's a long time to go out without viewing a movie, even after seeing it many times. A couple of nights ago, I decided to put this on. I was curious to see how it would hold up, now that I'm older. It may not be Christmas time, but I was in the mood for something fluffy that would make me smile a lot. I can gladly say, this movie still manages to do the job. This is a movie that anybody can enjoy at any age. It has plenty of laughs as well. Allie's "I'll have to slug you" line cracks me up every time. I also howl at the restaurant scene, where Jake tries to get a couple back together. We even get some subtle sexual jokes about Santa. "Someone else is going down Santa's Chimney?" It may be family entertainment, but it's not afraid to throw some jabs and take a risk. Jonathan Taylor Thomas is fun as the lead. He makes a great weasel and I never fail to smile at his antics. He definitely had plenty of charisma for his age. Jessica Biel is beautiful, talented as well. I highly doubt you'll see her talking about this movie, but she was solid as the love interest. Adam LaVorgna plays a good slime ball. Gary Cole is a tad wasted as the Dad, but he was good too. This is excellent family entertainment. I don't care what anyone says. This is a good movie that has a really good message behind it. What do people expect, an Oscar winner? You can watch this one at any time of the year. Don't be warded off by the low rating8/10
atinder There no Tim Allen in this movie but not far from it!This time Randy from Home Improvement show but this time playing Jake.The dad as tells son, if come home before 6pm on Christmas he will get the posrche/But it not that simple as think always to get in away, when bullies kidnapped him and clue Santa suit to his body and leave in the dessert.There are funny moment in this movie and on the way he helps some people like the way, which was nice touch to the movie. Then half hour into the movie,it gets a predicable and the really cheesy ending Worth watching xmas movie
nathanpk92 I just watched it and I loved it. Its about a college kid who's father has promised him a Porsche if he can get home by 6:00 Christmas Eve. I think Jonathan Taylor Thomas was perfect for the role of Jake Wilkinson. He has just enough smart aleck in him and enough charisma to pull it off. Along the way, Jake must face many obstacles such as having a Santa beard and hat glued to his face and head respectively. The line that really got me hooked was at the beginning where Thomas, being his natural smart Aleck, witty talking self, told his girlfriend after saying he had tickets to an event and she reacted poorly that he knew she would be... p***ed. This is a definite holiday great. Right up there with Home Alone and Its a Good Life. Hope the review helped.
phillafella `Home Improvement' star Jonathan Taylor Thomas stars in this predictable family comedy as a college kid whose father will promise him a new car if he makes it home before Christmas dinner begins. Thomas is in top form, but this should have been a two-part episode of `Home Improvement,' for he had left the show not long before this film was released. The Santa Race is the highlight of the film, but because there is little else here that is entertaining, this movie is only recommended for fans of the teen star.2 out of 5