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.

I watch just abouy all the new hallmark movies each year, this was already on my list with much knowledge of what it was abouy or who was in it. Then I heard Marc Summers on a radio show promoting the movie and then I was even more intrigued to watch it and it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed this one, Marc summers was SO good! I heard him saying he's not an actor but I thought he did a great job!! All of the actors really did in this. It was one of my favorites this holiday season.

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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 is a rare Hallmark movie where even the dialog associated with the obligatory plot points is executed in a way that doesn't sound cliche. The imaginative games at the bar are a lot of fun with more interesting and quirky supporting characters than usual. The leads are engaging and have good chemistry. The "bubby" and the grandfather are both exceptionally well played. The different dilemmas unfold in the usual Hallmark way but enough fun stuff is chocked into the middle that it all seems more natural somehow. I think the Hallmark genre of movies needs to be rated on their own scale with enjoyment being the main criterion. As such. I enjoyed Hanukkah on the Rocks thoroughly and rate it a 9/10.

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.