Review: Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

[Michael Dequina]

_Nothing_Like_the_Holidays_ (PG-13) *** (out of ****)

         As suggested by the rather 
generic-sounding title, 
_Nothing_Like_the_Holidays_  does go where many 
holiday-centered family dramedies have gone 
before: bickering-yet-loving relations reunite at 
the old homestead for an eventful holiday season 
where various dramas arise and are then healed by 
the bonds of family.  As derided as the genre 
often is (sometimes deservedly so), the better 
examples of these films transcend the built-in 
formula by offering a rare opportunity to see a 
large, varied assortment of gifted actors play 
off of each other--and the spirited, superb 
ensemble assembled by director Alfredo DeVilla is 
definitely what lends the familiar proceedings 
pep and personality.  As the Rodriguez clan (and 
various friends and neighbors) of Chicago's 
Humboldt Park area, Alfred Molina, Elizabeth 
Peña, John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Vanessa 
Ferlito, Luis Guzman, Jay Hernandez, Melonie 
Diaz, and Debra Messing not only handle both the 
barbed comic cross-talk and the more earnest 
emotional moments with ease, more importantly 
they all share such a believable familial, tough 
love warmth with each other, making each shared 
laugh or heated argument ring all the more true.

         The work of the cast alone would have 
been enough to distinguish the film, but DeVilla 
and writers Alison Swan and Rick Najara aim a bit 
higher while hitting the expected beats.  Tropes 
such as the returning war veteran (Rodriguez) 
reuniting with the love (Diaz) he left behind and 
the spectre of illness belie their potential for 
shamelessly melodramatic manipulation by being 
handled in a realistic and understated manner, 
further bolstered by the honesty of the 
performances.  One cannot exactly call this film 
groundbreaking, but as comfort food holiday 
programmers go, it hits the spot, and anyone of 
any ethnicity is sure to find something that hits 
all too close to home in this story.



(c)2008 Michael Dequina



Michael Dequina
mrbrown at iname.com
The Movie Report/Mr. Brown's Movie Site: www.themoviereport.com
www.quickstopentertainment.com | www.cinemareview.com | www.aalbc.com
www.johnsingletonfilms.com | on ICQ: #25289934 | on AOL/Y! IM: mrbrown23