La recette d'un Noël inoubliable

This was a fair Christmas film that I had a little trouble watching.

My difficulties where threefold: first there was the lack of actual Italians or actors who looked and sounded Italian in a film that is literally called Our Italian Christmas Memories, second was the lack of Christmas in what is essentially a Christmas film...if it wasn't for the three wisemen popping up occasionally and the German tradition of finding the pickle on the tree...I wouldn't have known this was a Christmas movie at all and third I am growing weary of Hallmark's tireless agenda of dead parents, broken homes, lesbians and additionally in this film a Ukrainian doctor! It's a Christmas movie, can't the politics be set aside for some entertainment?

Now for the highlights of this film...Beau Bridges brought a lot of class to this film and even though he is quite definitely not Italian, I did feel that his portrayal of an individual suffering from dementia was a fairly good representation.

The story follows the eldest daughter in an Italian family who comes home to look after her grandfather (Nonno) while her mom takes a trip. Anna Collucia, is an adjunct college professor and she spends most of her time away from home, so it is a shock to her that her grandfather's dementia has progressed as much as it has. The younger sister and her partner have been taking care of the grandfather's farm (which seems to be a greenhouse) and she has resentment for her older sister and wants to sell the farm because it id too much for her to take care of. The younger brother is an insecure individual who has failed at a bunch of jobs, but thinks he has finally found what he wants to do...be a cook...but he is still so afraid of failure that he panics, makes mistakes and runs out on his job (I am not sure what profession that behavior is acceptable in, in real life). Anna, thanks to her Nonno's doctor, decides to try and recreate her grandmother's sugo (or sauce) to help stimulate her grandfather's mind...so she spends most of the movie looking for the recipe or asking people what they know about it.

Overall this was one of the sadder offerings for Christmas (2022) and if it wasn't for Beau Bridges...I might not recommend it at all, but my recommendation is not for romantics...but for people caring for aging parents and dealing with difficult family situations.

This movie was shown on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel and like many of the movies there it is less about romance and more about family. Sarah Powers' Anna is the central character along with Beau Bridges' Nonno. Anna has traveled the world as an adjunct professor which has left her with relationship problems with her siblings. A further complication is that Nonno has Alzheimer's which is progressing to the second stage.

The movie touches on the pain families endure as their patriarch loses vitality and worse. It deals with tension when one family member chooses a life away from the family home while those who stay behind must carry on and deal with the work involved in maintaining a family home, business or farm.

There is a romance which I thought should have been left out. There are a lot of things going on without it, and that particular relationship doesn't get much attention. It doesn't get enough attention to see any chemistry between Powers and Markian Tarasiuk's Dr. Greg.

The overall running theme of the movie is the importance of family no matter what. An ongoing thread in the story is the search for Nonna's favorite recipe.

This movie offers an alternative to all the Christmas romance movies. The acting and other production values are good.

I went middle of the road with my rating because, honestly, I didn't finish watching to the end. I was drawn to the title "Our Italian Christmas Memories" because I come from a family that is Italian on my father's side.

First of all, the casting was disappointing to me. Most of the cast is not Italian and doesn't even look Italian. Most are Canadian. The late matriarch of the family floats in and out of an Italian accent.

Second, they pepper the few obligatory Italian words and phrases throughout the scenes: nonno, nonna, Buon Natale, sugo (which they pronounce incorrectly as "suko" the entire time).

Third, which I realize is essential to their plot, they contend that none of the children or grandchildren in the family wanted to learn how to cook. This is unheard of in Italian homes. Kids are brought into the kitchen very early and they are very excited to be taught how to cook and bake by their mothers, grandmothers, fathers, whoever might be teaching.

Fourth, the feast of the seven fishes on Christmas Eve was barely mentioned. Of course, that was at least up to the point where I quit watching.

What really made my head explode was the CHRISTMAS PICKLE! That is a GERMAN tradition!! Not Italian!! Hallmark has even mentioned that being a German tradition before in their movie "Christmas Getaway."

I'm guessing whoever wrote, cast, directed, produced and acted in this movie has never spent any time around an Italian family at any time let alone Christmas. Very disappointing.

5.4 stars.

This is in NO way Italian, not one bit. Beau Bridges as an Italian? Oh boy.

This movie was all over the place. There's a scene, then they jump almost 30 years into the future. The grandfather didn't age a day. Already I knew this was going to be a farce. I think it's about a man with alzheimer's and a bunch of grandkids who have no idea what it means to be respectable human beings. Let's sell the farm, let's give up, let's bicker about irrelevant issues, and be illogical all the time. One sister is gay and her wife is pregnant. Who is the father? Why not explore that a little?

I don't understand the point and I'm disappointed with this movie, but at least the doctor guy was cool. And the grandson, is that Woody Harrelson's kid? He has no authority or drive whatsoever, what a most emasculated character. His girlfriend was the coolest person in this movie, make her the lead next time, please.

The kiss was misplaced and didn't belong in this film. Sure it was nice, but it felt like an attempt to resurrect a lifeless story.

Ooof.

There is some good in this one, although the Alzheimer's angle is cheap and cliched. Bridges and Power are very good, actually almost excellent, although she makes some questionable hair and costume choices. There are the tiresome Hallmark broken family tropes. Hallmark never seems to hire a hair styling crew.

The diversity police must be happy, though. Every couple is mixed race, including the pregnant lesbians.

Perhaps Hallmark is reacting to the new competition from GFAC, with more recognizable actors and slightly more complicated production design, but there is not enough here to make it stand out.