Ira Finkelstein's Christmas

Hubby & I both enjoyed this one, as it wasn't a typical Christmas romance film, and It's one that celebrates Hanukah as well as Christmas. A seasonal winner all around!

"Switchmas" is the title of this film that I bought on DVD to watch this past Christmas season. "All I Want Is Christmas" also works as a title that describes the plot. Two boys from two different families - one Christian and one Jewish, are sent off by their families for the holidays (Christmas and Hanukkah) to visit and be with relatives. The relatives haven't seen them since they were toddlers and they resemble each other in appearance. Neither one is looking forward to his trip.

Ira Finkelstein lives in Los Angeles where his father is a B-movie director. Ira has never seen snow, and has never celebrated Christmas like other kids. But he wants both. Mikey Amato lives in Chicago with his mother, and he has seen plenty of snow. He would rather they spend Christmas in a beachfront somewhere. Any place would be better than a snowy Christmas in Washington state with relatives he doesn't even know. Well, the boys meet in Chicago's O'Hare Airport where Ira had to change planes for Florida and Mikey had been dropped off by his mom who had to hurry to work. And they decide to switch places and identities. So, it's off to sunny Florida for Mikey, and to Seattle and Christmastown, Washington for Ira.

The plot has some nice twists as each boy is welcomed by the unsuspecting relatives. While it's a different Christmas season film, the idea of two people switching places has been done and used a number of times - first in novels and then in films. Still, these two boys pull it off for quite awhile until near the end. Both of these young actors, Elijah Nelson and Justin Howell, give very good performances. They are the heart of the film and story.

Elliott Gould and David DeLuise are fairly good, but also goofy much of the time. They provide much of the comedy as the Jewish grandfather and father. While there is some good humor in places. I can see where this film might seem offensive to some. The portrayal of the Jewish grandparents and friends in Florida may seem far too exaggerated to some members of that faith.

The name "Christmastown" was invented for this movie. But there's no mistaking that Leavenworth Washington is a Christmas town each December. It's decorated and all lit up for Christmas. In the evenings, a quartet of carolers walk the streets, singing familiar yuletide tunes. They're dressed in Victorian costume so it looks like something right out of Charles Dickens.

I quickly pegged Leavenworth as the main filming location for this movie. I've been to Germany and Switzerland, having seen much of Europe when stationed there in the U. S. Army. I've also traveled in all 50 states and I don't think there's another place in the U. S. that looks so Bavarian as Leavenworth. It's not only in the town's architecture - which is a very interesting story all its own. But its setting on the East side of the Cascade Mountains so closely resembles Bavaria with its mountainous backdrop. The Christmas parade down Front Street with Icicle Ridge looming in the distance could be a duplicate scene in any number of Bavarian and Swiss towns, including some that I have seen. I visited Leavenworth several times when I lived in the Pacific Northwest from 1987 to 2007. That included one Christmas holiday season which begins the weekend after Thanksgiving.

A strong cast and delightful plot line drive this family Christmas story with a Hanukkah twist (or is it a Hanukkah story with a Christmas twist?).

The young leads--Ira and Mikey, played by Elijah Nelson and Justin Howell--charmed their way through their scenes, and their interaction with the adults--especially Mikey and his grandfather, played by Elliott Gould, showed wonderful chemistry.

But the show stealer was Jennifer Cameo--a washed up (dare I say 'touched'?) middle-aged actress played by Julianne Christie. From the opening scene, the film's comedic element was driven by her, setting a lighthearted and slightly off subplot to the movie.

This was a movie for the whole family, and a delightful holiday treat.

Max is a Hollywood director and his wife Rosie is a party planner. The weather is not what most people associate with Christmas, and furthermore, the family is Jewish and they do not celebrate the holiday. The parents get mad when Ira puts up a tree and decorates it. And to make matters worse, Max gets a chance to direct a Christmas movie starring the beautiful, shallow, demanding and bubbleheaded Jennifer Cameo. Never mind that even if the movie is finished in time for Christmas, how will it be released? Movies take months and even years to make (yes, but when you see the garbage we are dealing with ...). Ira must go to visit his grandparents Sam and Ruth in Florida, who have not seen him in years.

Ira must change planes in Chicago. Meanwhile, Mikey is miserable. His parents are divorced and his mom Julie is always working. Mikey is being sent to visit cousins in Christmastown, USA in Washington state, who he has not seen in years. He is miserable because he is tired of snow and wishes he could go somewhere warm.

What are the chances? The boys meet at the airport and they kind of look alike. They trade information so they will each be able to convince the other's relatives that he is who he says he is.

So Ira goes to Washington and is excited to see real snow. The relatives are happy to see him.

Mikey meets the very Jewish grandparents, who live in a retirement village. Everyone is so excited to see Mikey, and Mikey is having a good time, even if a couple of people are suspicious and don't think he looks like Ira. Signs of Hanukkah are everywhere and the music is great, if not what most of us might associate with December.

Mostly, the movie is about Ira's adventures in Washington. Libby is sweet but her husband Walt tends to argue a lot. He's out of work, though, and the family is going through hard times. Teenage daughter Jessica is a rebel who wears too much makeup and has some blue in her otherwise red hair (it is the actual color referred to as red hair), and she sings and plays the guitar with her friend on the street for money. Clare is the adorable middle child, and Kyle is the youngest, obsessed with martial arts.

Ira has a good time, for the most part. He gets to see a parade and Santa Claus, and he goes shopping. Clare even shows him her secret place, and old Vaudeville theater that people have forgotten about. She wants to write a Christmas play and a song and use the theater and local kids to perform it. But unlike her bratty sister, she's too shy to perform in public.

Then there is trouble. Jack the jerk is a bully who travels with minions and his dog Killer. Ira is very afraid of dogs, as we saw earlier with Jennifer. Soon, he is miserable and wishing he could be back home with his real family.

Oh, yes, Jennifer. Was it really worth it? This sci-fi garbage Max is working on could be one of the worst Christmas movies ever, or perhaps so bad it's good. And Jennifer is very difficult to work with. Maybe a call from Ira would be the best thing right about now.

But Clare and Ira get to work on their play, calling in kids to audition. Even Killer gets a part as Mistletoe. And the play includes everyone. It's not just about Christmas. It celebrates Jewish culture as well. Ira has learned from Santa, whose real name is Murray Lefkowitz, that Jews played important roles in the music and movies of Christmas.

The secret does get out, as you might expect. I just won't say how. And the results are hilarious, but there are many Christmas miracles.

So will everything go as planned? Will Clare succeed in making the holiday special? Will both boys learn a lesson?

This is a wonderful if silly effort. It is a holiday movie that gives plenty of attention to Jewish culture. And it is inclusive without watering down any of the messages of the season, something not found in politically correct celebrations. While the secular Christmas traditions are acknowledged, the play celebrates Jesus as the real reason for the season and includes the Jews as well.

Shaye Hodgins is great as the child who won't lose her faith and won't give up. And her song is sufficiently corny but something many people will like.

Elijah Nelson and Justin Howell are pretty good as the kids who deceive everyone.

Elliott Gould is the cool grandpa.

Even Julianne Christie makes an impact as a truly unpleasant, spoiled brat of a Hollywood actress. I don't really mean she's that good, but look at the type of movie this is. I don't know who the other actors in her movie are, but they're pretty good too.

While this is family friendly and it got a TV-G rating when I watched it, I should point out that it does have a few curse words. One used twice refers to geezers in this case and not to their digestive problems. And there's a disturbing scene where a child and a dog are mistreated, but nothing kids shouldn't see.

I only wish the music had been better. The big band music in Florida was great, and most of the background music was good, but many of the Christmas songs did not sound good; either they weren't the traditional versions or they weren't familiar.

Overall, it is a worthy effort.

A humorous and heartwarming tale about the true spirit of Christmas that both children and adults will love.

Wonderfully captures the character and quirks of Christian and Jewish (Christmas & Hannukah) season celebrations and beliefs about themselves and the other... The joyous innocence, hope and longings of younger children celebrating the season set off against the fault lines of teenage self pre-occupation, cynicism and alienation... the ultimate triumph of love and humanity that is the true spirit of Christmas.

Expect this movie to be a staple of families with young children for many a Christmas season in the years ahead. Plan on lot's of laughter and moist eye at the end for the redemption and reconciliation of all by the end of the movie.