"Nothing like the Holidays" is Everything like Family

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

Directed by: Alfredo De Villa

JJ Rating: B

A Puerto Rican family gets together for the Christmas Holidays. Nothing Like the Holidays.

There was no outstanding actor in this film. They were all decent. They all did a well enough job that the story was told and that was that.

The story was a family story. Happy a son is back, not wanting to have one's life dictated, jealous a brother gets the attention, allowing people to think everything is ok, the daughter-in-law trying to impress the mother-in-law, the mother-in-law not allowing herself to be impressed and a secret separates love. That's what gave Nothing Like the Holidays its charm was that it was about family. I like movies about big families or somewhat big families.

Here you have three siblings and in my family there were three siblings. I can understand some of the arguing, the taking a parent's side and the conversations during the evening time when they had cooled off from a bomb dropped during dinner. It's arguing and being mad and then moving on and accepting that the disagreement happen, but loving those that had just tore your head off. I could relate to that.

I do wish that there were more family moments and more moments that allowed the drama that was happening to be more heartfelt as the end came around. Because some of the drama felt a bit hollow and over done making Nothing Like the Holidays not nearly as effective as heartstring pulling drama as it could have been.

If you have a big family you will enjoy this Nothing Like the Holidays. It may not be one of those that you are overly happy with, but you will enjoy it because it's a simple tale and the situations in the film are relatable. If you don't have a big family you won't understand it and find it to be boring. I think it does matter when it comes to movies like this, which is about big families, how well someone will or will not like it. Nothing Like the Holidays is a film that may not be your family but it might just make you laugh because of the memories it brings back about your crazy family that is or is not Puerto Rican.