The Merry Gentlemen

All of you reviewers who criticize this movie as being poorly written and having plot holes need to lighten up! Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's cliched, but so what?!?! If you expected more, that's on you. It's entertaining, the actors are gorgeous, the music and dancing are fun, and, honestly, that's probably all they were going for. Reviewing this as if it was intended to compete for Academy Award nominations does it a great disservice. It's a Hallmark-type movie, and IMO it's better than a lot of those I've watched. If you watch the gag reel at the end, you'll see how seriously the cast took it. They had fun and so should you. Just enjoy it for what it is or stop watching silly, romantic Christmas movies!

"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.

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.

The Merry Gentlemen struggles to deliver a cohesive experience. The love story feels both forced and underdeveloped, lacking the emotional depth needed to make it believable. The part where the guys are dancing in the pub, intended to raise money, feels poorly executed-unconvincing in both its outcome and presentation. The movie's attempt at capturing a Christmas atmosphere also falls flat, missing the warmth and festive spirit expected from such a setting. Despite some potential, it ultimately feels disconnected and underwhelming. Giving it a 5 is kind of generous, i was honestly expecting a more fun and convincing movie.

I'm not sure why people go into these Christmas rom-coms expecting some kind of amazing gripping drama. These are for fun, something light hearted and entertaining, and this was exactly that. Was it corny? Sure, but all these movies are. I actually enjoy corny. The main leads had good chemistry together. I love CMM in everything and Brit Robertson is great as well. I would reccomend this for anyone who enjoys these kind of movies. Also side note: it was so random to see Maxwell Caulfield show up in this (aka Michael from grease 2), but it was really great to see him, he looks great!

Is this movie going to blow you out of the water? No. Is it fun? Yes. Did the main leads have great chemistry together? Yes. Is there a happy ending? Yes. All in all worth a watch!