Hanukkah on the Rocks

6.6 stars.

The best word to describe a story set in a bar with a bunch of random people celebrating Hanukkah is: strange. I can't imagine a bunch of bar flies would be acting like normal, upstanding, sober people all through the holidays while they're celebrating Hanukkah in a dive bar in the big city. Where is the raucous behavior and the lewd comments? Where are the loud drunken conversations that become so overbearing that you have to vacate the bar at some point? None of the realistic stuff that happens in bars actually takes place in this film. Everyone is on their best behavior. Everyone is quiet, everyone is easy-going. It's a dive bar in the middle of a city!

This is why you don't see movies like this, because it's completely unrealistic to imagine a bunch of drunkards hanging out in a bar all day every day getting along and singing Kum ba yah.

All the above outrageousness aside, it's not a bad fabrication.

Here our lady MC loses her job at a law firm due to a merge and downsizing, and by a coincidence decides to work as a bartender for a while, as she had experience at the job while in college.

Of course, she doesn't want her parents to know, which is a little unhinged because she'd not looking for another job in the law immediately.

That's not the real focus of the movie, which contains plenty of interesting and sometimes amusing slice-of-Hanukkah life moments.

The writers came up with an interesting set of regulars at the bar, Rocky's, which serve for both plot activation and comic relief. Definitely worth a watch.

As a 90s baby, I was a big fan of both Degrassi: The Next Generation and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. When I found out that Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff were the leads for this Hannukah film, I knew I had to watch it. When I saw Marc Summers playing sweet grandpa Sam, I started smiling ear to ear. After my viewing, I am happy to report that I loved it! This little movie was full of charm, tradition, community, family, romance...all the things that my Hallmark faves are known for. As a Christian who celebrates Christmas and the birth of Christ, I thoroughly enjoyed this Hannukah film. At its core, it had themes that everyone can relate to and enjoy, whether they are religious or not. I hope Hallmark Channel will continue to cast Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff in future projects because they are great actors with a sweet chemistry. Viewers will find themselves rooting for them every time.

I'm not Jewish, I'm not a drinker and have never been to a bar, but i absolutely love this movie and will save it (I've already watched several times)! Stacey Farber is perfect in this role. I think this is third movie I've seen her starring in and she's been believable in each. I look forward to seeing her in more. I wasn't familiar with Daren Kagasoff but he played the grandson just right (I love his "calming" voice)! Marc Summers couldn't be more fitting for this role - loved him! Actually all the actors were great - seeming like a family! I loved the atmosphere and friendliness of the bar and would love being there even without a drink! 🤗

This. This is what all of us watch Hallmark for. Or what we hope for as we watch. A Hanukkah movie ( or any movie) without the silly tropes and cliches - with people who seem real to us, people we recognize, people treated with dignity and who treat each other (and everybody else) with respect, patience, and kindness. Thank you.

The entire cast was above the norm. Every single one. Upbeat even through their difficulties, they managed to keep this in a positive frame and made us feel good - and our interest and time investment validated - a perfect holiday movie. Not being Jewish myself, it taught me things as the movie progressed. What could be better than all this. Again, thank you.