Yahoo! Movies: New Holiday DVD Releases

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:18 -0000

The third in the series of National Lampoon's 'Vacation' films, this sequel concerns the Griswold family's holiday get-together. This time they're trying to have a picture book, old-fashioned Christmastime--even though all the in-laws are dropping by, including Clark's (Chevy Chase) redneck cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid). Looks like it's going to be a real holly-jolly holiday--if they can make it through. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:17 -0000

In this live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss, director Ron Howard (APOLLO 13, SPLASH), casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role, giving this rendition of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS a perverse, manic spin. Add great special effects and a fast-moving script and this well-loved story of a freakish green monster living in a mountainside cave who disguises himself as Santa Claus, and steals the Christmas goodies from every single home in Whoville, becomes a hilarious holiday comedy. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:16 -0000

All Neal Page (Steve Martin) wants to do is make it home from a business trip in New York City and spend Thanksgiving with his family in Chicago. Instead, he finds himself rerouted from New York's La Guardia Airport to Wichita, Kansas. With no other options, Neal decides to share a room in a fleabag hotel with Del Griffith (John Candy), a shower-curtain-ring salesman and fellow stranded traveler. Although Neal finds Del to be a buffoon, he just can't seem to get away from him. To make matters worse, all their efforts to get back to Chicago fail as trains break down and rental cars catch on fire. Along the way they encounter crazy cabbies, redneck truck drivers, and oversexed bus passengers. John Hughes's (SIXTEEN CANDLES, THE BREAKFAST CLUB) first film to feature adults after his success with teen films features fine performances from Martin and Candy. Kevin Bacon, who appeared in Hughes's next film, SHE'S HAVING A BABY, makes a small but humorous appearance, as does Edie McClurg, known for her role as the high school secretary in FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

Where God Left His Shoes

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:15 -0000

John Leguizamo stars as a father, Frank, whose family is forced from their New York City apartment and into a homeless shelter. But on Christmas Eve, it looks as though the clouds are beginning to part: an apartment is available for them in a housing project if Frank can find a job. So begins a winter odyssey as Frank and his stepson wander the snowy streets in search of work. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Christmas in Wonderland

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:14 -0000

There's mischief and mayhem at the mall in this holiday family comedy. In CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND, kids find a bag full of counterfeit money and eagerly spend it, attracting the eyes of the bag's owners and the law. (1 hr. 38 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Four Christmases

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:13 -0000

Documentarian Seth Gordon (THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS) makes his feature film directorial debut with FOUR CHRISTMASES. Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and Brad (Vince Vaughn) are a happily unmarried couple who avoid spending Christmas with their families at all costs and instead travel to exotic locales. But when they find themselves fogged in at the San Francisco airport and their flight to Fiji cancelled, they have no choice but to spend the holiday with their divorced parents and the rest of their dysfunctional relatives. From his wrestling brothers and cradle-robbing mother to her oversexed grandmother and perfect sister, the couple is forced to face their worst nightmare head-on. Kate and Brad's greatest fears are realized as their families share their most personal secrets.

This film addresses broader themes of how people really know each other and the importance of connecting with family, no matter how crazy they might be. Vaughn and Witherspoon have nice chemistry as a couple that thought they had everything they wanted, improvising and playing off of each other well. Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek appear as Brad's parents, while Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen play Kate's parents. Jon Favreau and Tim McGraw are a hoot as Brad's tormenting brothers, and Kristen Chenoweth fits the bill as Kate's sister. Parents should be aware that the film includes adult language and themes, and some comments about Santa that may upset young children. (1 hr. 20 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Familiar Strangers

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:12 -0000

Those who feel that their family is odd may feel comforted by the weird Worthington clan in this comedy. FAMILIAR STRANGERS stars Shawn Hatosy (ALPHA DOG) as Brian Worthington, a man who has come home to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. The relationship between Brian and his father (Tom Bower, DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER) is strained, and it's certainly not helped by his father's treatment of the family pets as children. But the appearance of a young woman (THIRTEEN's Nikki Reed) who has a crush on Brian may make the holiday more bearable. FAMILIAR STRANGERS also stars DJ Qualls (ROAD TRIP). (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Make the Yuletide Gay

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:11 -0000

An out-and-proud college student wrestles with revealing his true sexuality to his parents when he comes home for Christmas break and his boyfriend decides to pay him a surprise visit. At school, everyone knows that Olaf "Gunn" Gunnunderson is gay; at home, it's a much different story. Bidding his boyfriend, Nathan, goodbye, Olaf heads home to find that his parents have fixed him up on a date with his old high-school sweetheart, Abby. When Nathan comes knocking unannounced, he can't quite believe that Olaf hasn't come out to his parents. Later, as the boys scramble to keep Olaf's sexuality a secret from his parents, the conversations grow increasingly inquisitive and Olaf must decide whether to come out before the truth does. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Nothing Like the Holidays

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:10 -0000

Alfred De Villa (WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, YELLOW) directs this tale of a Puerto Rican family gathering at their family home in Chicago's Humboldt Park for the holidays. On the surface, the Rodriguez family has much to be thankful for this Christmas. Eldest son Mauricio (John Leguizamo) is a lawyer on the verge of making partner and his wife is a Wall Street dynamo (Debra Messing), daughter Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito) is a movie star, and youngest son Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) has just returned home from a tour in Iraq. For the first time in years, the three siblings will all be home for the holidays, and their parents, Anna (Elizabeth Pe�a) and Eduardo (Alfred Molina), are elated. Except that Mauricio's wife isn't Puerto Rican, and despite her mother-in-law's constant pleas, she's in no rush to have a baby. Meanwhile, Roxanna is more of a struggling actress then a star, and Jesse is having a hard time adjusting to regular life and facing Marissa (Melonie Diaz), the "one that got away" when he enlisted. To make matters worse, their mother suspects their father of cheating and has decided that she wants a divorce.

Overall, this is a film about a family coming together for Christmas, but learning much more about each other and themselves. More of a dramedy then a comedy, most of the laughs belong to Luis Guzm�n as cousin Johnny. Jay Hernandez also appears as Ozzy, a close family friend who works at Eduardo's bodega and is struggling with his own demons. Leguizamo, Ferlito, and Rodriguez are believable as siblings who love each other even when they can't stand each other. Pe�a and Molina are well-cast as the matriarch and patriarch who ultimately put family first despite their differences. (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Disney's A Christmas Carol

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:09 -0000

Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009