This is a comedy and as a comedy it has THE problem from which all comedies suffer: namely they don't appeal to everyone. Humour is a very personal matter. That said I have to come clean and say that in my opinion this is a funny film that grows on you with repeated viewings. I first saw it shortly after it came out about ten years ago, and thought it sweet, and a little black in parts, but little more. However just recently I purchased this film and watched it again, then again. It's great!!! All the characters are totally loony including those manning the suicide help line (Madeline Kahn, Steve Martin and Rita Wilson). But the whole cast is wonderful from Adam Sandler and his useless songs and lousy ukulele playing to Juliette Lewis "safely" emptying a gun by firing it!!!to Rob Reiner the Vet complaining that all women are obsessed with frilly pillows, to Steve Martin insisting that there is hope in every pothole, to Madeline Kahn as the uptight Blanche Munchnik rattling on about her dead husband's sister who she must visit for Christmas, to Liev Schreiber the transvestite with the Louise Brooks hairstyle, to last and by no means least Anthony LaPaglia playing the slapstick role of a suicidal Santa Claus who wants a wall to paint a mural on, gets hit over the head with a fruit cake, falls down steps, crashes into Christmas trees, overdoses on animal tranquillisers, seems to spend most of the film in hot pursuit of the heavily pregnant Gracie (Juliette Lewis)and gets mistaken for a cat. (His name is Felix after all!!!) Now, after all that, if you don't want to catch this film then that's your funeral (or should that read fun-for-all!!!???!) This film is worth watching. It's great Christmas fare that leaves you feeling all happy and smiley.
