Four Cousins and a Christmas

Most of us can identify with at least one character in this story. Mine was with the youngest cousin. I went though the same thing 53 years ago, and it's disheartening that things have not changed much since then. My heart broke for her. My heart also broke for her sister who had a loss I can identify with. So, yah, why do I love this movie that breaks my heart so? Because, just as the last line of the film states: "I Love My Family".

An amazingly heartfelt film to watch during the holiday season (or even in the dead of Summer, like myself)! The story's diverse characters contain members found in almost everyone's family, and provide amazingly realistic performances depicting the all-too relatable struggle of gathering for the holidays; not to mention, doing so while mourning the loss of a member of the family.

With the inevitable tension between a few relatives, sibling/cousin rivalries, and family drama dragged out for decades, the triumph of familial love and support during difficult times reminds viewers that blood is thicker than water (and even wine).

This chaotic family dynamic is gorgeously portrayed by a cast with such incredible chemistry, you would assume they are actually related. The story is written so well, it has inspired me to reach out to all of my family members to tell them I love them. Kudos to the cast and crew for creating such an impactful piece!

So I have a question... WHAT. WAS. THAT????

Scenes getting cut earlier than normally, cringy acting, weird angle filming, bizarre transitions between scenes , lazy humor. Come on... what is this?

The story was great, I loved the realness of seeing how sometimes families only get together under those sad circumstances. The whole cast seemed to be casted perfectly for each role, I believe all the actors did a wonderful job portraying each character and you can really tell a difference between each as an individual. My favorite character would probably be Jennifer, the way she was holding a grudge against her grandfather but in a "I'll forgive but won't forget" kind of way because at the end of the day it is still family. I first heard of this movie because of Teri Polo. I grew up watching The Fosters so she definitely caught my attention!

I found Four Cousins and a Christmas a thoroughly enjoyable experience, with it tackling a period of grief shared by four cousins during Christmas time. By far this film's greatest strength comes from its performances. All four cousins are full of charisma and feel fully realized and bounce off each other in a playful and realistic manner. Particularly, I enjoyed Raffaela Capp's Jennifer as a character whose storyline not only carries the most emotional relevance but also is one many audiences will relate to in a huge way. I feel Four Cousins' narrative is portrayed in such a down to earth and relatable way and you really feel for Jennifer and her family at the end. I would definitely recommend Four Cousins and a Christmas for its fresh take on a family-driven narrative during Christmas.