Switchmas

Plot

In Hollywood, Ira J. Finkelstein (Elijah Nelson) wishes he could celebrate Christmas, but his parents do not want to celebrate because they are Jewish. Ira's father, Max (David DeLuise), a filmmaker, says he's making a low-budget, holiday sci-fi movie and that he wants demanding and empty-headed Jennifer Cameo (Julianne Christie) to be the lead role. Ira's mother, Rosie (Angela DiMarco), a caterer, gets to plan a Christmas party. Ira's parents tell him that he is going to visit his grandparents, Sam (Elliott Gould) and Ruth Finkelstein (Meg Savlov) in Florida for Hanukkah and that he'll have fun with them. Ira further contends that he wants to go somewhere where it snows so that he can experience an authentic Christmas.

Ira's flight lands at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport and he is excited to see snow for the first time in real life. At an indoor kids' area he reluctantly goes over to the play area where he meets a Christian boy named Mikey Amato (Justin Howell). Mikey tells Ira that he is from Chicago and is visiting his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Washington, relatives that he hardly knows; he only knows their names and what they look like by a postcard his mom, Julie (Tracy Hyland), gave him. He also thinks it's awesome how Jews get eight nights of presents for Hanukkah. Ira tells him that he'd rather go to a place like Washington to experience Christmas. They agree to switch places, donning each other's hats, coats, and ID tags. They exchange phone numbers and Mikey gives Ira the postcard.

Ira arrives at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and is greeted by Mikey's relatives, Libby (Cynthia Geary) and Walt (Tony Doupe) Wilson and their three children, Jessica (Jenna Levin), Clare (Shayne Hodgins), and Kyle (Jack Fleischmann). Meanwhile, Mikey arrives in Florida and is affectionately greeted by Ira's grandparents. Neither set of relatives suspects anything is wrong since Mikey and Ira look alike, nor have they seen them since they were both much younger.

The Wilsons take their "cousin" to Christmastown, Washington, where they live. Ira is excited because the town is "just like in the movies". He is also inspired to make and direct a play called Christmas Is For Everyone. Jessica and a friend sing and play guitar on the street for money, and Clare can sing but doesn't want to do it in public. She writes a song for the play, and Jessica and her friend agree to perform in the play. Clare and Ira round up kids from town to audition.

Jack, a bully, sics his dog Killer on Ira, who climbs a tree to escape the dog. Eventually, Ira realizes he misses his family. After Jack's father threatens to send Killer to the pound, Clare and Ira rescue Killer, renamed Mistletoe, and put him in the play.

Mikey gets injured, and when Ira's parents are called, they drop everything to rush to his side; Jennifer was becoming too difficult to work with and wasn't talented anyway. The truth comes out but Ira's family go to Washington to surprise him on the night of the play. Mikey's family also finds out the truth, and Mikey is pleased to see his mother, who came to surprise him as well.

Cast