No amount of Christmas magic can save this Magical Mike-inspired Rom-Com from being boring

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No amount of Christmas magic can save this Magical Mike-inspired Rom-Com from being boring

The merry gentlemen
offers a poorly done Christmas film that struggles to find meaning and the humor falls flat. While Netflix is ​​known for churning out new movies and shows at breakneck speed, it’s fair to say that many of them seem well thought out and executed. The same cannot be said of The merry gentlemenwhich follows in the footsteps of Hallmark’s empty Christmas movies that fail to tell a cohesive or engaging story.

A former big-city dancer returns to her hometown to save her parents’ struggling performance venue by organizing an all-male Christmas-themed revue.

Director

Peter Sullivan

Release date

November 20, 2024

Writers

marla sokoloff

Cast

Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, Marc Anthony Samuel

When Ashley (Britt Robertson) is cut from a big Broadway performance just before Christmas, she returns to her hometown, where she discovers that her family is struggling to keep the local performance venue afloat. To help raise the funds needed to save the family business, Ashley recruits some cute local boys to take part in a hot shirtless show. However, Ashley also finds a deeper connection with one of these men, played by former TV teen heartthrob Chad Michael Murray.

The Merry Gentlemen is barely a Christmas movie


Marie and Ashley look shocked in The Merry Gentlemen

Christmas movies often tell a hopeful, heartfelt story revolving around the holiday. Santa Claus, gifts, Christmas spirit, and hope all serve as central themes, but with just a few minor tweaks, The merry gentlemen There’s nothing that makes it a Christmas movie. Ashley is meant to be the heroine who returns home and helps save her family from financial misfortune, but the character is deeply unlikeable.

The merry gentlemen There’s nothing that makes it a Christmas movie.

Her Broadway career kept her busy, but despite her family’s endless love and support, Ashley never thought about these people until she got home and saw the struggles they faced. And even so, she’s more interested in fulfilling her personal goals of getting involved in acting rather than actually helping save her family’s business. The film could have been set at any time of year and could have gotten away with being a low-budget small town Magic Mike show.

As it is, The merry gentlemen it doesn’t feel like a holiday movie and it doesn’t have enough content to be that interesting. Even the comedy elements fall flat, with forced moments that are more cheesy than comedic. From the lack of interesting developments to the predictable plot, the Netflix film struggles at every point. It’s a Christmas film that doesn’t deserve that title.

The little bright spots of the merry gentlemen


Chad Michael Murray wearing his shirt in The Merry Gentlemen

The story lacks depth or creativity, and the comedy is undercooked, but if you want a mindless Christmas movie with a vague Christmas-adjacent plot and some guys twirling around shirtless, then this movie isn’t the worst choice. For all its flaws and everything the film lacks, it’s a cheesy, silly Christmas film, and for some reason it feels like it fits some sort of brief.

The merry gentlemen It certainly won’t win any awards, but it’s harmless and lightweight.

Just as the season lends itself to corny jokes and getting through tough times, Christmas movies have a lower bar overall. The predictable plots provide some sense of comfort, and it’s fun to watch films that make everyone cringe and groan together. The merry gentlemen It certainly won’t win any awards, but it’s harmless and lightweight.

It’s a film that fits in with the season of binge-watching and filling up on Christmas food. For fans of Murray’s career, The merry gentlemen it gives the actor another chance to shine in an otherwise unremarkable film. His accent and role as a country boy who steps out of his comfort zone to support a community staple evokes a spirit of unity and charity that is indicative of the Christmas spirit and is the film’s only bright spot.

The merry gentlemen will be available to stream on Netflix from November 20th.

Pros

  • Chad Michael Murray stands out as the best part of the film.
Cons

  • The narrative feels empty and could easily be placed at any time of year.
  • The main character is unpleasant and selfish, but the film acts like she is a saint.

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