THE HOLIDAY FIX-UP – Yep. Another schmaltzy Christmas film. My peeps tell me this is the formula, and they like it! They don’t care if the outcome is predictable, they don’t care if there’s any chemistry between the actors, they don’t care if the storyline is stupid. They know the boy will get the girl in the end. They know the dialogue is corny. They all tell me the same thing – the only thing they care about is being able to watch some mindless entertainment in the midst of too much reality. And since it’s the holidays, having some Christmas cheer thrown in is gravy. I get it. There’s something to be said for this and all my friends who are glued to Lifetime and the Hallmark channel in December (and now Netflix). We all need our escape from the daily grind of life wherever and however we can find it. And I would work on any of these projects in a heartbeat! In fact, I expected to be working on this one, but alas, no. So if this genre is your escape, you will enjoy this film. It checks all the typical boxes. And it was filmed in Mystic, CT, which is always fun for those of us who call the nutmeg state home. The film’s okay, but a loving toast to my peeps! Cheers! Zero boyfriends/girlfriends…but you won’t care 😉

HOLIDAY IN THE WILD – another Christmas flick with Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe leading the sleigh! Unfortunately, I kept seeing Kristin’s character from Sex and the City (Charlotte) in her performance. And again, no chemistry between the leads. There was, however, loads of chemistry between everyone and the cast of elephants who are the real stars of the film. This movie is a tribute to these incredible animals and sheds light on the importance of conserving their habitat and protecting them from us. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them in every scene (of which there are many). The film is worth viewing for this reason alone, as we yawn our way through the predictable outcome of the human interactions. A hearty toast to the elephants! Cheers! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends – 0.

A CASTLE FOR CHRISTMAS – You guessed it. Another predictable Christmas film starring Cary Elwes and Brooke Shields. While the outcome is obvious, and there is zero chemistry between the two leads, I actually enjoyed this movie because it’s filmed in Scotland with an entirely Scottish cast (except for the two leads, but Cary delivers a bloody superb Scottish brogue). The scenery is breathtaking, the Scots are charming and the Christmas decor is beautiful. The dog, Hamish, is a scene stealer and the castle itself is gorgeous and an integral part of the story. Overall, this film is probably worth a wee dram. Cheers!

FREUD – dark, disturbing, graphic tale depicting the early work of a young Sigmund Freud. I liked it. Some scenes were definitely cringe-worthy, but I was fascinated nonetheless. Filmed in German and dubbed in English, the lead actor is riveting as a dashing, brilliant young doctor who genuinely cares about the mentally ill. (I doubt the real Sigmund Freud was anywhere near as handsome or captivating). His controversial methods are constantly thwarted and met with disdain. And there are supernatural overtones in the story which leave us wondering how much is insanity and how much is otherworldly. I’m also curious if any of the story is based on real events. We are always rooting for the good doctor, however. The work is exceptional and the series is only eight episodes. Cheers!! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends – 1.

JUST ANOTHER CHRISTMAS – I’ve decided that it’s hard to find good Christmas films, and this one is no exception. Think of it as a holiday Ground Hog Day minus the talent of Bill Murray. Christmas day repeats, and repeats and repeats for the main character who somehow doesn’t remember the rest of the year, but awakes each Christmas day for years, and years and years and only remembers past Christmases. Confused yet? Me too. Though I grow fatigued at all the repetition. There is nothing endearing about this picture. Filmed in Portuguese and dubbed in English, the lead actor is way over the top. Even in poignant scenes he is unable to deliver a convincing performance. The dialogue is forced and it feels like the film is desperately trying to force us into emotional reactions we aren’t having. None of the lessons the lead is supposed to have learned by the end which provide the inevitable reset of his life matter to us, and we don’t believe they truly matter to him. Skip it!

THE HOLIDAY CALENDAR – the premise of this film is charming. In fact, it’s what prompted me to watch it. That and Kat Graham (also charming) who I loved in Vampire Diaries. It features an ancient advent calendar with magical ability to predict the future. Each day a door opens to reveal a toy foretelling that day’s special event. This is where the charm ends and the film becomes just another romantic Christmas comedy that doesn’t require a magical calendar to predict where it is headed, which is nowhere. There is zero chemistry between the three leads, the dialogue is cheesy and the whole bit is contrived. Kat still rates on the girlfriend meter, and there is plenty of Christmas cheer, so it’s not a total loss if you want to watch a mindless movie to put you in the holiday spirit! My favorite character in the whole thing was the advent calendar. That should tell you all you need to know. No toasts, but maybe a cup of cocoa. Girlfriends – 1; Boyfriends – 0.

THE HUMANS – Awful!! Dreadful, dismal film depicting one dysfunctional family’s Thanksgiving gathering in lower Manhattan. Unfolding in real time, the cinematography is disjointed and claustrophobic. The lighting is practically non-existent. There is no explanation for the father’s bizarre fixation with the walls which seem to have weird bubbles protruding from the plaster which themselves are never explained. The pace is excruciatingly slow, especially when we viewers just want this dinner over and these hideous people done with their depressing reveals and drama. Add to the mix I have no idea what point this film was trying to make unless it was to completely bring me down over the holiday. In that regard, it was blazing success. Big fat zero all the way around. Skip it!!

RITA MORENO – JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT – You guys know how much I enjoy documentaries, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Rita Moreno narrates her own story with candor, enthusiasm and joy. Even as a woman looking at 90, she remains a pistol with the pluck of a chick in her twenties. She shares stories of incredible heartbreak: a tumultuous love affair with Marlon Brandon, an abortion of his child and a suicide attempt. This in addition to the racism she battled in Hollywood as a young Latina actress. Yet she rises from the depths like a Phoenix every time and soars higher than before. Cast as Anita in the original West Side Story film, she comes full circle when Steven Spielberg again casts her in his soon-to-be-released remake, this time in the role of Valentina. I came away from Rita’s story fully inspired to meet the challenges in my own life (which seem to pale by comparison), both as an actor and a human being. If Rita can overcome, so can the rest of us! Thank you, Rita. Cheers!!

HOLIDATE – dumb, moronic new holiday film released on NetFlix. Crass, unfunny attempt at humor that bored me to tears and frankly offended me (which the peeps will tell you is almost impossible to accomplish). Boyfriends -1; Girlfriends – 1. Meter rating is not enough to save this film. Skip it!

THE IRREGULARS – this new NetFlix show is, well….irregular. The story unfolds in Victorian London with an irregular take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, an irregular band of street urchins (one with supernatural powers), and an irregular prince escaping his royal prison. It has quite the irregular storyline as well. I don’t know quite what to make of it. The whole thing is a jumble of irregularity, so it is indeed properly named. I also found all the irregularity an interesting departure from traditional casting and characters. Everything about it is unorthodox from the diverse cast to the portrayal of well-known characters such as Holmes & Watson to the plot. The story is a bit confusing, but for me, this unique presentation of the whole lot was a draw. Plus two actors definitely made my boyfriend meter. Girlfriends – none. Cheers!