Disney In The House: Christmas

Disney In The House: Christmas is a 2017 American live-action/animated holiday film produced by Walt Disney Wonder Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The sequel to Disney In The House: 4th Of July and the third film in the studio's classic Disney In The House franchise, the film was directed by Klay Hall from a screenplay by Joe Ansolabehere, Jill E, Blotevogel, and Kevin Hopps. Returning cast members Sarah Silverman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ed O'Neill, Tom Hanks, Frank Welker, Michael J. Fox, and Owen Laramore are joined by Mckenna Grace, Jason Marsden, Bill Murray, Jerry Stiller, Martin Short, and Natalie Portman. It was the fifth and final theatrical Walt Disney Wonder Studios film to be co-produced by Disneytoon Studios, which folded in 2018.

Disney In The House: Christmas was released theatrically in the United States on December 26, 2017, and grossed merely $159 million on a $133 million budget, causing it to become Walt Disney Wonder Studios' first box office bomb. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its production design, Harry Gregson-Williams' musical score, and performances (particularly Silverman and Grace), but criticism for its lack of originality and computer-generated facial emotion on the reindeer.

A sequel, Disney In The House: Wild Wild West, was released on December 25, 2018, which was better received than Disney In The House: Christmas.

Plot
Vanellope von Schweetz is hosting a Christmas party in Disneyville. On December 1, Woody tumbles on a snow hill, accidentally dragging his friends with him, and they crash into a snow bank. Woody reluctantly tells Vanellope that she is never meant to celebrate Christmas. Felling abandoned, Vanellope heads home and isolates herself from her family.

That night, Santa Claus flies by, but crash-lands. Vanellope, Judy, Hank, Woody, Iggy, Mr. Ziploc, and Lawrence recover Santa, but he asks them who Santa is, confusing them because he has amnesia. As a result, the others worry that Christmas could be permanently cancelled, but Vanellope volunteers to deliver the presents, much to their excitement.

Vanellope is told that she will not make it on her own, so she builds Frosty the Snowman and brings him to life with a magic silk hat. The two witness the other reindeer bullying Rudolph and convince them that it is Christmas, the season of giving. They refuse to help, as they take orders from no other than Santa, and they leave Rudolph. Rudolph decides to take Vanellope and Frosty to deliver the gifts. Before they take off, a young 6-year-old named Cindy Miller who befriends Vanellope and asks if she can come, to which Vanellope excitedly agrees.

Vanellope, Cindy, Rudolph, and Frosty fly to a small house in a small town in Alaska. Rudolph attempts to deliver the first gift, but his antlers cause him to accidentally get stuck. Vanellope and Cindy put the present under the tree, but the alarm sounds off. The four narrowly escape before crashing into an apartment of a girl who refers to them as Santa's helpers. She gives them cookies and wishes them Merry Christmas.

Back in Disneyville, Cindy's parents, Dan and Cass, feel worried about their daughter's safety. Judy explains to them that Cindy has gone with Vanellope. They all concoct a plan to keep them safe once they arrive. After successfully delivering the presents, Vanellope, Cindy, Rudolph, and Frosty discover that there is one present left. Suddenly, jackals chase them throughout the snowy forest, until Rudolph flies away, but they crash, although the sleigh is not destroyed. Brokenhearted, Cindy abandons Vanellope.

Vanellope, Frosty, and Rudolph recover the present. Once they deliver the gift, Vanellope notices the sleigh falling over the edge and rushes to save it. After witnessing this, Cindy apologizes to Vanellope and helps her save the sleigh. Vanellope, Cindy, Frosty, and Rudolph return to Disneyville and sled down the snowy mountains to Disneyville.

Vanellope tries to fly towards it, but the sparkle tank runs out. Cindy feels like they could crash, but Vanellope reassures her that there is no sad faces on Christmas. Rudolph saves them by landing on his hooves. Although unable to slow down, the four reach Disneyville. Judy and Cass try to slow them down by putting Christmas lights, but the sleigh is still going too fast. They accidentally bump into Santa, restoring his memory. Dan successfully leaps out in front of the sleigh to slow it down. Cindy reunites with her parents, and Vanellope reunites with Judy, Hank, Woody, Iggy, Mr. Ziploc, and Lawrence. Donner sees this and assumes that Rudolph has stolen the sleigh for a joyride to ruin Christmas, but Cindy comforts him by explaining that they should not fight. Donner and the other reindeer finally accept Rudolph as their friend.

After Santa, Frosty, and the reindeer depart, Cindy meets Judy, Hank, Woody, and Iggy, and kisses Vanellope in the cheek, telling her that her cheek is warm. Vanellope and Cindy hold hands and sing a Christmas carol, along with Judy, Hank, Woody, Lawrence, Mr. Ziploc, Iggy, Dan, Cass. The Christmas party is saved, and Vanellope announces the grand opening of a new cafe. Vanellope carves the roast beast and hugs Cindy. The film ends with the camera backing from Disneyville, with Vanellope saying "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.", and with Santa shouting "Ho, ho, ho!".

Cast

 * Sarah Silverman as Vanellope, a resident of Disneyville. She is also the main narrator, just like the first two films.
 * Mckenna Grace as Cindy Miller, a six-year-old who befriends Vanellope
 * Jason Marsden as the voice of Rudolph, a reindeer whose red nose is capable of glowing.
 * Bill Murray as the voice of Frosty, a fun-loving snowman.
 * Jerry Stiller as Santa Claus, a elderly legend of Christmas.
 * Martin Short as Dan Miller, Cindy's smart father.
 * Natalie Portman as Cass Miller, Cindy's worried and overprotective mother.
 * Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy, a resident of Disneyville and Vanellope's best friend.
 * Ed O'Neill as Hank, a resident of Disneyville.
 * Tom Hanks as Woody, a resident of Disneyville.
 * Michael J. Fox as Mr. Ziploc, Lawrence's news messenger and best friend.
 * Owen Laramore as Lawrence Broderick, the mayor of Disneyville.
 * Frank Welker as Iggy, Vanellope's pet iguana.
 * Mel B as Dasher
 * Bobby Moynihan as Dancer
 * Luke Wilson as Prancer
 * Laura Silverman as Vixen
 * Alan Tudyk as Comet
 * Annabelle Wallis as Cupid
 * Sergio Castellitto as Donner
 * Tom Hardy as Blitzen

Box office
Disney In The House: Christmas opened theatrically on December 26, 2017, and grossed over $59 million in the United States and Canada, and $100 million in other territories. The film ended its theatrical run on January 30, 2018, having to have grossed $159 million overseas. Based on it's $139 million budget, it became a box-office disappointment, as well as the lowest-grossing Walt Disney Wonder Studios feature film until 2019's Disney In The House: World Animals.

Critical response
Disney In The House: Christmas received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 30% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, "Although a disappointing holiday rip-off compared to Walt Disney's Wonder Studios' previous theatrical films, Disney In The House: Christmas still serves children very well in a spunky way". Another review website, Metacritic, signed the film to an average score of 48 out of 100 based on 61 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". It is the worst-reviewed Walt Disney Wonder Studios film to date.

Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a negative review, saying, "Disney In The House: Christmas is too aimed at the naughty list to recapture the freshness of Disney In The House: Introduction". Antonia Quirke of London Evening Standard criticized the PG rating, cheesy references, predictability, and formulaic plot while praising the cinematography, casting, and production design. Edwin Arnaudin of Asheville Movies said, "Part of the problem we had with Disney In The House: Christmas is because of the reindeer bullying Rudolph, whom we don't want to see Jason Marsden as, but let's let the actors do their own stuff.

It was also noted as the worst holiday film of 2017 due to its overwhelming concept.

Debbie Lynn Elias of Behind The Lens praised Mckenna Grace's performance of Cindy Miller, saying, "Gifted actress Mckenna Grace is really bringing her recognition to Walt Disney Wonder Studios". Ryan Syrek of The Reader praised the musical score but compared the use of "Welcome Christmas" unfavorably to the song from How The Grinch Stole Christmas, saying, "Harry Gregson-Williams does well on the musical score, but the ending song is an awful reference to How The Grinch Stole Christmas".