Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Nothing Like The Holidays (2008)

nothing_like_the_holidays
What’s it about?


A Puerto Rican family in the city of Chicago deals with issues that can potentially ruin their family, and make this their last Christmas together.

Who is in it?

Luis Guzman - Johnny

John Leguizamo – Mauricio Rodriguez

Debra Messing – Sarah Rodriguez

Alfred Molina - Edy Rodriguez

Freddy Rodriguez – Jesse Rodriguez



Favorite Scene


After the family are all reunited, the many hints of trouble finally to come to a boiling point when the mother tells the family that she is filing for divorce. The announcement causes each family to emotionally respond and unveil their issues with one another, and within themselves.

Favorite Quote

Sarah - “Why is everyone fighting?”
Mauricio - “They’re not fighting, we’re conversating”
“Sometimes you feel like you don’t want the same things anymore. But you stick it through. And in the end, you fall in love all over again”

Review

Nothing Like the Holidays might be the best Holiday movie I have seen in a very long time. The movie, which revolves around the problems of various individuals, and how it affects the family as a whole is a refreshing plot from the usual happy, go-lucky holiday movie. The characters in the film are genuinely authentic, and interact like a real family would at the holidays – with arguments, frustration, fighting, stress, and love. It is definitely a film that viewers will be able to connect with, while being very funny as well.

Nothing Like the Holidays is a great film for the upcoming holiday season for all. A great film that presents a warm holiday feel, with all the issues families endure at this time, and without the usual hokey, Hollywood, romantic, sappy story.

Grade: 3/5
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/20/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. Gas Prices Up and Up and Up.  It feels like these prices just continue to make life expensive and worrisome in so many ways. If it's not the price of our usual weekly trip, it's the sky-high cost of diesel that is affecting the cost of goods.  Yeah, I'm complaining. Aren't you as well? White House Press Ban Is it me, or is this as random as it comes from this administration?  Look, there are not a lot of things going well, especially as midterms approach. Maybe you might differ. I really value the insight and opinions of those enjoying the current landscape shaped by our political leaders.  But suddenly banning networks feels not only unconstitutional; it just feels like a misdirection.  Hey, look over here at this...not this, and this, and maybe that!  Also, it feels tiring. ...
Read more