Movie : Nothing Like the Holidays

Title : Nothing Like the Holidays
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Kids/Family and Holiday
Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min.
Release Date: December 12th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including some sexual dialogue, and brief drug references.
Distributors: Overture Films
Production Co.: State Street Pictures, Overture Films, 2DS Productions, LLC
Filming Locations: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Produced in: United States
Starring: John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Jay Hernandez, Melonie Diaz, Alfred Molina
Directed by: Alfredo De Villa
Produced by: Freddy Rodriguez, Rene Rigal (II), Robert Teitel
Official Movie Site : http://www.nothingliketheholidays.com/



Synopsis :

Freddy Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, and Elizabeth Peña star in Washington Heights director Alfredo de Villa's earnest family drama about the importance of familial relationships in times of personal crisis. The snow is falling and Christmas has come to Chicago. For the Rodriguez... family, there is particular cause to celebrate this year; youngest sibling Jesse (Rodriguez) has recently returned home safe and sound after fighting in the war overseas. But as the members of the Rodriguez family converge on their parent's home, there's a strange sense of tension lingering heavy in the cool winter air. Despite the fact that Jesse is doing his best to get back in the good graces of his old flame, she seems reluctant to forgive him for leaving in the first place. Meanwhile, his older sister, Roxanna, has little to show for time spent chasing her Hollywood dreams, and eldest brother Mauricio (Leguizamo) is married to a high-strung executive who seems more interested in advancing her career than starting a family. But while none of this sits too well with concerned mother Anna (Peña), the bombshell she's about to drop could prove the straw that broke this family's back. When Anna announces to her children that she is planning to divorce their father, Eduardo (Molina), Roxanna, Jesse, and Mauricio instinctively pull together and begin to reevaluate their past while looking at the future in a whole new light. Later, as lingering resentments are let go and weakened bonds are reaffirmed, the Rodriquez family begins to experience the healing power of laughter while discovering that together as a family they are far stronger than they ever could be apart. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide



Movie Review :

By Kirk Honeycutt

Bottom Line: A Merry Puerto Rican Christmas is served with a dash of melodrama, a pinch of comedy and a dose of sentimentality.
Falling somewhere between a telenovela and a sitcom's big holiday show, "Nothing Like the Holidays" mixes family melodrama with the good cheer of the season, all with a distinct Latin flavor. For the Rodriguez clan hails from Puerto Rico even if Chicago is their longtime home -- and few of the actors actually are Puerto Rican. Every family member brings in his or her own subplot, which plays out Christmas week in the Windy City's Humboldt Park district given over to street carolers, midnight masses and jolly parties.

Like last year's black Christmas comic melodrama "This Christmas," "Holidays" aims for an ethnic audience but plays its hand broadly enough that everyone can join in on the festivities. With such name actors as John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Debra Messing and Alfred Molina providing the outreach, this Overture release should enjoy a solid theatrical run followed by substantial video and cable play in subsequent holiday seasons.

Director Alfredo de Villa ("Washington Heights") has demonstrated an affinity to urban life and Latino culture, but here he allows himself a bit of a holiday while remaining firmly in touch with those twin milieus. The situations tend toward contrivance, but the atmosphere is easygoing and the actors seem relaxed even when everyone at the family table is yelling.

For the first time in years, the whole family turns up at the generous, homey domicile of Eduardo (Molina) and Anna Rodriguez (Elizabeth Pena). This includes son Jesse (Rodriguez), just back from a tour of duty in Iraq that left him with an eye wound, and daughter Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), absent three years in pursuit of a Hollywood career.

Jesse must struggle over his still-smoldering flame for Marissa (Melonie Diaz), who has moved on since he left her, and the loss of a buddy for which he feels responsible. Roxanna is torn between the comforts of home and the sudden interest of childhood friend Ozzy (Jay Hernandez) as well as her so-far futile struggles as an actress.

Older brother Mauricio (Leguizamo) and wife Sarah (Messing) arrive from high-power Manhattan lifestyle with questions over when to start a family driving a wedge between them.

But all these melodramas pale in comparison to the surprise the parents have in store. Mom announces she wants a divorce. Dad's response is strangely diffident, thus betraying -- at least to the audience because no character seems to pick up on it -- that he is hiding something.

No story line in Alison Swan and Rick Najera's screenplay is left dangling by the end of Christmas. Family triumphs, love is affirmed and everyone looks at life anew. Okay, real life doesn't work that way, but it should and does in sentimental holiday movies.

You do sort of wonder though if the Rodriguezes might not invite us all back next year. No doubt everyone again will be in a tizzy.

Taken From : http://www.hollywoodreporter.com



Nothing Like The Holidays (2008) Trailer HD