Holiday movies meant to warm your heart are something we're all supposed to enjoy, aren't they? If you’re talking about films from directors like Frank Capra, George Seaton, Michael Curtiz and Chris Columbus, that’s generally true. But because it has been so long since we’ve seen releases of that caliber, people wanting those kinds of movies have recently started embracing anything that even resembles them, whether or not the praise is warranted. And that, I think, explains my feelings about the highly-regarded new film from director Alexander Payne. The story—a grumpy, condescending, middle-aged, fussy prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) tasked with looking after a group of students who can’t be with their families for the holidays—has a promising idea that, unfortunately, is wasted by a narrative that feels like it was hastily assembled and ultimately comes across as underdeveloped. What could have been an enjoyable film in the style of something like “Dead Poets Society” (1989), regrettably, doesn’t quite measure up. The movie does have some mildly amusing and pleasant moments, but many of the scenes don't transition well from one to another, resulting in a storyline that feels artificial without delivering what’s needed to make this kind of film succeed. It is true that the film manages (surprisingly) to show the characters’ expected personal growth throughout the story, but that almost accidental success is seriously overshadowed by several plot points that largely feel randomly included, incorporated without much thought and an undeniable lack of cohesion. To be honest, the movie's most interesting character is the academy’s head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), whose complex personality (and skillfully nuanced performance) surpasses those of its other two main actors (Giamatti and Dominic Sessa as one of the stranded students). It’s disappointing that a director as talented as Alexander Payne has produced something as incomplete as this one is, especially when compared to earlier films like “Nebraska” (2013) and “The Descendants” (2011). And potential viewers should be cautious about the excessive acclaim and awards season attention being given to this film. But, in an era where audiences are searching for movies that provide the kind of holiday movie comfort they so desperately want, it’s understandable why people might be drawn to something like this. It's just a shame that they won’t find what they’re looking for here.

Source on TMDB