Los festivos caballeros

Look... I love cheesy Christmas movies just as much as the next girl, I really want to like this movie, I mean, come on, Lucas Scott dancing on the stage shirtless. Hello?!! It just missed the mark for me.

There wasn't enough character/ relationship development, and it felt very rushed. I gave it a 5 because of shirtless Chad Michael Murray , though. I would have liked to see her parents and a little more and how they play in to make her want to step in more, the dad didn't say very much the entire movie, the scene where Chad gave her the necklace was a bit cringe and kinda out of left field, felt random.

In theory this is a great premise for a movie...however all I could think about was how shocking Ashley's wig was...the colour, the style, the hairline, it was as flat as this film's whole vibe.

I couldn't concentrate on anything else, if the actress had short hair at the time is it too mind blowing for the female lead in a Christmas film to have short hair? I'm so confused. Just have a bob for Christmas, it's fine. They must've had budget for a decent wig, just that styling tucked behind the ear with a bit down in front of the ear to hide the wig line. Awful - just. Awful. Enjoyed the dancing though.

They writers of this movie missed so many beats and chances that its ridiculous. The plot holes are big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Watch it once for the hit guys and forget about it. Unfortunately this is definitely not worth watching more than once. I wish it were better, but it really required alot more work.

The romance was weak, the basic plot was thin, and the premise that she should leave the three year chance of a lifetime for a one day male stripper gig that will end in a day.

There were so many ways this could have been written to really make this story sing. But they went for the ridiculous ending.

"The Merry Gentlemen" (2024) is a feel-good Christmas movie that delivers exactly what you'd expect: festive cheer, a dash of romance, and a healthy dose of shirtless men dancing. While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it's a perfectly enjoyable watch for those seeking lighthearted holiday entertainment.

The film follows Ashley, a Broadway dancer who returns home for Christmas after a career setback. Determined to save her parents' struggling nightclub, she comes up with a rather unconventional plan: a male stripper show featuring local talent.

The premise is undeniably cheesy, but the film embraces its silliness with a wink and a smile. The dance sequences are surprisingly well-choreographed, offering a touch of "Magic Mike" magic to the holiday season. The film's humor is lighthearted and occasionally even laugh-out-loud funny.

The romance between Ashley and Luke, the charming carpenter who joins the dance troupe, is predictable but sweet. The chemistry between the leads is decent, and their relationship adds a heartwarming element to the festive storyline.

While the plot is predictable and the characters are somewhat one-dimensional, "The Merry Gentlemen" is a perfectly enjoyable holiday romp. It's a lighthearted and entertaining film that will leave you with a smile on your face and a touch of Christmas cheer.

6.7 stars.

Honestly, it's the actors that kept me around for this one. First of all, I like both of the lead actors, I think they have a screen presence that really bursts. The elderly parents are well known actors too. But this narrative is weak.

You have a bunch of guys who apparently don't know how to dance, and then they become quasi strippers, in a rundown mom and pop restaurant/bar/club.

I don't know what to make of the narrative because it's somewhat unorthodox.

The lead actress's character is a Broadway dancer for about 10 years or so, and then she gets canned. But she looks like she's 28, which speaks volumes of the fickleness of the theater crowd. And then you have male lead, Luke the handyman, who helps her parents keep their bar operating.

Lead female comes home from the city because she's no longer employed, and figures she can create a male dance routine to regenerate and bring customers back into this failing business.

The dance routines are average, with a couple of real dancers, and a couple of guys who don't really know how to dance, and it just comes together in a flimsy way that fails to entertain.

But I keep watching, because I really like the two lead actors, and I would probably be suckered into viewing anything they are in anyway. Kudos to the casting it's the only thing that kept this charade going.

Frankly, leave this to Hallmark, because they know Christmas movies. I know why Hallmark wouldn't touch it; it's because the dancing was stripper adjacent.