Christmas with the Campbells Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Christmas with the Campbells Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 7, 2023

In the onslaught of holiday-themed entertainment that arrives every year, there’s now “Christmas with the Campbells,” which has the appearance of a typical Hallmark Channel distraction for viewers who can’t get enough of the yuletide spirit or remain incapacitated in front of a television due to the consumption of too much egg nog. However, it’s not just another anodyne offering of cheer and romance, but something approaching a mild parody of such small screen comfort food. Screenwriters Barbara Kymlicka, Dan Lagana, and Vince Vaughn (who co-produces with Peter Billingsley) hope to add a streak of naughtiness to the proceedings, getting rascally with this take on small town Christmas experiences and relationship tentativeness. “Christmas with the Campbells” is a little too permissive with improvisation and crudeness, but there are laughs to be found in this bizarre mix of earnestness and silliness, and the cast comes ready to play.

Jesse (Brittany Snow) is an aspiring photographer living with Shawn (Alex Moffat), a financial world stooge looking for an upgrade in employment, accepting a chance to interview for a new position in New York City. Looking to shed some baggage, Shawn decides to dump Jesse right before they plan to spend Christmas with his parents, Liz (Julia Duffy) and Robert (George Wendt). Jesse is hurt and confused by the development, but when Shawn leaves, Liz invites the wounded woman to spend the holidays with them, bringing her to an idyllic small town for the week. Jesse looks to enjoy the intense seasonal atmosphere Liz provides, and she meets David (Justin Long), Liz’s nephew, who’s also staying in the house. Trying to settle into community happenings, Jesse remains an outsider, cozying up to David, with the pair enjoying easy chemistry, which is challenged by Becky (Joanna Garcia Swisher), a local with the hots for David. Just as things are going well for Jesse, Shawn returns home early, complicating an already complicated situation.

“Christmas with the Campbells” establishes its profane sense of humor early, but the goofiness of the material takes a little longer to come out and play. Jesse is presented as an average woman dealing with everyday problems, including employment issues and dreams of photography, left with a job taking Christmas portraits. Jesse clings to the promise of the holidays with Liz and Robert, who deliver big on seasonal tingles and carbs, putting on a major show of force that concludes with a party and a house light display. The writing builds up Jesse’s excitement and then pops her balloon, as Shawn is moving on without her, leaving for NYC. “Christmas with the Campbells” offers a customary set-up for a romantic comedy adventure, as Jesse agrees to join Liz and Robert without telling Shawn, creating opportunities for humor as the single woman commits to a family celebration after being dumped, joining games, meals, and a town dance as a non-relative, sending local gossips into a frenzy.

Director Clare Niederpruem (a television vet who’s made many Christmas movies) enjoys a chance to pants the subgenre, following writing that begins to expose its weirdness, with David arriving as a Handsome Dan with his dog, Polo, sharing an overtly traumatic backstory with Jesse, keeping him sensitive and humble. Robert’s an accountant in charge of lights he can’t untangle, and Liz is a hairdresser who lives for Christmas, but also demands attention during scheduled bedroom time with her husband, and she’s a fan of “purple drank,” looking to get a little high for the holidays. Liz is also a feeder, pushing food on everyone, and one of the great joys of “Christmas with the Campbells” is watching Duffy devour the part, stealing all her scenes. More fun is provided by Becky, who’s not subtle with her double entendres, trying to pull David into a sexual situation, which plays with formulaic games of love and lust, just with a more R-rated edge.

Christmas with the Campbells Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

It's a holiday movie made on a limited budget, but "Christmas with the Campbells" certainly looks appealing on Blu-ray. The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation remains bright and colorful, working with Christmas hues and small-town sights. Primaries are alert, with costuming most striking, and lighting is also active, setting warmer moods for domestic events and sharp greens and reds for yuletide celebrations. Skin tones are natural. Detail is strong on facial surfaces, and interiors are filled with decorative additions. Exteriors retain depth. Delineation is satisfactory. Compression largely holds together.

Christmas with the Campbells Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is primarily a frontal listening event, prioritizing dialogue exchanges, which remain crisp throughout. Scoring cues support with clarity, setting a mild holiday mood with Christmas sounds. Soundtrack selections are also defined, with a lighter percussive beat. Surrounds are barely engaged, mostly pushing out music and dealing with light crowd atmospherics.

Christmas with the Campbells Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The Making of 'Christmas with the Campbells'" (5:38, HD) is a brief featurette exploring the creation of the picture, featuring interviews with actors Brittany Snow, Julia Duffy, Joanna Garcia Swisher, Justin Long, George Wendt, and Alex Moffat. Characterization is briefly detailed and story points are shared. The interviewees also try to work up some enthusiasm for Christmas movies, and highlight the "R-rated" humor of the project. Christmas feels are reinforced, though nobody seems to really mean it. Some brief BTS footage is included as well.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Christmas with the Campbells Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Christmas with the Campbells" is low-budget and simple, trying to be a kooky antidote to all the vanilla basic cable offerings, even though it doesn't completely descend into madness. Not everything works, including lengthy improv battles and uncomfortable silences where scoring usually appears. The material isn't always sharp, or even interested in a tighter lampoon of Christmas movies, but the ensemble is fun to watch, trying to make their performances count and execute some of the odder moments with restraint, keeping "Christmas with the Campbells" on a fine line between stupidity and sincerity.