"This year, there are only two holiday-themed movies to be released nationwide: Four Christmases and Nothing like the Holidays."
The only other widely-released holiday movie this season, Nothing like the Holidays, has a less star-studded cast and thus probably won’t be as popular a choice for moviegoers when it comes out on December 12.
This movie is less of a Christmas movie than it is a family drama with a Christmas setting. The geographically separated siblings of the Rodriguez family return home for Christmas to discover that their mother plans to leave their father. On top of that shock, the oldest brother’s new wife has opinions conflicting with those of the family. Drama ensues, and should provide for some touching family moments in the end.
It is hard to determine the fate of Nothing like the Holidays in the box office or with the critics. The exciting plotlines seems like they can sustain the audience’s interest, but it is left to be determined as to how big the film’s audience will be. Although the lead actors have impressive resumes, they aren’t the A-list favorites the masses flock to see.
What’s lacking in this year’s lineup is a kids’ holiday flick. Although such movies are mostly cheesy, they are usually successes in the box office as kids and their parents flock to theaters in large numbers to witness Santa’s latest shenanigans.
Hopefully Hollywood will come up with great ideas for the 2009 holiday season to make up for this year’s meager selection.
If this year’s offerings aren’t enough, rent some holiday favorites--see Neirad's print edition available December 22.
Celebrate the Holidays in the Theater
A Preview of this Season’s Holiday Films
By Kelsey Ott - 12/08
NEIRAD enilno edition | printer friendly
The post-Thanksgiving period consists of a nationwide rush to buy gifts, make vacation plans, and bask in holiday cheer. Images of snowflakes, presents, Santa Claus, and dreidels fill store windows and the media. But this year, they’re not filling the big screen in big numbers.
The 2007 holiday movie season was led by box-office hits Fred Claus (which starred Vince Vaughn, who has a lead role in this season’s Four Christmases) and This Christmas and rounded out with The Perfect Holiday (all now available on DVD). This year, there are only two holiday-themed movies to be released nationwide: Four Christmases and Nothing like the Holidays.
Four Christmases, a romantic comedy, seems to be the main holiday film of this season. Blockbuster actors Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star as Brad and Kate, an unmarried couple who are quite a pair as they depart for their vacation in their matching tacky tourist get-ups. But then their planned island respite from family holiday hell turns into a hectic Christmas with relatives after their flight to Fiji is cancelled.
The trailer depicts Brad and Kate as a fun couple with crazy families. With no island to escape to, they are doomed to spend Christmas day visiting each of their divorced parents and an annoying assortment of siblings, nieces, and nephews.
Aside from being filled with well-known actors, the cast is also filled with holiday spirit. Jon Favreau (Brad’s harassing brother Dallas) and Mary Steenburgen (Kate’s mother) both took part in 2003 Christmas hit Elf as the director and supporting actress respectively. Peter Billingsley, who had an uncredited role in the same movie, returns to produce Four Christmases after starring as Ralphie in 1983 Christmas favorite A Christmas Story. Kristin Chenowith, another holiday veteran from 2006’s Deck the Halls, plays Kate’s sister, Courtney.
Four Christmases looks like a fun movie with a simple plot for romantic comedy fans who want a few holiday laughs, albeit most likely being corny ones. It probably won't be destined to be the next Christmas classic, but should provide for an enjoyable hour and a half.
Nothing like the Holidays
Four Christmases
