'Tis The Season - Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

Genre: Holiday, Romance, Comedy

Length:  1h 22min

Rating: TV-PG

Director: Mary Lambert

Writers: Todd Calgi Gallicano, Charles Shyer

Actors: Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, Madison Skye Validum, Nadia Sine, Janet Lo, Camille Cadarette, Chase Ramsey

 

IMDb Blurb: Friendships are put to the ultimate test over a boastful holiday newsletter.

 

 

Selina’s Point of View:

Tis the season for cheesy movies. I need to get into the headspace for it, which is proving difficult this year. A Christmas magic rom-com should have been what I needed, but Best. Christmas. Ever! went a little too far past the campy line to make much of a positive difference to me.

 

I’m going to start with the good, though.

 

Brandy Norwood (Cinderella, Star, The Game) simply hasn’t aged. Not only that, but she was built for parts like these. Although cheesy, she puts enough heart into characters to make them feel worth watching. I’m also fond of Jason Biggs (Orange is the New Black, Loser, American Pie), I always have been. He has an ‘effortless’ quality to his acting that makes him perfect for family roles. I almost always instantly buy him as the dad, or husband, in any story. He feels normal. In a good way.

 

The beginning of the flick made sense and felt cute to me, as well, but it devolved from there.

 

 

All the rest of Best. Christmas. Ever! felt cringy – at best. The main character was absolutely obnoxious, and Heather Graham (Suitable Flesh, The Rest of Us, Boogie Nights) did nothing to help that first impression. There were scenes where she did things that felt so forced that I found myself actively making faces at the screen.

 

Then there was the ending.

 

For a moment, I thought they were taking an impressive route. Unfortunately, they left every thread of plot from that moment dangling. Even the short scene just before the credits didn’t close the holes they created. It wound up feeling ridiculous instead of magical.

 

There are better cheesy Christmas movies than Best. Christmas. Ever!

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

The title of Best. Christmas. Ever! set a very high bar for expectations regarding this new Christmas movie offering. This is the time of year, after all, that we tend to get inundated with cheesy and saccharine movies full of the Spirit of the Season and magical romance experiences. We all know about the networks that shift to pretty much round-the-clock Christmas and holiday romance movies. There are so many within this genre out there that there’s no shortage to fill up their programming spots for the entire month and then some. Best. Christmas. Ever! felt like it could have been in the mix with that rotation – this one just came from Netflix instead of Hallmark.

 

I’m on the fence with how I feel about this movie.

 

On one hand, Best. Christmas. Ever! delivered what felt like a fresh concept with a holiday check-in letter becoming the catalyst for Christmas shenanigans. Rather than the typical meet-cute or crisis because something is in trouble and someone or the community needs to save whatever it is tropes. this film does offer something relatable that I can’t remember seeing before.

 

I love getting letters from friends and relatives around the holidays. I try to keep tabs on how everyone is doing via social media if not directly, but it’s that little personal touch of a letter in my hand that feels special that they took extra time to think about sending it to me that gives me warm fuzzies. Sometimes I can’t help but compare where my own life status is to the adventures and milestones shared. It’s human nature, I think. Best. Christmas. Ever! takes that sentiment and spins an elaborate ‘what if’ scenario for us.

 

 

It was a bit of a roller-coaster ride, though. Perhaps there was too much cringe involved, or maybe the fact that the families on screen lived in this super-rich fantasy land. It was a feast for the eyes from a set-dressing standpoint, but it was hard to connect with the characters. Too much was going on at once, perhaps. I was even afraid this was about to turn into a swingers situation with these couples, but the rating helped me hold on to hope that it wouldn’t – and it thankfully didn’t. There were just some weird vibes going on.

 

For a movie about embracing and pushing through life not working out perfectly, there was too much of a glossy perfect sheen on everything. The message was there, but it was like someone gave me candy rather than a cough drop for a sore throat.

 

I’m afraid that I have to agree with most of the critical reviews that I’ve seen for Best. Christmas. Ever! which pretty much state that this movie works better as a TV holiday special rather than a feature film. Of course, if we consider Netflix as a non-traditional TV network, then that’s exactly what this was.

 

Best. Christmas. Ever! has its fun and heartwarming moments and wasn’t a total travesty, mind you. It just didn’t live up to the sales pitch its own title offered. Brandy Norwood’s voice remains spectacular, though, so having this playing in the background wouldn’t be a bad thing.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 42%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 19%

Metascore – 34%

Metacritic User Score – 1.8/10

IMDB Score – 4.3/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 2.5/5

 

Movie Trailer:

 

Instant Family (2018)

 

Streaming Service: Paramount+

Movie Name/Year: Instant Family (2018)

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Family

Length:  1h 58min

Rating: PG-13

Production/Distribution: Paramount Pictures, Closest to the Hole Productions, Leverage Entertainment, Two Grown Men, Paramount Pictures International, Sony Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Director: Sean Anders

Writers: Sean Anders, John Morris

Actors: Britt Rentschler, Carson Holmes, Charlie McDermott, Eve Harlow, Gustavo Escobar, Iliza Shlesinger, Isabela Merced, Joan Cusack, Julianna Gamiz, Julie Hagerty, Jody Thompson, Margo Martindale, Mark Wahlberg, Michael O'Keefe, Octavia Spencer, Rose Byrne, Tig Notaro, Tom Segura

 

IMDb Blurb: A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.

 

Cat’s Point of View:

Instant Family was one of those movies that looked fine in the trailer; but, as a story, it might have the potential to be heavier than I was feeling up for in the dramatic feels department. It didn’t make my personal Top 20 for November 2018 for that reason, and not based on the potential merit of the movie. 

Now that it came up in our random review rotation, I did my best to push aside any preconceived notions and even didn’t re-watch the trailer beforehand so I could experience the film with an open mind and fresh eyes. I am very glad I did. 

 

Instant Family didn’t shy away from the drama, though tempered the more intense elements of the story with comedy and lots of heart. The laughs were organic and woven into the tale deftly so that the production worked as a whole rather seamlessly. I’ve seen movies in the past that made clunky attempts at such but there was no hiding the segmented feeling. I didn’t find any such problems with Instant Family. It all had a natural flow about it. I didn’t even really note the passage of time all that much during my watch-through.

The foster and adoption system is one that doesn’t often get press, and generally when it does, it’s not good. There are so many kids out there that need good homes that can’t be the ones they started out with. In that way, Instant Family really hit an important topic and gave a positive feel-good story to go with it - without glossing over or sugarcoating anything. 

 

When I was in the 3rd grade, I got a front-row seat to some aspects of the lives of foster kids, as some of my family fostered often, and I stayed with them for a time and got to know the children that were around when I was. Instant Family hit on so many levels and had the benefit of authenticity, as well. I hadn’t realized it before, but writer and director Sean Anders (Horrible Bosses 2, Daddy's Home, Spirited) based Instant Family on aspects from his own life with fostering and adopting children. You could tell that this came from a place of deep understanding.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the outstanding cast. I couldn’t fault any of the performances within Instant Family whether they were Hollywood heavy hitters such as Mark Wahlberg (Deepwater Horizon, Spenser Confidential, Father Stu), Rose Byrne (I Am Mother, Jexi, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures, The Shape of Water, Ma), and Tig Notaro (Lucy in the Sky, Army of the Dead, We Have a Ghost) or the up-and-coming child actors. Everyone was cast well and just felt right in their roles. Though, I do have to say my favorite was Isabela Merced (Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Sweet Girl), who played the oldest of the 3 primary kids in Instant Family, Lizzy. 

 

While there was a family theme throughout Instant Family and the word even within the movie’s title, as well as young kids featured in the film, this is not a movie for the very young. The PG-13 was a good rating here for the occasional language and some scenarios shown. 

Instant Family was definitely worth the watch, and I didn’t even mind the Paramount+ related ads. I have to be pretty invested in something for that not to be bothersome. If you’re looking for a heartwarming movie with laughs and just enough edge, this could be a good one to try.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 81%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 83%

Metascore – 57%

Metacritic User Score – 7.3/10

IMDB Score – /10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Movie Trailer:

The Magician's Elephant (2023)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: The Magician's Elephant (2023)

Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy

Length: 1h 39min

Rating: PG

Production/Distribution: Animal Logic, Netflix Animation, Netflix Studios, Village Roadshow Pictures, Netflix

Director: Wendy Rogers

Writers: Kate DiCamillo, Martin Hynes

Actors: Noah Jupe, Brian Tyree Henry, Natasia Demetriou, Mandy Patinkin, Benedict Wong, Miranda Richardson, Cree Summer, Lorraine Toussaint, Sian Clifford, Dawn French, Aasif Mandvi, Pixie Davies, Stephen Kearin, Caitlin McKenna

 

IMDb Blurb: An orphaned boy is told by a fortune teller that an elephant will help him find his lost sister.

 

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

My first impression of The Magician’s Elephant, when I watched the trailer, was that it looked like it would be a heartwarming and cute family movie. I wasn’t blown away by it but felt that it would offer a wholesome viewing option out of the new releases for March 2023, suitable for a younger crowd. It was an easy selection for the Top 20, but I now feel I underestimated it a bit. 

There were so many layers to the story that went far deeper than a young boy’s quest to rescue an elephant and be reunited with his little sister. Sandwiched in with the fantasy and adventure was also a tale of a war-torn community finding healing. There’s more but I don’t want to get into spoilers. 

 

All told, The Magician’s Elephant was a tale of hope with great balance between the comedic notes and the more somber themes. 

I expected great things from the cast, and they certainly delivered. I wouldn’t have guessed that this was the first animated project for Noah Jupe (Holmes & Watson, A Quiet Place, The Undoing). Though, I always expect great things when Mandy Patinkin (Smurfs: The Lost Village, Wonder, Homeland) is involved. Then, there’s Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, The Woman in the Window, Bullet Train) and Benedict Wong (Lady and the Tramp, Raya and the Last Dragon, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) who are quickly carving out their own place among my favorite actors. I could go on, but you get the picture. 

 

I do feel I must confess that I haven’t read the source material for this particular adaptation, so I am unable to comment regarding comparisons. The tone of The Magician’s Elephant did feel on par with other adaptations of the same author’s work - such as The Tale of Despereaux (2008).

If you’re looking for some good family fun this spring, The Magician’s Elephant wouldn’t be a bad choice. 

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 63%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 67%

Metascore – 48%

Metacritic User Score – none

IMDB Score – 7.1/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Movie Trailer:

Marry Me (2022)

Streaming Service: Peacock
Movie Name/Year: Marry Me (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance
Length: 112 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: Universal Pictures, Kung Fu Monkey Productions, Nuyorican Productions, Perfect World Pictures, Peacock, B&H Film Distribution, Cinemundo, Tulip Entertainment, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Director: Kat Coiro
Writer:  John Rogers, Tami Sagher, Harper Dill, Bobby Crosby
Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluma, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman, Chloe Coleman, Michelle Buteau, Khalil Middleton, Katrina Cunningham
 
Blurb from IMDb: Music superstars Kat Valdez and Bastian are getting married before a global audience of fans. But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she decides to marry Charlie, a stranger in the crowd, instead.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
Marry Me may be the most honestly marketed film I’ve ever seen.
 
Trailers are meant to give you a decent idea of what to expect. It doesn’t always work out that way. Too often, coming attractions will try to make a movie seem like some thing it isn’t. They’ll take a basic recipe film and try to convince you there’s a twist, or they’ll take a twisty-turny flick and show you all the important scenes right there in a two-minute video.
 
When I saw the Marry Me trailer, my first instinct was that it had a relatively original meet-cute. Delving deeper, I said it seemed like it would be a basic recipe flick with some heart-warming content. I also believed that the experience of Jennifer Lopez (Shades of Blue, Home, Second Act) and Owen Wilson (Wonder, The French Dispatch, Loki) would elevate it into something worth watching.
 
I’d love to take the credit for being 100% on point, but I didn’t exactly have any hot takes on this one. The advertising was just so spot-on that there was no way to get that wrong. I cannot say how much I appreciate that honest of a trailer.
 
The movie itself was cute.
 

I enjoyed the entire film. The actors really did elevate what could have been a basic story into something fun to watch.
 
There was no question about what would happen. It was definitely paint-by-numbers. I assume that’s why critics aren’t loving it. But if you look at the audience score, it tells a different story. The reason for that is because it’s FUN and it’s a dose of rom-com escapism that is well above most other films from the genre.
 
Just the fact that both main characters remain distinctly likeable throughout the whole runtime, sets this film apart from others like it.
 
It’s also got some great messages that I don’t feel like other rom-coms work hard enough to get across.
 
If you’re a fan of romantic comedies and you need something to throw on, especially after a break-up, this is exactly what you should watch.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
I had no idea that Marry Me was based on a webcomic and graphic novel series. I am now significantly intrigued and might just go hunt it down. I’m curious how well this big-screen adaptation captured the story’s essence and if it delves further into the lives of the characters past the end credits of this installment.
 
I fell in love with Marry Me when my family and I watched it together today. We laughed, we rooted for characters, and we found ourselves heckling the screen in a few places. (It’s a good thing we were streaming this on Peacock at home, right?)
 
My brain stuttered a bit when I attempted to even try to begin to explain what I enjoyed so much about Marry Me. It was the whole package, really. Was this film groundbreaking? No. Did I care for a single second? Hell no. Marry Me was a fun experience from beginning to end.
 
It felt like a little peek into the crazy world that celebrities like Jennifer Lopez live in. As outlandish as the premise of the plot may be, I had no trouble suspending disbelief. The production quality was outstanding. The dialogue felt genuine. There was even some chemistry between J-Lo and Owen Wilson. That, honestly, was the biggest surprise for me. They were an unlikely pairing, and I think that just lends more to the story.
 

For full disclosure, I might be slightly biased to Lopez, as I’ve been a fan of hers dating back to her stint as a Fly Girl on In Living Color (1990-1994). She is phenomenally talented and Marry Me is exactly the sort of movie that showcased it well. It felt like we got a mini-concert, and I was here for it. I haven’t always been a fan of Wilson, however. I don’t know what it is, but in some movies, I click with him, and in others I’d like to punch him. For Marry Me? I wanted to give him a hug – when I didn’t want to smack his character for being occasionally dumb.
 
They weren’t the only cast members that had me giddy, though. It was fun to see Chloe Coleman (My Spy, Big Little Lies, Kinderwood). Sarah Silverman (The Book of Henry, Don't Look Up, Bob's Burgers) was in her element. I was also super excited to see John Bradley (The Brothers Grimsby, American Satan, Patient Zero). Kudos to Maluma for his first live-action full-length feature, as well. While he voiced a character in Encanto (2021), his prior film credits were generally musical appearances. I enjoyed getting a taste of his musical performances and vocal styling.
 
Valentine’s Day has already come and gone, but if you’re looking for a feel-good rom-com to settle in with, you really couldn’t go wrong with Marry Me. Understandably, the critics don’t get it. This isn’t an art-house piece and it’s not meant to be taken so seriously. Audiences seem to be overwhelmingly loving Marry Me, and I have to agree. Marry Me was solid streaming entertainment. My answer to the title question was yes.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 58%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 92%
Metascore – 50%
Metacritic User Score – 6.5
IMDB Score – 6.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
P.S. Some short scenes play through during the credits.
 
Movie Trailer: