Cast elevates pretty standard fare. Danny DeVito carries this so much that when he leaves the screen you automatically start losing interest. The material, not the cast, is in need of help.

It loses steam as it goes on, though 'A Sudden Case of Christmas' is fairly good. The cast are the big draw. Danny DeVito is obviously the main man, I always enjoy watching him. The likes of Andie MacDowell and Lucy DeVito are alright alongside the aforementioned, though it's Antonella Rose that is the star overall - a strong performance from the youngster. Adrian Dunbar has a small but memorable role, even if he is too good an actor for such a bit part. It's not the most Christmassy of movies, despite the title. That's to be expected given how the story unfolds in fairness, but definitely something to be aware of if you're planning to watch this for the first time as part of your core festive viewing. It was released at Xmas time, but honestly a summer release would've been more fitting; à la the plot. What's there, though, is perfectly watchable and the Italian surroundings look grand, at least. It only lasts for around 90 minutes, I admittedly did feel it drag a bit towards the end. More meat on the bones would've helped, the finale could've been something more interesting than what we get with the four-legged fella. All in all, I consider this narrowly passable. 7/10.

I’m going to be honest, if you’re looking for the next Christmas classic, this probably isn’t it, but it is a pretty fun Danny Devito movie, and that’s a good enough reason for me to watch it again!

In a sea of mediocre to poor Christmas movies, a standout. It's not perfect. There is a good script and a great ensemble cast. Danny DeVito, Andie MacDowell, and Antonelle Rose have wonderful ease on camera. However, Wilmer Valderrama brings zero depth to his character, which leaves no room for any chemistry between him and Lucy Devito. If they could have gotten the serious side of the script down, it would have been a really great movie. The best compliment I can give is that I'll leave it on the list to rewatch next holiday season.