Category: Christmas

Merv

2025   Amazon MGM Studios

Rated:  PG

Length:  1 hr  45min

Christmas ~ Comedy ~ Romance

Directed by:  Jessica Swale

Starring: Charlie Cox , Zooey Deschanel, Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt and Gus The Real Life Rescue Dog turned Actor as Merv!

A Different Breed Of Romantic Comedy!

Merv, I mean Gus’s, story:

Merv is played by Gus, a real life rescue dog. Discovered as a stray in dire straits, possibly hit by a car, shot at, and even strangled with a shoelace, Gus was just around 10 months old when Houston-area rescuers from groups like Houston K-911 found him in horrific condition in 2018 or so. Severely emaciated, disfigured, and battling multiple injuries including bullet fragments, he faced a long road of medical treatments for infections, trauma, and emotional scars, but his resilient spirit shone through.​

With global support funding his recovery, Gus transformed into a healthy, joyful dog, eventually landing a forever home and becoming an ambassador for strays—earning accolades like American Hero Dog from the American Humane Society. Trained via agencies like Urban Paws, his natural charm and soulful expressiveness made him perfect for Merv, where director Jessica Swale highlighted his authentic reactions over scripted tricks.

Merv’s Take On The Movie:

Merv has a problem: his owners have split up and are trying to co-parent from different households, shuffling him back and forth like a furry football every week. It has left him thoroughly depressed, curled up in the corner of his Boston apartment with those soulful puppy eyes, ignoring his squeaky toys amid piles of pizza boxes and scattered laundry, while his dad (Charlie Cox) paces awkwardly and his mom (Zooey Deschanel) forces a smile during tense handoffs.​

But when Merv’s moping reaches epic lows, refusing walks and staring mournfully out rainy windows, his humans hatch a plan: a road trip to a sunny Florida dog resort packed with beach yoga, splashy pool parties, and wild golf cart escapades that finally loosen them up. Snowy slush melts into palm-fringed paradise, where Merv’s tail starts thumping as sunset strolls and clumsy ex-dates reignite the chemistry his nose always knew was still there—plus, endless treats and belly rubs don’t hurt, echoing Gus’s own triumphant recovery from trauma to tail-wags that landed him this star turn.​​

Merv says, “From my floppy-eared vantage point the chaos is pure gold: Chris Redd’s over-the-top antics chasing me around, Patricia Heaton‘s sassy but loving vibes dishing advice, and my own breakout moments with zoomies across the sand and heartfelt stares that tug every heartstring, Gus’s natural expressiveness, honed from his hero-dog ambassadorship, steals every scene without a single trick. Director Jessica Swale captures the pet-parent pandemonium perfectly in this breezy rom-com, layering holiday cheer with themes of unconditional love and fresh starts, all without dipping into sappy territory, backed by upbeat montages and bark-along tunes.”

And you know what Bobby says:

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This Movie

on Prime!

On set of MERV
Photo Credit: Dana Hawley/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
MERV
Photo Credit: Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Russ (Charlie Cox) in MERV
Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Anna (Zooey Deschanel) in MERV
Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) in MERV
Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) in MERV
Photo Credit: Prime
© Amazon Content Services LLC

OH. WHAT. FUN.

2025   Amazon MGM Studios

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  1 hr  47min

Christmas ~ Comedy

Directed by:  Michael Showalter

Starring:  Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, and Joan Chen.

Come For The Presents, Stay For The Baggage!

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. From perfectly frosted cookies to meticulously wrapped gifts, no one decks the halls quite like Claire. But this year, after planning a special outing for her family, they make a crucial mistake and leave her home alone. Fed up and feeling under appreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. As her family scrambles to find her, Claire discovers the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script.

With a dazzling ensemble cast including Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria and Joan Chen, and directed by Michael Showalter, Oh. What. Fun. is a spirited holiday comedy that honors and celebrates every overworked holiday host.

THE MOVIE REVIEW:

Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) has a Christmas problem, she feels under-appreciated. Year after year she goes all out, decorating, baking, shopping, planning, cooking, wrapping presents, getting the entire extended family together and keeping them happy and festive. Her husband Nick doesn’t help as much as she would like, but then he is a guy. There is a Best Holiday Mom Contest being held by her favorite TV Talk show hosted by Zazzy Tims. Claire would love nothing more than to be nominated by her children but they are so busy with their lives they forget to nominate her.

As Christmas Eve approaches there are festive fiascos around the house as the family piles in one after another, bringing their own personal dramas with them. Claire also has a long running animosity with the neighbor family next door, the two Mom’s always trying to one up each other during the holidays. The Final straw for Claire comes when the whole family is getting ready to go to a Christmas show in the city. As they are piling into different cars in the rush to go, Claire pops over to her rival neighbor to give her a homemade Christmas goodie bag. With the family all thinking that she is in one of the other cars, they leave Mom Claire behind.

When Claire realizes that her family has left her behind, it was the last straw. She packs a few things as well as some Christmas snacks and heads off in her car. She’s had enough, she is leaving the family. Depressed, frustrated and under-appreciated she hits the road not knowing where she is going. And that’s where the rest of this Festive fiasco takes us, following Claire’s new forlorn, underappreciated Christmas alone and her family’s stark realization that Claire has had enough, packed her bag and hit the road.

As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of Christmas Vacation. I don’t know if it was intentionally paying homage to, or trying to duplicate some of the humorous holiday scenes we all know and love in Christmas Vacation. It was no where near as funny as the classic Christmas Vacation. I feel like it was trying too hard. The names of the characters were a little out there, Eva Langoria as Zazzy Tims? Chloë Grace Moritz brought her girlfriend DJ Sweatpants? Claire’s arch nemesis neighbor Jeanne Wang-Wasserman? Sammy’s girlfriend is named Mae-Bell?

It was alright, a little campy and not as funny as I think they wanted it to be. I think if you are a guy, you are not gonna get it nor like it. If you are a gal, Mom or Grandmother, I think you are going to be right on top of the bandwagon. This Christmas Catastrophe is made for women about women being under-appreciated at the holidays.

There you go!

OH. WHAT. FUN.

Photo by Alisha Wetherill
© Amazon Content Services LLC
Photo by Alisha Wetherill
© Amazon Content Services LLC

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

My Secret Santa

2025   Netflix

Rated:  PG

Length:  1 hr  30min

Christmas ~ Comedy ~ Romance

Directed by:  Michael Rohl

Starring:  Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold and Tia Mowry.

Single Mom. Double Life.

Taylor Jacobson (Alexandra Breckenridge) is a struggling single Mom who has just been fired from her job at Clotz Cookie Company, right before Christmas. To top that she runs into her landlord who reminds her that she is four months behind on her rent. She then finds out her daughter has been accepted to an elite snowboarding camp at Sun Peaks ski resort which is very expensive. Desperate for cash, the next day she takes her vinyl record collection down to the record store. A customer in the store notices a record by a local band The Screaming Kittens in her collection. When the record store owner offers her a hundred dollars, he insists the local band record is worth a lot more. He then realizes that Taylor is on the cover and used to be the lead singer of The Screaming Kittens.

Matthew Layne (Ryan Eggold), the customer, follows her out of the store and offers to buy her a hot chocolate but Taylor turns him down. Taylor tells her brother about her situation and he discovers that employees of the resort get 50% off the snowboarding camp that her daughter has been accepted at. She goes down to the resort to apply for a job and finds out that the only job available is for a male Santa Claus that pays two thousand dollars a week. With her brother being a costume creator and makeup artist, she cooks up a scheme to impersonate a male who can get the Santa job at the resort. She goes down to the resort in the prosthetic costume and gets the job as Santa Claus, using the name Hugh Man. She is immediately surprised to meet Matthew Layne who is the General Manager of the resort and whose father owns the resort.

Christmas comedy ensues as Taylor tries to keep Matthew from recognizing the lead singer of The Screaming Kittens who turned down his offer of a date. As Taylor, ah-hum, Hugh Man, works with Matthew at the resort playing Santa, he keeps thinking that there is something familiar about “Hugh”. As they bond, he starts confiding in “Hugh” about the woman he met and is starting to have feelings for. Hilariously he asks “Hugh” for advice on how to better get to know Taylor, who is right in front of him. Things get more complex as the season rolls by, and Taylor tries to keep Hugh’s real identity a secret. Her daughter’s snowboarding aspirations and the rent are depending on it.

Alexandra and Ryan are good together in this, they pull off the Christmas Santa Chaos and hit it off with a rocking musical number on stage at the end. It is a little campy in it’s own cute way, but definitely worth a Holiday watch.

Champagne Problems

2025   Netflix

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  1 hr  39min

Comedy ~ Romance ~ Christmas

Directed by:  Mark Steven Johnson

Starring:  Minka Kelly, Tom Wozniczka, Sean Amsing, Thibault de Montalembert, Astrid Whettnall, Flula Borg, and Xavier Samuel.

Christmas In France Is Always A Good Idea.

Let’s talk about Champagne, Champagne Problems, and the bubbles in between. Champagne isn’t just a Sparkling Wine from France, it is the most celebratory beverage ever invented. Champagne Problems sound pretty from a distance, Paris, promotions, perfect photos. But up close, they sting like any other heartbreak. The bubbles just make it easier to pretend everything is fine, at least until the glass is empty.

Champagne Problems isn’t just a fizzy holiday rom-com, it is a sparkling holiday movie that’s much more than just a cheerful romantic comedy. It’s a story about how a life that looks perfectly poured can still taste a little off once you sit with it for a while. At first glance, it seems like the usual pretty package, glamorous locations, stylish outfits, and plenty of champagne to toast every little moment. But beneath all that sparkle, it tells a deeper story about what really goes on when life isn’t as perfect as it looks.

The movie’s main character, played beautifully by Minka Kelly, feels trapped in a world where everything is supposed to be perfect and planned. Her life is all about control, schedules, and appearances, but when unexpected emotions start bubbling to the surface, she has to face the truth that not everything can be neatly organized or fixed with a toast. This contrast between the polished exterior and real feelings is what makes the film so relatable and refreshing.

Champagne Problems also does a fantastic job showing how problems in life aren’t always about big disasters. Sometimes, it’s the little things, the doubts, the disappointments, the quiet moments of vulnerability, that matter the most. The story gently reminds us that those “champagne problems” are real feelings that deserve attention, not something to brush off or pretend away.

This movie isn’t just about romance, although the chemistry between Minka Kelly and Tom Wozniczka is magical, it’s about finding the courage to be honest with yourself and others, even when it’s messy or uncomfortable. With heartfelt performances, relatable themes, and a beautifully crafted atmosphere, Champagne Problems is a must-watch holiday film that will leave you both smiling and thinking. If you want a movie that feels like a warm, honest conversation wrapped up in festive cheer, this one’s for you. You know what Bobby would say:

Highly Recommended!

Turn off the lights and devices

(Except for the Tree!),

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This

 Fizzy Christmas Gem

on NETFLIX!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

1989   Warner Brothers Pictures

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  1 hr  37min

Christmas ~ Comedy

Directed by:  Jeremiah S. Chechik

Starring:  Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E. G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Cody Burger, Ellen Hamilton Latzen, William Hickey, Mae Questel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nicholas Guest, and Brian Doyle-Murray.

YULE CRACK UP!

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a trip to Chicago, hanging with The Griswold’s. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was the third installment in the Vacation franchise. When it was first released, it did marginally well but didn’t reach mass critical success until long after it hit reruns on TV and was released to the growing DVD market. And, as we all know, is now one of the most searched for and watched Christmas Movies of all time.

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) sets out to create the perfect Christmas at home in Chicago with his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and their kids, Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and Rusty (Johnny Galecki). Eager for Christmas tradition, Clark drives the family to the countryside to chop down the biggest tree they can find, but without tools, they uproot it, damaging their station wagon and irritating yuppie neighbors Todd (Nicholas Guest) and Margo Chester (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) when they return home. The next day Clark obsessively strings thousands of Christmas lights across the house, causing a neighborhood blackout when they finally illuminate.​

As relatives arrive unannounced, chaos multiplies in the cramped Griswold home. Ellen’s cousin Catherine (Miriam Flynn) and her husband Eddie (Randy Quaid), a boisterous, financially strapped redneck, pull up in their RV with kids Rocky (Cody Burger) and Ruby Sue (Ellen Hamilton Latzen), with their slobbery dog Snots. Clark’s parents, Clark Sr. (John Randolph) and Nora (Diane Ladd), join Ellen’s folks Art (E. G. Marshall) and Frances (Doris Roberts), sparking bickering, while eccentric Aunt Bethany (Mae Questel) brings a frozen jello mold topped with cat food and Uncle Lewis (William Hickey) adds his cigar-smoking grumpiness to the mix.

Holiday mishaps escalate: a loose squirrel terrorizes the house, the overcooked turkey ruins dinner, Bethany’s cat gets electrocuted in the tree lights, and Lewis’s cigar torches the tree. Amidst the Christmas chaos Clark has been anxiously awaiting his Christmas bonus from his boss Frank Shirley (Brian Doyle-Murray) to fund a backyard swimming pool he’s already ordered and can’t afford without it. After opening the last minute Christmas Bonus envelope from the late mailman, Clark snaps in a profane tirade. Instead of the huge check he always gets, he has received a subscription to a “Jelly Of The Month Club”.

“Hey. If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I’d like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. And I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here…with a big ribbon on his head! And I want to look him straight in the eye, and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-assed, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed, sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where’s the Tylenol?”

It truly is a timeless Christmas Classic full of Slapstick Holiday Humor and endless one-liners. I have been watching this movie for decades, every year at Christmas time. It just wouldn’t be the season without a trip to the Griswold’s for some Humorous Holiday antics!

Start The Season Right!

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This Movie

on HBO Max!