I did enjoy “Nothing Like the Holidays” for being different from the usual holiday films out there. These days, you see Latino, African American, Asian American, LGBTQ, interracial relationships in holiday telefilms, but it took a long while to get there and just proud to see a holiday film like this made.
Click here to watch “Nothing Like the Holidays” on Amazon
TITLE: Nothing Like the Holidays
FILM YEAR: 2008
DURATION: 98 Minutes
Directed by Alfredo Rodriguez de Villa
Screenplay by Alison Swan, Rick Najera
Story by Robert Teitel, Rene M. Rigal
Produced by Robert Teitel, George Tillman Jr.
Executive Producer: Reid Brody, Paul Kim, Rene M. Rigal, Freddy Rodriguez
Co-Producer: Thomas J. Busch
Music by Paul Oakenfold
Cinematography by Scott Kevan
Edited by John Coniglio, Amy E. Duddleston
Casting by J.C. Cantu, Venus Kanani, MAry Vernieu
Production Design by Daniel B. Clancy
Art Direction: Stephanie Gilliam
Costume Design: Susan Kaufmann
Starring:
Alfred Molina vs. Edy Rodriguez
Elizabeth Pena as Anna Rodriguez
Freddy Rodriguez as Jesse Rodriguez
Luis Guzman as Johnny
Jay Hernandez as Ozzy
John Leguizamo as Mauricio Rodriguez
Debra Messing as Sarah Rodriguez
Vanessa Ferlito as Roxanna Rodriguez
Melonie Diaz as Marissa
Alexander Bautista as Hector
Ramses Jimenez as Fernando
Manny Perez as Alexis
Claudia Michelle Wallace as Tina
The far-flung members of the Rodriguez family converge at their parents’ home to face what may be their last Christmas together in this heart-warming holiday comedy.
Back in 2008, the film “Nothing Like the Holidays” was released in theaters.
Directed by Alfredo Rodriguez de Villa (“Washington Heights”, “Adrift in Manhattan”) and featuring a screenplay by Alison Swan (“Mixing Nia”, “Mrittupuri: Kill Zone”) and Rick Najera (“Pledge This!”, “Latinologues Volume 2”), based on the story by Robert Teitel (“Men of Honor”, “Soulfood”, “Barbershop: The Next Cut”) and Rene M. Rigal (portrayed by “Fish in a Barrel”).
The films stars Alfred Molina (“Spider-Man 2”, “Frida”, “Boogie Nights”, “Magnolia”), Elizabeth Pena (“Rush Hour”, “Lone Star”, “La Bamba”), Freddy Rodriguez (“Planet Terror”, “Poseidon”, “Harsh Times”), Luis Guzman (“Traffic”, “Boogie Nights”, “Punch-Drunk Love”), Jay Hernandez (“Hostel”, “Suicide Squad”, “Hostel: Part II”, “Friday Night Lights”), John Leguizamo (“Moulin Rouge!”, “Spawn”, “Summer of Sam”), Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”, “The Wedding Date”, “The Starter Wife”), Vanessa Ferlito (“NCIS: New Orleans”, “Drew”, “Graceland”), Melonie Diaz (“Fruitvale Station”, “Be Kind Rewind”) and more.
The film revolves around a Puerto Rican family (The Rodriguez family) living in Chicago reuniting for the holidays and the return of military soldier, Jesse, who is returning for a short vacation after being in the Iraq.
But while everyone looks to have a caring and happy family Christmas, skeletons come out of the closet which may make the holidays a downer. Will these family members find a way to enjoy the holidays?
The primary characters are:
- Edy Rodriguez (portrayed by Alfred Molina) is the family patriarch and an owner of a family grocery store. He had an affair which has been affecting his wife. He also has a secret that will affect the family.
- Anna Rodriguez (portrayed by Elizabeth Pena) is the family matriarch. She cares deeply for her family, wishes her son Mauricio and his wife Sarah will give her a granchild. During the family dinner, she tells everyone that she is divorcing Edy, which shocks the family.
- Jesse Rodriguez (portrayed by Freddy Rodriguez) is a Marine who has return back for his family after being based in Iraq. He has post-traumatic stress after the death of a fellow soldier and has a guilty conscience that the other soldier died and he didn’t. His family and friends noticed that being in Iraq has changed him. He once was in a long relationship with Marissa (portrayed by Melonie Diaz), but in his return, finds out that she is married to Fernando.
- Mauricio Rodriguez (portrayed by John Leguizamo) is a successful lawyer. He is married to Sarah and hopes she will consider having a child with him but she is advancing in her career. He always wants to please his mother, but when she announces that she is divorcing Edy, he has a rough time with the announcement.
- Sarah (portrayed by Debra Messing) is the wife of Mauricio. Because she is Caucasian, she seems quite odd person out with everyone. But she really wants to be closer to the family. She doesn’t want to have children now, as her career is doing well.
- Roxanna Rodriguez (portrayed by Vanessa Verlito) is the youngest daughter and an actress. She let’s her family think she is doing very well, but in fact, she’s a struggling actor. She is hoping to land a big part.
- Johnny (portrayed by Luis Guzman) is the cousin and jokester of the family.
- Ozzy (portrayed by Jay Hernandez) is a friend of Jesse who is in love with Jesse’s sister Roxanna. Ozzy wants revenge on Alexis, the man who killed his brother and has now been released from prison.
- Marissa (portrayed by Melonie Diaz) is a long time girlfriend for Jesse and loved by the family. But because Jesse went to the military and the relationship ended, she went on to get married with Fernando and have a child.
I enjoyed “Nothing Like the Holidays”. This was released in theaters back in Dec. 2008, and this was before holiday telefilms featured people of color, let alone families of different ethnicity. So, this was a holiday comedy/drama but featuring a Latin family and I found that to be a rarity these days (even back then) to see for theatrical release.
The film featured a Puerto Rican family going through major changes and we get to see how each person within the family has skeletons in their closet and with this family reunion during the holiday, they learn about themselves and each other during these tough times.
In a way, watching this film reminded me when I reunite with my family members. So, I can relate.
At first, I was a little wary of Debrah Messing’s character as Sarah, being the sole Caucasian but I do know it well, as my wife is Caucasian and I know how uncomfortable it is to bring someone who is non-Asian to a family reunion and her being the only person that is White. So, we know how it is. And we also know how it was back at that time when we would have grandchildren (similar to Mauricio and Sarah, I also waited for my career but also learning life is short). But I liked how her character was slowly utilized throughout the film.
But I did enjoy “Nothing Like the Holidays” for being different from the usual holiday films out there. These days, you see Latino, African American, Asian American, LGBTQ, interracial relationships in holiday telefilms, but it took a long while to get there and just proud to see a holiday film like this made.
Click here to watch “Nothing Like the Holidays” on Amazon