Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

(Redirected from Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas)

2011 American TV series or program

Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!
Promotional poster
Genre	Comedy/Family/Teen
Based on	Good Luck Charlie by Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen
Written by	Geoff Rodkey
Directed by	Arlene Sanford
Starring	Bridgit Mendler Leigh-Allyn Baker Bradley Steven Perry Mia Talerico Debra Monk Michael Kagan Eric Allan Kramer Jason Dolley
Theme music composer	David Lawrence
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Matias Alvarez Dan Staley Sheri Singer Phil Baker Drew Vaupen
Cinematography	Kenneth Zunder
Editor	Anita Brandt-Burgoyne
Running time	85 minutes
Production companies	It's a Laugh Productions (uncredited) Salty Pictures
Original release
Network	Disney Channel
Release	December 2, 2011 (2011-12-02)

Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (also known as Good Luck Charlie: The Road Trip Movie in the United Kingdom and Ireland) is a 2011 American Christmas road comedy television film directed by Arlene Sanford and written by Geoff Rodkey, based on the Disney Channel Original Series Good Luck Charlie by Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen. The Disney Channel Original Movie stars Bridgit Mendler, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Bradley Steven Perry, Mia Talerico, Eric Allan Kramer, and Jason Dolley as the Duncan family. It follows the Duncan family as they prepare for their Christmas trip to Amy Duncan's parents' house in Palm Springs, California. Things goes awry however when Teddy and Amy find themselves separated from their family after Teddy gives up her seat in exchange for a free plane ticket. With only a few days left until Christmas, the duo will have to face numerous obstacles as they embark on a hitchhiking journey across Utah and Nevada to get to California so they can reunite with their family in time for the holidays.

The plot point of the film where Amy Duncan is revealed to be pregnant would be carried to the third season, where she would give birth in the episode "Special Delivery", marking the introduction of the fifth Duncan child, Toby Duncan. The film was produced by It's a Laugh Productions (uncredited) and Salty Pictures and distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. On December 2, 2011, the film premiered on Disney Channel, receiving a total of 6.9 million viewers upon its original airing.

Plot

The Duncan family prepares to visit Amy's parents in Palm Springs for Christmas. Teddy asks Amy for permission to travel with her best friend Ivy to Florida for spring break, but she refuses to let Teddy travel alone. At the airport, Bob tells Teddy that if she can purchase her own plane ticket, she can go to Florida.

On the plane, a flight attendant announces that the flight has been overbooked and asks anyone to relinquish their seat in exchange for a free ticket. Seeing this as an opportunity to go to Florida, Teddy volunteers. Amy also departs the plane to follow her. They learn from a woman at the check-in desk that the next flight to Palm Springs is in three days, which is after Christmas. Amy gets into a violent confrontation with the woman and is escorted out by security, along with Teddy. Teddy suggests that they take the bus to Palm Springs.

When the rest of the family arrives in Palm Springs, tensions arise. Bob faces constant criticism from Amy's disapproving mother Petunia, Charlie breaks several items in the house, PJ gets a severe sunburn after accidentally using suntan oil instead of sunblock, and Gabe teaches Amy's father Hank how to play the video game Galaxy of Death, only for Hank to develop an addiction to it. While on the bus, Amy suffers from motion sickness and hogs the bathroom, resulting in her and Teddy getting kicked off the bus.

Stranded and desperate, Teddy and Amy rent a worn-out Yugo, which they end up destroying. While the car is taken to a scrapyard, Teddy suggests they hitchhike, much to Amy's chagrin. They meet an elderly couple and hitch a ride in their minivan, whereupon the woman correctly deduces that Amy is pregnant, much to Teddy's shock.

When they arrive in Las Vegas, Amy explains to a shocked Teddy that she and Bob planned on announcing her pregnancy to the whole family on Christmas. They then discover that their luggage has been stolen. After getting a call from Amy, Bob drives to Las Vegas along with PJ and Gabe to retrieve them. Teddy and Amy get into another argument, culminating in Amy angrily accusing Teddy of ruining Christmas, inadvertently causing Teddy to tearfully storm off. In order to earn money to afford dinner, the two do a street performance involving Christmas carols mixed with staged fights, and end up reconciling.

Over dinner, Amy admits that she didn't want Teddy to go to Florida because she fears Teddy is growing up too fast. Teddy apologizes for disembarking the plane, but Amy assures her Christmas isn't ruined. They later encounter Jordan, the girl who had stolen their luggage. Jordan tearfully explains that she has become stranded after running away from home to go to a cross-country music festival that her mother forbade her from attending. Sympathizing with Jordan, Amy calls Jordan's mother and helps them reconcile. Teddy gives Jordan her plane ticket to help her get back home for Christmas. Amy finally acknowledges that Teddy is responsible.

While driving through a desert, PJ, Gabe, and Bob are mistakenly kidnapped by a team of paintball participants. Understanding the situation, Gabe explains that Chuck Jablowsky, the creator of Galaxy of Death, holds a paintball tournament every Christmas Eve. After freeing themselves, Gabe convinces PJ and Bob to participate in the tournament. Using his knowledge of the game, Gabe wins the match and even meets Jablowsky himself. Jablowsky offers the trio a free helicopter ride to find Teddy and Amy, whom they locate at a diner.

Hank and Petunia arrive with Charlie by car, having gone looking for the boys after they didn't return. With the entire family finally reunited, Petunia reveals that she found a star-shaped tree topper, which Amy lost earlier in the film, stuck between Charlie's car seat mechanism. Amy admits that this was the best Christmas she has ever had before announcing that she is having another baby, much to the excitement of her parents and the Duncans.

On the way home, the flight is once again overbooked and a free ticket is offered to whoever gives up their seat, which Teddy quickly accepts once more. Amy tells Bob to go after Teddy. He obediently does so, jokingly promising Amy that they will be back by New Year's Day. Amy smiles and says that she knows they won't.

Cast

Bridgit Mendler as Teddy, the older sister of Charlie who makes video diaries.
Leigh-Allyn Baker as Amy, Teddy's comedic and headstrong mother.
Bradley Steven Perry as Gabe, Teddy's mischievous younger brother.
Mia Talerico as Charlie, the toddler the diaries are for.
Debra Monk as Petunia, Amy's mother.
Michael Kagan as Hank, Amy's father.
Eric Allan Kramer as Bob, Teddy's father.
Jason Dolley as P.J., Teddy's goofy and airheaded older brother.
Raven Goodwin as Ivy, Teddy's best friend in Denver.
Abbie Cobb as Jordan, a lost girl whom Teddy and Amy encounter in Las Vegas.
Pamela Dunlap as Sue, an older woman who allows Teddy and Amy to hitchhike with her.
David Wells as Stan, Sue's husband.
Joey Nader as Daryl, a car dealer.
E.E. Bell as Lenny, a former car dealer turned car repairman.
Ernie Grunwald as Walter, a former car repairman turned bike shop owner.

Production

The film was executive-produced by Sheri Singer along with three executive producers of the series, Dan Staley, Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen. The script was written by Geoff Rodkey and directed by Arlene Sanford. The film was shot in Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah from March 2011 to September 2011. The Gateway complex in Salt Lake City was used to film scenes that were set on the Las Vegas Strip. Other filming locations included the Pirate Island pizza restaurant in Orem, which stood in as a Las Vegas buffet; and the Salt Palace convention center, which was transformed to look like the Denver Airport. Filming also took place at Skull Valley.

Music

"I'm Gonna Run to You", performed by Bridgit Mendler, who also performed the Good Luck Charlie opening theme song, was released as promotional single on November 18, 2011. It was written by Bridget Mendler and Jamie Houston and produced by Houston. "Jingle Bells", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Deck the Halls" were also performed during the movie.

Release

Broadcast

The film aired worldwide on Disney Channel. It premiered on December 2, 2011, in Canada, on December 16, 2011, in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It aired in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines on December 24, 2011.

Home media

The movie was released on iTunes on December 6, 2011. An exclusive edition of the movie was released on DVD only through Walmart on October 23, 2012.

Reception

Critical response

Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the film 4 out of 5 rating, writing: "Good Luck Charlie fans have reason to celebrate this holiday special, which hones in on the most appealing aspects of the popular sitcom and glams them up for the festivities. Amy's frazzled nerves, Bob's fumbling efforts to hold things together, and the kids' determination to chart their own courses are the catalyst for the movie's plentiful funny moments… and that's not even counting the impish toddler who throws their lives into turmoil at every turn. In other words, there's no shortage of laughs in this merry movie that will appeal to parents almost as much as it does their kids.

Happily, there's also a heartier side to the story, one that reflects what parents (if not their offspring) hold dear through the holidays. This is a kid-targeted movie that spends two anticipatory hours building up to Christmas but makes no references to gifts, stockings, or even Santa. Instead, the focus is on the family, and rather than fighting crowds for the must-have toys of the year, these family members are racing the clock just to spend time with their loved ones. Feel-good messages nestled within the movie's shiny packaging -- plus a few Christmas surprises -- make this one to add to your family's watch list. If nothing else, it's a great way to shed the stress of the season by getting some laughs at a different family's dysfunction."

Ratings

It was watched by 6.9 million viewers, the premiere also delivered 3.3 million kids 6–11, 2.4 million teens and 1.4 million adults 18–49. The movie became no. 1 live-action cable movie of 2011 in total viewers and the no. 1 live-action scripted telecast across all TV in kids 6–11. In Australia it was watched by 111,000 viewers and in the United Kingdom there were 562,000 viewers.

References

"Disney Channel Orders Third Season of Hit Comedy Series "Good Luck Charlie"". Disney Channel Medianet. August 29, 2011. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
^ Kline, Ashley (October 24, 2011). ""Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!," A Disney Channel Original Movie Premieres Friday, December 2". The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original (DOC) on June 16, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
"Disney Channel to make Holiday themed 'Good Luck Charlie' movie in Utah". Filmtelevisionauditions.com. September 18, 2011. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
Brown, Brooke (April 21, 2011). "Disney's 'Good Luck Charlie' cast gets movie treatment in Utah". Deseret News. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
Pierce, Scott (December 1, 2011). "Utah stars in Disney Channel movie "Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!"". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
Guzman, Jennifer (November 12, 2019). "Got Disney+? Keep an eye out for these movies filmed in Utah". KSL. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
"I'm Gonna Run to You - Single by Bridgit Mendler (GB)". iTunes. January 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
"Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (2011) Trilha sonora". Ringos Track. August 7, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
"The Holidays Begin on Family with Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! on December 2". Astral media. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
"Good Luck Charlie: The Road Trip Movie on Disney HD at 6:00pm December 16th, 2011". Digiguide.tv. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
"Turn It Up!". Disney Channel Asia. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
"Good Luck Charlie: It's Christmas (Exclusive) (Widescreen): TV Shows". Walmart.com. October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
"Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
"'Good Luck Charlie: It's Christmas' Averages 6.9 Million Viewers; Premiere of 'Austin & Ally' Draws 5.7 Million" (Press release). Disney Channel. December 3, 2011. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016 – via TV By The Numbers.
"TV Ratings:Friday 16 December 2011". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
"Weekly Top 10". barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014.

External links

v t e Disney Channel Original Movies
1990s	Under Wraps (1997) You Lucky Dog (1998) Brink! (1998) Halloweentown (1998) Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999) Can of Worms (1999) The Thirteenth Year (1999) Smart House (1999) Johnny Tsunami (1999) Genius (1999) Don't Look Under the Bed (1999) Horse Sense (1999)
2000s	Up, Up and Away (2000) The Color of Friendship (2000) Alley Cats Strike (2000) Rip Girls (2000) Miracle in Lane 2 (2000) Stepsister from Planet Weird (2000) Ready to Run (2000) Quints (2000) The Other Me (2000) Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire (2000) Phantom of the Megaplex (2000) The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000) Zenon: The Zequel (2001) Motocrossed (2001) The Luck of the Irish (2001) Hounded (2001) Jett Jackson: The Movie (2001) The Jennie Project (2001) Jumping Ship (2001) The Poof Point (2001) Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (2001) 'Twas the Night (2001) Double Teamed (2002) Cadet Kelly (2002) Tru Confessions (2002) Get a Clue (2002) Gotta Kick It Up! (2002) A Ring of Endless Light (2002) The Scream Team (2002) You Wish! (2003) Right on Track (2003) The Even Stevens Movie (2003) Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off (2003) The Cheetah Girls (2003) Full-Court Miracle (2003) Pixel Perfect (2004) Going to the Mat (2004) Zenon: Z3 (2004) Stuck in the Suburbs (2004) Tiger Cruise (2004) Halloweentown High (2004) Now You See It... (2005) Buffalo Dreams (2005) Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama (2005) Go Figure (2005) Life Is Ruff (2005) The Proud Family Movie (2005) Twitches (2005) High School Musical (2006) Cow Belles (2006) Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006) Read It and Weep (2006) The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) Return to Halloweentown (2006) Jump In! (2007) Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007) High School Musical 2 (2007) Twitches Too (2007) Minutemen (2008) Camp Rock (2008) The Cheetah Girls: One World (2008) Dadnapped (2009) Hatching Pete (2009) Princess Protection Program (2009) Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009)
2010s	Starstruck (2010) Den Brother (2010) Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010) Avalon High (2010) The Suite Life Movie (2011) Lemonade Mouth (2011) Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure (2011) Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011) Geek Charming (2011) Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (2011) Frenemies (2012) Radio Rebel (2012) Let It Shine (2012) Girl vs. Monster (2012) Teen Beach Movie (2013) Cloud 9 (2014) Zapped (2014) How to Build a Better Boy (2014) Bad Hair Day (2015) Teen Beach 2 (2015) Descendants (2015) Invisible Sister (2015) Adventures in Babysitting (2016) The Swap (2016) Tangled: Before Ever After (2017) Descendants 2 (2017) Zombies (2018) Freaky Friday (2018) Kim Possible (2019) Descendants 3 (2019)
2020s	Zombies 2 (2020) Upside-Down Magic (2020) Spin (2021) Under Wraps (2021) Christmas...Again?! (2021) Zombies 3 (2022) Under Wraps 2 (2022) Prom Pact (2023) The Slumber Party (2023) The Naughty Nine (2023) Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation (2024) Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024)
Upcoming	Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires (2025)

It's a Laugh Productions

Series

Current

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place (since 2024)

Former

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005–2008)
Hannah Montana (2006–2011)
Cory in the House (2007–2008)
Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012)
The Suite Life on Deck (2008–2011)
Sonny with a Chance (2009–2011)
Jonas (2009–2010)
I'm in the Band (2009–2011)
Good Luck Charlie (2010–2014)
Pair of Kings (2010–2013)
Shake It Up (2010–2013)
A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014)
So Random! (2011–2012)
Kickin' It (2011–2015)
Jessie (2011–2015)
Austin & Ally (2011–2016)
Lab Rats (2012–2016)
Crash & Bernstein (2012–2014)
Dog with a Blog (2012–2015)
Liv and Maddie (2013–2017)
Mighty Med (2013–2015)
I Didn't Do It (2014–2015)
Girl Meets World (2014–2017)
K.C. Undercover (2015–2018)
Best Friends Whenever (2015–2016)
Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything (2015–2017)
Bunk'd (2015–2024)
Lab Rats: Elite Force (2016)
Bizaardvark (2016–2019)
Raven's Home (2017–2023)
Coop & Cami Ask the World (2018–2020)
Sydney to the Max (2019–2021)
The Villains of Valley View (2022–2023)

Films

Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009)
The Suite Life Movie (2011)
Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (2011)

Crossovers

"That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana" (2006)
"Take This Job and Love It" (2007)
"Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana" (2009)
"Weasels on Deck" (2010)
"Charlie Shakes it Up" (2011)
"Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year" (2012)
"Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas" (2013)
"Jessie's Aloha Holidays with Parker and Joey" (2014)
"Karate Kid-tastrophe" (2015)
"Lab Rats vs. Mighty Med" (2015)
"Raven About Bunk'd" (2020)

TV specials

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013)

v t e Films directed by Arlene Sanford
The Babymaker: The Dr. Cecil Jacobson Story (1994) A Very Brady Sequel (1996) I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998) Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002) 12 Men of Christmas (2009) Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (2011)

v t e Disney Christmas films
Theatrical shorts	Empty Socks (1927) Mickey's Orphans (1931) Santa's Workshop (1932) Mickey's Good Deed (1932) The Night Before Christmas (1933) Broken Toys (1935) Toy Tinkers (1949) Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952) The Small One (1978) Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) The Little Matchgirl (2006) Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017)
Theatrical features	Babes in Toyland (1961) One Magic Christmas (1985) The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) The Santa Clause (1994) I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998) The Santa Clause 2 (2002) The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) A Christmas Carol (2009) The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
Direct-to-video	Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas Movie (2007) Santa Buddies (2009) The Search for Santa Paws (2010) Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups (2012)
Made for TV	Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (1991) The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000) 'Twas the Night (DCOM, 2001) A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (special, 2008) Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation (2009) Prep & Landing (special, 2009) Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa (short film, 2010) Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! (DCOM, 2011) Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (special, 2011) Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular (special, 2013) Toy Story That Time Forgot (special, 2014) Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (special, 2021) Christmas...Again?! (DCOM, 2021) The Naughty Nine (DCOM, 2023)
Streaming media	Noelle (2019) Godmothered (2020) Home Sweet Home Alone (2021) The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (special, 2022) Dashing Through the Snow (2023)
Film series	The Santa Clause Prep & Landing

Categories:

Misplaced Pages