Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

This is a fun movie lots of hilarious moments with a great ensemble cast. You get the feeling that the actors had a lot of fun when they did this film.

Beside being funny it also makes some valuable statements about family life, forgiveness, healing and accepting our humanness.

An altogether warm viewing experience something there for every generation!

This is an amazing movie. It is filled with such family spirit that you almost forget that you are watching a movie. What makes it so great is that they are so close. The producers really picked some great actors. Like I said doesnt seem like a movie at all. I could watch this over and over again and will be. A great movie to watch every holiday!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Films with the same premise as "Nothing Like The Holidays" are abundant--in fact, I've seen more family homecoming stories centered around the holidays than I care to admit. Generally amiable and predictable, you can count on a few laughs at the typical dysfunction, a bit of tension at the long held grudges, and finally some warmth as mutual understanding and the meaning of "family" send us to the finale. But I'm no Scrooge, just because I know where we're headed doesn't mean it can't be an enjoyable ride! And I was pleasantly entertained by "Nothing Like The Holidays." It may not be a new Yuletide classic but a colorful and committed cast breathe fresh life into rather familiar situations. Alternately touching and humorous, the film ultimately won me over with its heart.

Set in Chicago, "Nothing Like The Holidays" presents Christmas from a Puerto Rican family's vantage point. The nominal star of this ensemble picture is Freddy Rodriguez ("Six Feet Under"), a son returning from overseas service. He's solid here providing a center for the movie. But he's surrounded by many familiar faces such as Elizabeth Pena and Alfred Molina as the parents, John Leguizamo as his brother, Debra Messing as Leguizamo's non-Puerto Rican wife, and Luiz Guzman and Jay Hernandez as his cousin and friend respectively. Everyone does a nice job, but to single two people out--I'd have to look to the ladies. Debra Messing is certainly NOT a favorite of mine in general, but she manages to pull a lot of dignity out of what could have been the film's most thankless role. It is Elizabeth Pena, however, that I most appreciated--a talented actress who finally has a meaty role to showcase her abilities.

Well executed and well acted, "Nothing Like The Holidays" certainly plays as a comedy first and foremost. I think that's where it is on its firmest footing with many scenes being laugh out loud funny. The humor comes from identifiable situations that anyone who has been a part of family gatherings can appreciate. The more serious bits work as well, but only because the comedy has drawn you into the family dynamic. Ultimately I was rooting for this group. And that's really all you can hope for, in the end. I cared for the family and wanted to see where their journey led me. So how can I not recommend "Nothing Like The Holidays?" It's a modest film, and if you approach it with modest expectations--you might just be pleasantly surprised. KGHarris, 11/09.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Nothing Like the Holidays is an urban drama-comedy about a family get-together in the Puerto Rican part of Chicago: it was entertaining, it was funny, it was boring, it was good, it was so-so, it was warm-hearted, it was lively, it was dull, it was clear, it was confusing...this movie was just ALL OVER the place! While I enjoyed being introduced to each character and their own storyline, and then watching them all come together for a Puerto Rican family Christmas, there was just too many of the multiple plot lines all over the place, making it an enjoyable movie because of the humor, but unenjoyable because it took a lot of 'work' (i.e. brain power) to enjoy the movie! I think Christmas movies should be fun, entertaining & meaningful!

For those of you who are concerned about content, I would not call this a family friendly film: it's PG-13, and it earns its rating: there is quite a bit of language, and plenty of references to drugs and sex...not kid friendly.

I enjoyed this holiday film, but I doubt I would ever watch it again: I tend to watch Christmas movies over and over again, but this one just doesn't make the cut: it was good, but not great, a familiar story but not told well, with great acting performances and a 'bleh' storyline...enjoy if you must!

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I really wanted to love this move... and while I think it has a great cast of Latinos/as, it just seemed like a drama one would find on tv. The script just wasn't all that great... and except for the music and the one scene where the neighborhood residents parade through the streets singing a latin-tinged holiday carol, it struck me that this movie wasn't all that latin in flavor. It just seemed to be a script which could have easily been cast with all African-Ameicans (perhaps because it was produced by the same folks who did 'Barbershop 1+2'?), or Asians or White folk! The script is not particularly Christmas-y either, it is basically a family 'dining room table' drama set against holidays... and that's been so repeated so much, that it really isn't very interesying. I'm not saying that I won't watch the move each year (I will), or that I hated the move (I don't), but just that it isn't up there in classic Christmas movies that future generations will want to see? I long for a Christmas movie with these actors which will be truly original and memorable, and which shows us something fascinating about Christmas for Latinos/as!

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