Maybe Scrooge was on to something. I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a holiday-themed movie that’s appallingly short on laughs. Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays a conniver who must make it to upstate New York from California in two days so he can obtain a Porsche. He’ll have some difficulty because some thugs he’s crossed have left him alone in the desert with no money. He’s also stuck in a Santa suit. Despite the holiday trimmings, the story is as moldy as last year’s egg nog. Despite his considerable pre-teen appeal, Thomas comes across as a spoiled snob and has no flair for wisecracks. If his career is ever going to grow, he’s going to have to be better at reciting his lines and at reading his scripts (PG). Rating: 2