The holidays are right around the corner, and the best way to get into the holiday spirit is to watch movies about this special time of year. Everyone says that the holidays are their favourite time of the year, but let’s be honest — as great as they are, they’re also typically stressful and exhausting. Hollywood loves portraying the holidays as this magical time, but finally, a holiday classic is here to show us the true honesty behind the season and what a typical gathering really looks like.
A Christmas Party is about a large holiday get-together with the Hartman family, extended family, and friends. Sounds simple enough, but when is getting together with your extended family ever simple?
Alex Helmer and Guy Davide Knoll co-wrote this incredibly detailed film with a massive supporting cast. With so many characters, there’s no shortage of entertainment. Anyone with a large family can relate to the chaos that comes with being in the same room with twenty relatives for too long. There’s always someone who’s stressed and exhausted from preparing the entire meal, someone who shows up late, outrageous conversations you have to endure from a cousin or uncle, and a mixed bag of personalities. A Christmas Party captures all of these dynamics perfectly.
Typically, a film that tries to balance so many characters fumbles in some way, but A Christmas Party does a fantastic job managing its ensemble and intersecting storylines. The essence is in its chaos — the quick cuts and overlapping conversations keep the pace lively and consistent throughout.
A Christmas Party is currently making its way through the festival circuit, but soon it’ll be an essential part of your holiday movie catalogue.
Rating: ★★★★
Review by: Stefano Bove