Name: Christmas with the Campbells
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: 2022-12-02T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Brittany Snow, Justin Long, Alex Moffat, Julia Duffy, George Wendt

The snowmobile chase through the pines is the rare moment in Christmas with the Campbells where the film’s raunchy humor and holiday spirit align. Directed by Clare Niederpruem, this 2022 romcom tries to spoof Hallmark-style Christmas movies while adding Vince Vaughn’s signature brand of crass comedy. The result is a messy, uneven experience that never quite finds its footing.

The premise is simple: Jesse (Brittany Snow), dumped by her boyfriend Shawn (Alex Moffat) right before the holidays, reluctantly agrees to spend Christmas with his family—only to find herself falling for his charming cousin David (Justin Long). The film leans hard into obvious innuendo and over-the-top gags, from drunken antics to awkward family dinners. At its best, this approach lands with a satisfyingly raunchy punchline, like when Jesse’s nature photography shoot turns into an impromptu snowball fight. But too often, the humor feels forced or repetitive, relying on the same tired tropes and lazy jokes.

The performances are a mixed bag. Snow brings an earnest energy to Jesse, making her likable even when the script forces her into clichéd romantic comedy scenarios. Long’s David is charming but underdeveloped, reduced to little more than a lovable goofball. Moffat’s Shawn, meanwhile, feels like a placeholder character, lacking the depth or charisma needed to make his breakup with Jesse feel meaningful.

The film’s attempt to balance raunchy humor with heartfelt romance is where it stumbles most. The Wishing Tree subplot, meant to add emotional weight, falls flat thanks to clunky dialogue and a lack of genuine stakes. The snowmobile chase, however, is one of the few sequences that works on both levels, blending action with a sweet payoff as Jesse and David finally admit their feelings.

The production values are solid if unremarkable, with the snowy landscapes providing a picturesque backdrop for the holiday chaos. Niederpruem’s direction is competent but rarely inspired, failing to elevate the material beyond its familiar tropes.

Ultimately, Christmas with the Campbells is a film that tries too hard to be everything at once—a spoof, a romance, and a comedy—and ends up satisfying none of those roles fully.