I’ve witnessed this kind of story countless times. It's the familiar setup: a curmudgeonly older gentleman and a quick-witted young person help one another grow during a holiday season. Perhaps my reaction would be different if I hadn’t encountered so many similar narratives, but there’s simply too much of this type of movie already out there to generate any enthusiasm for what's happening on screen. It doesn't quite…

This is a really delightful and feel-good holiday movie. I appreciated how the story unfolded, liking both its rhythm and the way the plot points were revealed, along with the development of the characters. It might not have the staying power of classics like *It’s a Wonderful Life* or the first *Miracle on 34th Street*, though; it remains to be seen if it will hold up over time. I'll need to check back in a few year…

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 o…

Holiday movies meant to warm your heart are something we're all told we should enjoy, aren't they? And usually, if you’re talking about films from directors like Frank Capra, George Seaton, Michael Curtiz and Chris Columbus, that holds true. But since it’s been a while since we’ve seen movies of that caliber, people wanting those kinds of stories have recently been embracing anything that even resembles them, whether…

I was utterly astonished by how fully realized, insightful, funny, and deeply moving The Holdovers proves to be, with each minute holding your attention. The film’s screenplay, written by David Hemingson, is remarkably well-crafted, striking a chord with audiences through an affecting yet poignant examination of the essential desire for connection between people. The characters feel authentic, brought to life by p…