Merry Good Enough

This movie had drama, mystery and romance but none of it was developed. Like at all. Ever. The acting was good but there was just nothing there.

The mom disappeared having left in her car. It was technically a mystery, but it was actually just a fact. No drama. No suspense. Toward the end of the movie there was a brief scene, maybe 30 seconds where the viewer might think something dramatic happened, but nope. Nothing.

There was a romance of sorts. Nothing led up to it and it went nowhere. It wasn't even displayed in a provocative way. Again, it was just a fact, not a developed thing stirring emotion.

This was supposed to be a Christmas movie. We're told in a line or two of dialogue that they were meeting for Christmas, but it really had nothing to do with Christmas.

I guess the movie was well named in that everything presented was "good enough" to say it has drama, romance, mystery, etc., but nothing was developed.

The only way a viewer will be stirred by anything in this movie is if a character might say a line or be in a brief scene that reminds the viewer of something in their own life that stirs emotion. It's not the movie itself that will stir it. There is really nothing to this movie.

There's something so great the overall mise en scène of this movie and my guess it has to do something with the setting and where it was filmed (which I read was somewhere in Massachusetts). The cozy home interiors, snow dusted rural off roads, even the artificial decor of a Chinese restaurant, all of it, i believe, will elicit the nostalgic feeling of Christmas past in many viewers.

The cinematography is very good too. As well as costuming and art. It feels like a real Christmas.

Oh and the story is good too. None of that hallmark sludgy saccharine nonsense. Real enough to feel authentic without being too dark for the holidays. Just right. "good enough" one might say.

Merry Good Enough is a great watch for anyone wanting to see the functionality of a dysfunctional American family during the holidays. Heart warming and sharp, the film deals with 'adulting' for both generations of a family of five plus the small town locals who they have all grown up with. What makes Merry Good Enough fresh is you can feel the film comes from the community where it's being made. Taking you to New England area, it's not an overly sappy or romantic view of the holidays but rather a grounded in reality experience that a lot of families go through over the holidays. Great performances from Raye Levine, Joel Murray, Daniel Desmarais, Comfort Clinton, Susan Gallagher and Sawyer Spielburg.

Merry Good Enough is destined to become a Christmas classic. The story line and characters are familiar to us because we have all experience them. But they are reflected back to us with such warmth and humor that our attention never flags. There are none of the over-the-top plots or caricatured performances here, just sensitive, nuanced portrayals of our friends and families dealing with issues that seem to surface every holiday season. So why is the film so riveting? It is because we are drawn into a world that is deep within our personal experience, but not so intimate that our thoughts turn inward. Instead, we feel only love, and empathy for the characters and joy at their triumphs. The casting was superb. Each actor displayed a range of skills from comedic timing to genuine emotional vulnerability. The direction, editing and music were worthy of a big budget film. But, this is an "Indy" produced on a shoestring, making it worthy of "Christmas miracle" status.

This Christmas movie captivates with its charm and relatability, featuring outstanding performances from Raye Levine, Sawyer Spielberg, and the entire talented ensemble. It delves into the compelling and nuanced dynamics of a dysfunctional family prompted into introspection following their mother's disappearance just before Christmas. The characters are exquisitely crafted, with Lucy's emotional evolution in her relationships with her mother and siblings portrayed in a way that's heartfelt, humorous, and thought-provoking. The dialogue is consistently fresh and natural, bringing an authentic emotional depth to this touching depiction of a troubled yet lovable family.