Nothing Like the Holidays

Name: Nothing Like the Holidays
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: December 12, 2008
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Debra Messing, Freddy Rodríguez, John Leguizamo

2008

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Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Nothing Like The Holidays

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Movie Details & Credits

Overture Films | Release Date: December 12, 2008 | PG-13

Starring: Debra Messing, Freddy Rodríguez, John Leguizamo

Summary: It's Christmas and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents' home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother's safe return from combat overseas. But when old disputes resurface and new surprises arise, familial bonds are stretched to the limit and the Rodriguezes realizeIt's Christmas and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents' home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother's safe return from combat overseas. But when old disputes resurface and new surprises arise, familial bonds are stretched to the limit and the Rodriguezes realize they're going to have to pull together to make it through the holidays in one piece. Nothing Like the holidays is a hilarious and heartwarming look at a holiday one family will never forget. (Overture Films)… Expand

Director: Alfredo De Villa

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Christopher Borrelli

It's what we need at the holidays, and it's the modest goal of a modest little picture like this--to capture something heartfelt and real. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

This unassuming and unexpectedly moving picture set in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood is a sugarplum-and-sofrito affair centering on the Rodriguez household. Read full review

Brian Lowry

So "The Family Stone" becomes "The Family Rodriguez," and to their credit, the able performers wring as much mileage as they can from such familiar material. Read full review

Andrea Gronvall

My pleasure in seeing Chicago's underexposed Humboldt Park neighborhood on-screen was gradually overcome by this indie drama's cliched treatment of a dysfunctional family reunion. Read full review

Nick Pinkerton

The cast is appealing enough, though, and those looking for seasonal warm fuzzies can find them, as predictably touching as a muddled-through "Auld Lang Syne." Read full review

Mike Mayo

The ensemble cast boasts some of the finest actors in the business. They do their best to breathe life into the stereotypes, but they simply don't have enough to work with. Read full review

John Anderson

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crodriguez

Dec 15, 2008

This movies was so good, reminded me of my family, there are 6 of us and when we get together it's a blast, we fight, we laugh, we dance and yes we get drunk and cry. This movie just teaches you to appreciate the time we have on this earth with family and friends. Watch it if you can.

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ChadS.

Dec 14, 2008

It's a bombshell, but a soft one, when Anna Rodriguez(Elizabeth Pena) announces to the family that she'll soon be leaving her husband(Alfred Molina) in the midst of their supposed golden years. It's a soft bomb because the screenwriter, in all likelihood, will prevent the It's a bombshell, but a soft one, when Anna Rodriguez(Elizabeth Pena) announces to the family that she'll soon be leaving her husband(Alfred Molina) in the midst of their supposed golden years. It's a soft bomb because the screenwriter, in all likelihood, will prevent the marriage from actual detonation. The same crisis occurs in Woody Allen's "Interiors", this time it's the father who makes the bomb threat. Here, we sense that the bomb will go off; we know that Ingmar Bergman tropes negate any chance for reconciliation. "Nothing Like the Holidays" has no intentions of being a downer; rest assured, Anna will forgive Edy before the credits roll, because the title practically cries out "made-for-television movie", not tough-minded indie, or filmic exercise in rote Swedish formalism. "Nothing Like the Holidays" will play it safe; there's a tacit agreement between the filmmaker and his audience that the story won't venture into territory which can't be resolved. To the filmmaker's credit, "Nothing Like the Holiday" implies an edge; the filmmaker puts Edy in situations with his son's wife Sarah(Debra Messing) that is fraught with sexual tension. Given Edy's track record with women, and the advent of senior citizens popping Viagra like M & Ms, his daughter-in-law is susceptible to the male gaze, the geezer gaze, if you please, when they're together in the car, and later, in the laundry room. But there's no pass, a familial pass across generations(and also, an Iraqi war veteran(Jesse, played by Freddy Rodriguez) who's not merely depressed, but owns up to having violent impulses) would prove to be too complicated for a crowd-pleaser such as "Nothing Like the Holidays". A happy ending is imminent. And there's nothing wrong with that, per se. It's the holidays, after all.… Expand

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