Clive is a fancy man who writes a fancy Christmas newsletter every year to tell everyone about all the fun things he did this year. And every year, Joe gets this letter and it just makes him mad. He goes to talk to his wife and complain about how they never do anything. They're alive but they aren't living. We find out that he met Clive in elementary school because Clive was his pen-pal. It was immediately clear that they were from different worlds. To make matters worse, he ends up getting fired. He dreams of having to live on the streets and he wakes up the next day which I guess is Christmas day and tells his wife that he cashed out his 401k so that they can really have a year to remember. They're gonna ski. They're gonna go to the Bahamas. They're gonna see Tigger Woods.
Up first, a very bizarre sleigh ride. His wife is not thrilled. And he caps it off by telling her that they're going to Clive's big birthday bash next summer.
The hits keep coming - they go to a fancy place for New Year's Eve but I guess his suit isn't good enough. This leads to him accidentally pressing the button to drop the ball too early.
The movie continues to be Joe & his family going on outings and it not being what they thought it was. His wife is like I'm not having fun, but he gaslights her into continuing along with the plan.
After many many issues, he decides to delete the document he had been working on. But after getting the new letter from Clive, he finishes his letter. His wife tells him if he sends the letter, there might not be a we anymore.
He ends up at a bar where Kristoffer Polaha is. And he gives him the same advice his wife gave him all year - his life is pretty good. No need to lie.
It's Christmas Day and we see his wife getting a lot of calls about how amazing their Christmas card was. She's very confused.