It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Some reviewers find this film not typical cheery holiday fare, comparing it to what they viewed as a happy Christmas film--It's A Wonderful Life--which, while a Christmas classic, could hardly be thought of as mindlessly cheerful, dealing as it does with the leading character's possible suicide and the likelihood of a divided town becoming a Potterville--where Lionel Barrymore and his bank win all the chips. Sure, the Capra tale has a happy ending, but the grim possibility of the little people losing their beloved homes to the banks seems a little prophetic in light of contemporary political gridlock and the foreclosure scandal. Its A Wonderful Life Is a fairy tale. A nice one, but a fairy tale. Nothing Like The Holidays is not. This little drama, hardly a comedy, is not typically mindless holiday fare, but an enjoyable watch, zeroing in on the problems that accumulate when a son returns at Christmas from Iraq to a family where his parents are considering divorce, a sister unable to make it as an actress, and a brother whose values seem to contrast with the Puerto Rican roots of his family. With Freddy Rodriguez, Alfred Molina, Debra Messing and John Leguziamo all giving strong and likable central performances, and a script that holds the attention from start to finish, this is probably a more accurate portrayal of the way families spend their Christmas today--the good and the bad things that happen when folks get together hoping for the best but knowing that there are ghosts in the closets that may slip out now and then--and while no masterpiece, the 98 minutes seem to be an honest reflection that perhaps will comfort those of us not living a fairy tale.

There is a DVD extra where most of the cast reminisce for a few minutes and they say it was one of the coldest winters in Chicago. Since the movie initially was released in November 2008, they must have been talking about the winter of 2007. I believe I was there, but I don't remember. Two of my daughters live there, and it was nice seeing a family drama filmed in Chicago.It is Christmas holidays and various family members from New York and Hollywood travel to Chicago to have Christmas with mom and dad who have been married for 36 years. Also coming home is the youngest son, a soldier, who was wounded in Iraq. There is a large banner "Welcome Home Jesse" over the family porch.But soon we see what might be described as family squabbles. Mom is disappointed that she has no grandchildren yet. Dad wants son to work with him and take over the family business, a popular store that sells food and alcoholic beverages. The youngest daughter is called a star by everyone but she has only gotten bit parts in Hollywood. Her old friend, a potential boyfriend, has a grudge against a former felon who had killed his brother and ponders how he can get just revenge.The movie has a good mix of drama and comedy, which mirrors real life when you get a group of adult children together as a family. Of course the best thing the movie has going for it are many of the best actors in the business and they make it feel real. You have to play loose with the real ages of the actors, the mom and dad are not much older than some of the "children." But it works.Good movie. Makes you care for the characters, and it makes you think.

The title gives the impression that this will be a clichéd holiday flick that won't take long to be forgotten. However, while Alfredo De Villa's 'Nothing Like The Holidays' may have a similar story outline to other Christmas holiday flicks but what makes this stand out is the humour, the wonderful ensemble cast and the richness of the Puerto Rican culture. They story, though familiar, has heart. Movies like 'The Family Stone' come to mind but 'Nothing Like The Holidays' stays true to its story and characters unlike the aforementioned example. I liked that it did not have a fairy-tale ending.What's also impressive is that that character and situations in the movie are easy to relate to and recognizable. The family Rodriguez very much felt like a real family. Each family member and their friends, Ozzy and Johnny carry their own burden but there is a strong bond of love and support that keeps them together. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments but 'Nothing Like The Holidays' can also be described as an interesting family drama and the themes such as sibling rivalry, reconciliation and forgiveness are well handled. I enjoyed how the Puerto Rican culture was brought by the family. It felt very natural and authentic.Needless to say, the entire cast has done nothing short of an excellent job. Initially, it was a bit awkward to see John Leguizamo play Elizabeth Peña's son but after a few minutes of watching their interaction, I managed to look past that and enjoy the characters. It was also good to finally see Debra Messing in a movie where she is given a role of substance instead of 'the sidekick friend' or 'cheating wife'. Alfred Molina brilliantly downplays his part. The romance between Ozzie and Roxanna, played delightfully by Jay Hernandez and Vanessa Ferlito forms a nice little subplot. Melonie Diaz has a strong presence. Luis Guzman is the comic relief and Freddy Rodriguez is simply great. To sum it up, the cast seemed to have superbly worked off each other and as a result they were really convincing as a likable but real family.In my opinion, 'Nothing Like The Holidays' is much superior to most Christmas holiday flicks. A great movie to watched with loved ones and even though it feels familiar, its charm, humour, treatment, culture and heart make it worthy.

NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS (2008) **1/2 Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Pena, Freddy Rodriguez, Luis Guzman, Jay Hernandez, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Vanessa Ferlito, Melonie Diaz. Better than anticipated yet predictable dramedy about a close-knit Latino family in Chicago who re-unite for Christmas but coming to grips with some familiar problems including infidelity, post-traumatic stress disorder and general ennui but it is rather light-hearted with a game ensemble of fine talent and rings true in the dialogue by the screenplay by Alison Swan, Rick Najera, Robert Teite and Rene M. Rigal. Rodriguez also produced. (Dir: Alfredo De Villa)