Four Cousins and a Christmas

An amazingly heartfelt film to watch during the holiday season (or even in the dead of Summer, like myself)! The story's diverse characters contain members found in almost everyone's family, and provide amazingly realistic performances depicting the all-too relatable struggle of gathering for the holidays; not to mention, doing so while mourning the loss of a member of the family.

With the inevitable tension between a few relatives, sibling/cousin rivalries, and family drama dragged out for decades, the triumph of familial love and support during difficult times reminds viewers that blood is thicker than water (and even wine).

This chaotic family dynamic is gorgeously portrayed by a cast with such incredible chemistry, you would assume they are actually related. The story is written so well, it has inspired me to reach out to all of my family members to tell them I love them. Kudos to the cast and crew for creating such an impactful piece!

"Four Cousins and a Christmas" is a wonderfully heartfelt and relatable holiday film that completely surprised me. The performances are rich with warmth and authenticity, bringing each character to life in a unique way. Jennifer's emotional journey resonates deeply; her story feels both personal and profoundly real. The film beautifully explores themes of grief, forgiveness, and the power of family, weaving these elements together in a touching narrative. I particularly admired how it illustrates the idea that even in the midst of sadness, the support of family can lead to healing and hope. This film is a beautiful, underrated Christmas gem that truly deserves to be seen.

What I liked about the movie was the overwhelming feeling of joy and dynamics between the characters. The fact that so many characters are given the spotlight to have their individual moments helps to show the overwhelming connection that ties the whole family together and make the message of the film stronger. I think others should watch because it has a message that is resonant with everyone, which is no matter who the people in our lives are, whether it be family members, or even unrelated friends, the idea of getting together and realizing the magical feelings of bonds and closeness is an extremely healthy and important value we should all cherish as humans. The production design of the movie was very well executed, with a more than luxurious house filled with all kinds christmas decorations which is further exemplified by the lighting, showing a more than cheerful and festive feeling film that succeeds in showing that Christmas spirit in all its glory. It's a perfectly harmless, and a very cute and nice film about family, and how even burdens and generational trauma in the past can be put to rest for a day full of happiness and joy. I would rate this film 7/10.

The story was great, I loved the realness of seeing how sometimes families only get together under those sad circumstances. The whole cast seemed to be casted perfectly for each role, I believe all the actors did a wonderful job portraying each character and you can really tell a difference between each as an individual. My favorite character would probably be Jennifer, the way she was holding a grudge against her grandfather but in a "I'll forgive but won't forget" kind of way because at the end of the day it is still family. I first heard of this movie because of Teri Polo. I grew up watching The Fosters so she definitely caught my attention!

So I have a question... WHAT. WAS. THAT????

Scenes getting cut earlier than normally, cringy acting, weird angle filming, bizarre transitions between scenes , lazy humor. Come on... what is this?