A Christmas House
Reviewed by Lisa Sue
A Christmas House stands out for several reasons. Main reason is in the opening scenes they provide us with the fake TV show Handsome Justice, which is just superb. Glorious. The title alone of the fake show is exceptional, the eldest Mitchell son Mike plays a lawyer. His character’s last name is Handsome. The potential of such a show gives me endless joy, and for that you have my eternal thanks Christmas House. And less you think this is a one and done joke, never! His brother gives him grief for the show, and the love interest neighbor Andi kids him for how terrible the show is. And the initial brotherly banter sets the tone for the show and their relationship, which is nice that the brotherly bond is developed. Sticking to Handsome justice, Mike does a commercial for love interest Andi’s real estate business, in character. And stick around to the end of the movie, Handsome even does a body spray commercial. Mike isn’t afraid to laugh at himself, and that also makes Christmas House unique. I mean how many of these things- in the middle of the Christmas tree montage, the hot chocolate sipping, cookie baking, and the ugly sweater wearing do you really laugh out loud, as if you’re genuinely amused (and not just shocked into laugyher by the horror of the decorative sweaters?) On the rom-com scale, this one is decidedly more on the comedy side, and for that kudos to them.
As Chris has pointed out several times what makes these things work is the chemistry. Do you buy into the relationships? And for that, I would say Christmas House gives you a very sweet meet cute story. Back in high school Majestic Mike (his magician stage name) has the biggest crush on the magical neighbor Andi (of course brother Brandon reads Mike’s HS journal with his poetry about Andi, we expect nothing less.) Mike gets her this beautiful necklace and puts in inside his phantom trick box, unfortunately the box gets stuck and while Mike is fixing it, Andi walks away. And Mike doesn’t say anything. For years, he keeps silent, just quietly hanging on to that necklace as both he and Andi move on with life. Will he get a second chance at having a first shot? During this particular trip back home, Mike manages to spend time with Andi, who’s moved back to their hometown after a divorce, by teaching magic tricks to Andi’s son Noah. What better way to get to a woman’s heart than through her son? Also, this movie is from the guy’s point of view, so there is that twist. No bestie per se pushing a romantic agenda (unless you can call the brother joking that Mike has caught feelings as strategic) No wise old people, in fact the parents in this movie could use some guidance themselves. The reason the boys are called upon, is to put on this big Christmas production (movers are seriously brought in to remove furniture inside the house to allow for more trees, animatronics, and decorations) and that the parents are selling the house. The mom wants to go out with a big Christmas bang, but what’s really behind selling the house? Is there more to the story? We see in flashbacks how the Christmas House came to be, and that each ornament and decoration isn’t just some object. It is a memory, and when having difficulty moving forward, we cling to those memories, the one true thing we know. Can you ever recreate the same feeling? Maybe not. And the mom isn’t deluded enough to believe that putting on a Christmas to end all Christmases will solve their problems. But it does get her and the dad (the wonderful Treat Williams #drbrownforever) talking, which leads to them finding their happily ever after.
As the cover picture implies, there are 3 stories going on, which helps the plot immensely when you’re not focused on just one couple. The movie has more room to breathe, just an observation. So the final thread is the brother and his husband (stop the presses! ) want to adopt, but having been turned down 3 prior times, don’t want to get their hopes up (or the family’s) and decide to keep the adoption a secret, until they cross the finish line. With the parents being cagey, and the brother whispering with his husband, Mike feels the holiday is off, something isn’t right, and the electrical fire only adds to his stress. But there is no overt deception in this movie leading to some big break- no villainous corporation coming in to ruin some mom and pop joint or hidden nefarious agenda, just the kind of white lies we tell ourselves to make it through the holidays. We tell ourselves we choose not to say something, because we don’t want to upset anyone. Especially not at the holidays, as if January is somehow a better time. These movies highlight that usually the person who winds up most upset is the secret keeper, and that level of self-delusion is usually what eventually ruins the holidays anyways. The truth comes in dribbles throughout the movie. The selling of the house. The parents going their separate ways after the sale. The brother’s adoption plans. Mike’s show not getting renewed (clearly these TV people don’t know awesome when they see it). And with each reveal, the family doesn’t break. They simply face the truth and find a way forward.
With the parents and brother arc resolved, what will become of Majestic Mike and Awesome Andi? Will Mike make it back in time from the emergency show meeting? After all he promised Noah he wouldn’t miss his magic show. And sitting in the boardroom, pleading on behalf of himself (and the entire crew that depends on Handsome Justice) Mike realizes, he needs to leave and get to the Christmas show at the house. Because the show, his family, Andi and Noah are what really matters. And it is in that moment of clarity, when he’s willing to give up everything that of course things start to fall into place for Mike. His brother gave perhaps the best 2020 advice. “No matter how bad things get; sometimes you must let things fall apart, to pick back up and keep going. Knowing that you will get through this.” In a dumpster fire of a year, truer words have yet to be spoken. And in the grand tradition of the fairy tale ending- the brother gets the kid, the parents find something they can enjoy doing together, and Majestic Mike? Well, he buys the house. He gets the girl, Andi gets the necklace, AND Handsome Justice gets a spinoff. If that doesn’t make you smile, you’re totally a Grinch. What more were you asking for?
Comments
Post a Comment