A Christmas comedy with the protagonist of American Pie, Jason Biggsy Heather Graham, de Boogie Nightsabout the porn film industry, seems like a risky bet on the part of Netflixfirst, and from director Mary Lambert, who directed, among others, the first adaptation of animal cemeteryde Stephen King.
Well, it’s among the most viewed this weekend. It premiered on Thursday.
Christmas-themed films – which, in general, are simple if not simplistic comedies, and arrive well in advance of the arrival of the Baby Jesus. In November, American theaters and platforms begin to offer, year after year, these types of stories.
It is a custom established in both North America and Europe, which has not yet caught on here. But seeing what happened with Halloween, we may have adopted a new annual routine.
Better Christmas, impossible! complies with each and every Christmas comedy rule. It takes place in a family environment, days before Christmas Eve, there are wishes for love and peace, and gratitude for what one has, there are Christmas carols, little lights and ad hoc decorations.
Jackie Jennings (Brandy Norwood, singer and actress) has quite a bit to be thankful for, it seems. Every year she writes letters about how she is doing to her family, includes photos and sends them to people she knows. One of them, Rob Sanders, was her partner and they formed a band in her youth. Rob is married to Charlotte (Heather Graham), and they have two children. The Jennings also have two children, little Beatrix, who is the first 10-year-old girl to be accepted into Harvard, and Daniel who is said to be helping children in Africa or something like that.
The “plot” centers on the fact that, by accident, when the Sanders were going to visit Charlotte’s sister, the GPS takes them to the Jennings house. Since it is afternoon, they agree to spend the night at the Jennings’.
There is nothing missing; carols, wishes of love and peace, a Santa Claus, snowy landscape…In the morning, of course, a terrible snowfall buries the Sanders’ car and they have to stay with the Jennings. Or at least that’s what they say.
Jealousy and hospitality
Charlotte doesn’t take kindly to her husband joking with his ex, but she looks on and praises Jackie’s husband. Since something about Christmas had to be put in the story, and a Santa Claus had to appear on screen, the scriptwriters invented that the three boys distrust the real existence of Santa Claus. And in the absence of a pet, little Grant has a stuffed monkey that he calls Bob and to whom he entrusts all the decisions he makes, and his little sister Dora believes that she herself has Marvel superpowers.
Jackie (Brandy Norwood), Beatrix (Madison Skye Validum) y Charlotte (Heather Graham). Llega la Navidad…In every film, whether comedy, drama or thriller, there must be a conflict, something that questions the story and that allows it to shoot – and if it is with a certain surprise, the better – in other directions. Charlotte’s jealousy clashes with Jackie’s endless hospitality, and here we have to look for the best gags in the film.
Better Christmas, impossible! It is nothing more than a light-hearted comedy, created to be watched with the family and presumably closer to the date on which we put up the Christmas tree. It’s not bad, it’s not rubbish, but don’t think you’re going to watch it again if you catch it zapping the cable.
“Better Christmas, impossible!”
Comedy. United States, 2023. Original title: “Best. Christmas. Ever!”. 82’, ATP L. Of: Mary Lambert. Con: Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Madison Skye Validum. Available in: Netflix.