It started with Gigli, but at the nadir of Ben Affleck's recent career slump is Surviving Christmas. Mike Mitchell directs this "car wreck of a comedy", which was so savagely mauled by critics and performed so badly at the box office that the square-jawed star went on (compulsory?) hiatus. Of course Christmas is a time for forgiving, but it's hard when the memory still haunts us on DVD.

Yule-Tired Spirit

"He's kind of annoying," says Affleck of his on-screen alter ego. Frankly that's an understatement, but this behind-the-scenes featurette doesn't dare to scrape the wound any deeper. Instead, the cast try to sum up the plot and Mitchell repeatedly assures us that "it's really, really funny" while suspiciously avoiding eye contact. All that's vaguely amusing is location footage from Chicago where the temperature dropped 10 degrees below freezing and yet refused to snow.

Snow machines were hauled in, but even then, the fake flakes refused to drift in the right direction. All three of us who've seen the film know that this was the least of its problems, but for Christina Applegate the whole thing was a resounding success. "Our goal", she says, "is to make you disturbed and confused." Mission accomplished!

Cold Cuts

An alternative opening sequence is actually an extended cut of what already exists in the film and it's easy to see why it was pared down. A series of people committing suicide is a) not funny b) not suitable for children c) may seem like a good idea after watching ten minutes of this film.

A gallery of storyboards completes the trimmings for a DVD platter that makes brussel sprouts smell good.

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