Nutcrackers

I really do not understand the harsh reviews. This is a sweet film. Not a typical Christmas film maybe, but also nothing groundbreaking. The boys, all real life brothers, are excellent. I didn't think they were obnoxious characters as other reviewers have suggested, just young kids grieving the loss of both parents! It's not too cheesy or schmaltzy, I laughed out loud a few times (it's gently funny rather than hilarious). This was my first Christmas film of 2024 and a nice gentle one to start the season off. I suppose people expect more lights and music and adventure, plus general cheesiness with a "Christmas" film so perhaps that's is why eating are bad. It's just a nice Sunday afternoon type film. I enjoyed it. Only real criticism is zero diversity. Not really any excuse for that these days.

But, I just liked it. Ben's acting seemed as if he didn't even want to be there and I could barely understand what the kids were saying half the time. I felt like I was watching the "Wolfpack" brothers if they looked like the "Hanson" brothers. The kids lack of discipline was annoying at times and yet they were smart and capable. I almost wondered if the parents faked their demise and ran away. Would i recommend this movie? Probably if you want to watch a confusing family movie with a Christmas theme. There was something about the brothers that is intriguing and I hope to see more of them in the future after they hone in on their acting skills.

With the name "Nutcrackers," I was expecting this comedy to be more like the Problem Child series with a Christmas twist. Ben Stiller's character mimics the acting he did in the "Meet the Parents" series where he plays an average Joe who finds himself in some comedic situations while caring for four young boys. I gave extra stars for the writers creating realistic scenes in which any parent of unsupervised rambunctious boys could find themselves in. The story line loses stars because of the pivot the story took when the ballet performance idea was introduced. Too much was jammed into such a short amount of time. I don't believe this movie will become a Christmas classic nor do I feel I will be watching it again. However, it does have a nice heartwarming ending.

I went into watching this movie thinking that it was another Ben Stiller slapstick comedy. However, I ended up being pleasantly surprised that Nutcrackers isn't that. It's hard to capture in words, what makes it good. Yes, it's heartwarming, funny and somewhat light, but it's the kids, their animals, and their rural environment that end up capturing your heart. I wasn't surprised when I later read that the boys are actually brothers in real life and that it was filmed on their family's actual farm. Ben Stiller was good but seemed a little out of place in the flow of things - but I guess that was the point wasn't it? :-)

Nutcrackers is a film starring Ben Stiller as an Uncle who has to try and take care of his sisters 4 boys on their farm as she recently passed away.

Its a situation that takes him out of his corporate office life comfort zone.

His Nephews are free spirited and slightly feral but also dealing with trauma and loss.

This is not a laugh out loud hijinks comedy but more of a heartwarming family film.

There is a vague christmas theme but its mot christmassy per se.

The 4 boys are played brilliantly and very real by 4 actual real life brothers who's real lives mimic that of the story.

Overall its a nice but fairly lightweight watch, its not super deep or super funny but it is heartwarming and has some nice themes.

It was nice to see Ben Stiller back acting again in a more serious role.

6 or 7 out of 10.