HOME TRAILERS 2013 SCHEDULE PODCASTS REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS SHORT FILMS NEWS FEEDS ABOUT APPS

LATEST NEWS

Joel McHale, Heidecker & More Witness 'A Friggin' Christmas Miracle'

by Ben Pearson
March 18, 2013
Source: The Wrap

It's been a few years since a truly memorable Christmas movie hit theaters. (I'd argue 2003's Elf was the last great one.) There have been a few comedies mixed in recently - Harold & Kumar's third adventure comes to mind - but it's tough to make a modern Christmas film that works. That's not stopping more filmmakers from trying though, and there's a new project on the horizon that sounds pretty promising. It's called A Friggin' Christmas Miracle, and it stars Robin Williams and Joel McHale as father and son. Plus, The Wrap reports Tim Heidecker (of Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie) and others have also signed on.

The story, written by Wreck-It Ralph screenwriter Phil Johnston, follows a family man named Boyd (Joel McHale) who takes his wife (Lauren Graham) and son (Looper star Pierce Gagnon) to visit his family for Christmas. When they arrive, he realizes he's left his son's presents at home, so he grabs his father (Robin Williams) and brother to attempt to save the holiday. Bridesmaids star Wendi McLonden-Covey will play Boyd's sister, a mother of three who still breast-feeds her four-year-old child, while Heidecker will play her truck-driving husband Dave. Amara Miller (Shailene Woodley's younger sister in The Descendants), Ryan Lee (Super 8 and This is 40), and Bebe Wood ("The New Normal") round out the cast as the younger members of the family.

Tristram Shapeero, who has directed multiple episodes of TV series like "Happy Endings," "Community," "Parks and Recreation," and "New Girl," will be making his feature directorial debut on this film, which is being produced by Tom Rice and "Community" producers Joe and Anthony Russo, who will also be directing the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier. We just saw successful TV director Don Scardino jump to the big screen with The Incredible Burt Wonderstone to underwhelming results, so let's hope Shapeero has better luck. No official release date is set yet, but shooting begins soon in Atlanta.

Filed under Casting, Movie News

From around the web:

Chase

I love a good christmas movie and really hope this turns out to be good. I have an idea for a Christmas movie. Get Zach Galifianakis to play an adult who still lives at home with his mom and still believes in Santa and Christmas. His longtime high school bully (played by Will Arnett) makes a bet at their high school reunion that he can't prove that Santa exist. Galifianakis then goes on an adventure to the North Pole accompanied by a his niece (who is starting to have her doubts about the Christmas spirit too). They meet many people on there crazy journey and discover the true magic of Christmas. As a note, Galifianakis wears tacky Christmas sweaters the whole movie. It might sound stupid, but hey at least I'm trying to come up with something.
grimjob

Sounds damn good. Can't wait to see Tim as a trucker.