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Whipped-Cream Comfort: Netflix’s “A Merry Little Ex-Mas” Goes Down Smooth
For the holidays, experiences usually fall into two camps: the lighthearted and the… not so much. Even when life isn’t exactly merry, bright, or light, the hope is always the same—peace and, if it can be managed, a little happiness anyway. The challenge, of course, is that sometimes there just isn’t much emotional “raw material”…
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Middling Thriller: ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ Fumbles Its Potential
Every revival raises the same question: what’s the real motive behind it? Some projects feel inherently justified, their return making perfect sense. Others have to work much harder to prove they weren’t a misguided idea from the start. Occasionally, a continuation feels gratifying, reinforcing the notion that there was something worthwhile about seeing a story…
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The Gift of Imperfection: How ‘The Family Stone’ Rewrites the Rules of Holiday Love
There was a time when a very specific ideal of “family” dominated the cultural imagination—one polished image that was held up as the standard of perfection. Yet, despite the holiday messaging of joy, unity, and togetherness, many people struggled to see themselves reflected in that narrow depiction. As the years passed and that idealized nuclear…
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From Wish to Wisdom: The Heartwarming Lessons of Home Alone
Holiday movies often shine because they carry messages that resonate deeply during this special time of year—perhaps because it’s when people are more willing to listen, reflect, and open their hearts. It’s no surprise that films with meaningful themes tend to become seasonal favorites. One of the most iconic and beloved in this category is…
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A Singular Presence: What ‘Being Eddie’ Teaches Us About Greatness
One of the most anticipated documentaries of 2025 debuted last week, “Being Eddie,” giving fans a front-row seat as one of the most iconic comedians, actors, and producers of our time told his story in a way only he could. Viewers naturally come in with expectations—hoping for revelations, behind-the-scenes truths, and untold chapters—but this documentary…
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The Gift of Time: What The Best Man Holiday Teaches Us About Life and Loss
Friends and family—these are the two pillars of the holiday season. It’s no surprise, then, that they’re often the emotional core of Christmas films. Relationships, whether familial or platonic, are messy, imperfect, and often complicated. But it’s precisely those flaws that make them so relatable and so fitting for the season. “The Best Man Holiday”…
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All Charm, No Surprise: ‘Freakier Friday’ Plays It Safe
Some films succeed on charm and star power alone. They rally audiences with beloved actors and a heartwarming, feel-good message, and that combination is often enough to carry a project to success. The challenge arises when studios assume that the film’s triumph came from narrative strength rather than the perfect alignment of casting, tone, and…
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When the World Feels Heavy, Love Actually Feels Necessary
One of the most moving—and easily one of my favorite—holiday films is “Love Actually.” The title alone captures its essence. The holiday season is often framed as a time of generosity, goodwill, and joy, and all of those qualities flow naturally from hearts full of love. Zora Neale Hurston once wrote in her emotionally evocative…
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Four Christmases: What If the Best Christmas Gift Was a Detour?
One thing all humans share is the experience of life—its rhythms, its surprises, its detours. The holiday season often feels like the fourth quarter of a long game, the quiet stretch before sunset, a time to pause and reflect before a new dawn begins. Yet life rarely follows the script we expect. Sometimes those detours…
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The Classic That Grew with Us: Returning to “A Christmas Story” Year After Year
Bob Clark’s (1983) “A Christmas Story” remains one of the most nostalgic and beloved holiday films. When I first watched it as a child, I couldn’t quite explain why it struck such a chord with me. Resonance, after all, depends on personal connection—yet this family bore little resemblance to my own. So what was it…
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