Harlie’s Very Merry Movie List — Baby, it’s cold in Queens…

I think I’ve started to get a pretty good idea of how nescient I am in the world of Christmas movies. The Fitzgerald Family Christmas came out nearly eight years ago and this is the first I’ve ever heard of it, despite it having a deep roster of competent actors and hundreds of positive reviews. Regardless, I am grateful this sensitive and thoughtful film made its way into my lineup. This time the rules, as posted below, worked in my favor:

1. I can only watch Christmas movies.
2. I can only watch Christmas movies that have come out on the same day of viewing.
3. Only in the case when no films have been released on the day of viewing may I watch a Christmas movie filmed in years past. However, it must be a Christmas movie which I have previously not seen.
4. On Christmas Eve, I will watch Die Hard.

Without these, I probably would have never found this film and I would be poorer for it.

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(WARNING: DESPITE HAVING CHRISTMAS IN THE NAME, THIS MOVIE ISN’T VERY CHRISTMAS-Y. IT’S STILL GOOD THOUGH).

Title of Film: The Fitzgerald Family Christmas

Rating: PG-13 (there is a 10-second sex scene that gave me whiplash, so be wary)

Release Date: December 7, 2012

Where to Watch: YouTube (for free!)

Synopsis: With the return of their estranged father, a disjointed family must learn how to find forgiveness for him, each other, and for themselves.

In a trifecta of credits (writer, director, actor), Edward Burns takes the lead in this film with surprising tact and care. He is followed by a tremendous lineup of actors, all of whom fit into their roles with ease. It was a relief watching a film where I didn’t need to give the benefit of the doubt to the actors. I trusted them to bring their characters to life and they all followed through.

I will give some guidance regarding whether or not The Fitzgerald Family Christmas should make its way into your Christmas movie watch. It is a mature film and not a very happy one, which is a bit surprising given how spirited the title is. Granted, the film concludes with grace, but it is an emotionally taxing ride to get there as Burns unravels nine characters who all have their own demons to quell. Dysfunction runs rampant as the family grapples with addiction, abandonment, abuse, and regret. They have lost each other over the years, a reality which is difficult to think about when you have a close family unit. What saves the day isn’t the return of their father, but the return of their love, somehow all of them finding their way back to each other despite their grievances. Amidst the chaos, Burns reminds us that healing often starts with forgiveness.

There is really only one major issue that I found with this movie. When the credits roll, it doesn’t feel finished. There are so many characters, all of whom have different problems, and the only storyline that is seen through is the estranged father’s. We don’t get to know what happens with an unexpected pregnancy, we don’t see how the drug-addicted brother finds his footing in the world, we don’t know why there was tension in an otherwise happy marriage, and the list goes on. Burns grabbed everything that can hurt a family and placed it on the shoulders of one film. And I think it weighed it down too much in the end, which is a real shame because I was honestly invested in every narrative that was offered.

I truly enjoyed my watch, however, and for the first time I was able to view one of these Merry Movies at the same time with my mom. So, we’ve made a joint Holly Berry rating, which is now primed for sharing.

Harlie’s Holly Berries ft. Kris Ford

1. Plot: 4/5
2. Ending: 3.5/5
3. Set Design: 3/5
4. Characters/Acting: 5/5
5. Christmas: 1.5/5

Were this not a Christmas movie list, I think The Fitzgerald Family Christmas would have received far more than the 17 Holly Berries we have awarded it. However, Christmas is an essential piece to the Holly Berry Scale and this flick really didn’t follow up on it. As I’ve mentioned in prior reviews, sometimes these otherwise wonderful movies suffer from using Christmas as a prop, rather than immersing it as a cohesive part of the narrative. It happens here tenfold, which is a downright shame for a movie that has Christmas in the name.

I hope this hasn’t convinced you to avoid the movie altogether. Instead, I recommend watching it without the context of the holiday season. Enjoy this movie for what it actually is. A careful insight into the complex mechanisms of a family that has been hurt too much by too many.