Merry Good Enough

This movie had drama, mystery and romance but none of it was developed. Like at all. Ever. The acting was good but there was just nothing there.

The mom disappeared having left in her car. It was technically a mystery, but it was actually just a fact. No drama. No suspense. Toward the end of the movie there was a brief scene, maybe 30 seconds where the viewer might think something dramatic happened, but nope. Nothing.

There was a romance of sorts. Nothing led up to it and it went nowhere. It wasn't even displayed in a provocative way. Again, it was just a fact, not a developed thing stirring emotion.

This was supposed to be a Christmas movie. We're told in a line or two of dialogue that they were meeting for Christmas, but it really had nothing to do with Christmas.

I guess the movie was well named in that everything presented was "good enough" to say it has drama, romance, mystery, etc., but nothing was developed.

The only way a viewer will be stirred by anything in this movie is if a character might say a line or be in a brief scene that reminds the viewer of something in their own life that stirs emotion. It's not the movie itself that will stir it. There is really nothing to this movie.

There's something so great the overall mise en scène of this movie and my guess it has to do something with the setting and where it was filmed (which I read was somewhere in Massachusetts). The cozy home interiors, snow dusted rural off roads, even the artificial decor of a Chinese restaurant, all of it, i believe, will elicit the nostalgic feeling of Christmas past in many viewers.

The cinematography is very good too. As well as costuming and art. It feels like a real Christmas.

Oh and the story is good too. None of that hallmark sludgy saccharine nonsense. Real enough to feel authentic without being too dark for the holidays. Just right. "good enough" one might say.

This Christmas movie captivates with its charm and relatability, featuring outstanding performances from Raye Levine, Sawyer Spielberg, and the entire talented ensemble. It delves into the compelling and nuanced dynamics of a dysfunctional family prompted into introspection following their mother's disappearance just before Christmas. The characters are exquisitely crafted, with Lucy's emotional evolution in her relationships with her mother and siblings portrayed in a way that's heartfelt, humorous, and thought-provoking. The dialogue is consistently fresh and natural, bringing an authentic emotional depth to this touching depiction of a troubled yet lovable family.

This is one of those films that's exactly what you want it to be. It's fun, funny, charming and heartfelt. A great balance of the spectrum of things we all experience over the holidays...Chaos and heartfelt family warmth.

This intimate story is full of great characters who each get a meaningful and/or hilarious moment to shine. And of course the story is propelled by the talented leads: Raye Levine, Sawyer Spielberg, Daniel Desmarais, Comfort Clinton and Joel Murray.

The story unfolds in such a way that it holds your interest all the way through, with sprinkled laugh out loud jokes mixed with tear jerking moments.

A wonderful depiction of family dysfunction meets warm and fuzzy. This is the PERFECT film for a family with adult children around the holidays. It touches on the reality of being around family (and the hardships that can bring) while also emphasizing the importance and resilliency of family love. I was especially pleased with the perfect balance of romantic comedy and drama - the reality of being home and reverting back to old habits after being away from the people that are supposed to know you best was so refreshing. In a world where streaming and seasons long TV shows give you the time to get to know characters at length, this film does it in 97 minutes. Great writing, great acting. Already pre-ordered the film and will definitely be watching multiple times. GREAT FLICK! Highly reccommend.