Nothing Like the Holidays Movie Blurb by Shale December 13, 2008 I live alone on Miami Beach. Every year there seems to be Holiday movies where dysfunctional families get together and make me appreciate that. This movie was not what I expected. Thought it would be one of the comedies like Four Christmases tried to be but it was all drama with very little comedy other than the occasional family banter which was seen in the trailers and gave me the wrong impression. However, I did like the movie which showed the holiday get-together in Chicago of the Puerto Rican Rodriguez family. Edy (Alfred Molina) is the dad who appears to be having an affair and his wife Anna (Elizabeth Peña) is upset about it just as all the adult kids come in from all over the world. Mom & Dad Having Problems Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) is the youngest son, a Marine returning from Iraq. His sister Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito) is in from LA where everyone in the family thinks she is making it in acting, which isn't happening. The oldest son Mauricio (John Leguizamo) a NY lawyer and his Jewish wife Sarah (Debra Messing) fill the rest of the household. Brothers & Sister Everyone in the family has baggage, from Sarah being too career minded to make grandchildren, to Jesse having regrets about breaking up with his young love, to Roxanna getting frustrated at not making it in Hollywood. They all get together over the holidays and try to work out their problems and that of mom and dad after mom says she is getting a divorce. Old Friends and Lost Loves Get Together Lots of character development and you do get involved with the drama, almost feel a part of that family (and glad you don't have to deal with it in your own life). The acting was great all around, I guess why I got so involved. But know that it is not a comedy - just the little funny anecdotes that happen with real life wrapped around them.
