Nothing Like The Holidays (2009/Anchor Bay Blu-ray + DVD)

 

Picture: B-/C+     Sound: B-/C+     Extras: C     Film: C

 

 

I can understand the many attempts to create yet another holiday classic, but Alfredo De Villa’s Nothing Like The Holidays (2009) is just another melodrama that will get lost in a sea of such melodramas and even though it has a good cast, did not stay with me when all was said and done.

 

Set in Chicago, a Latino family comes together for better and sometimes worse as one young man (Freddy Rodriguez) returns from the military and others still there have to reflect and reconsider their lives as the time period slows everything down.  Not a dysfunctional group much, there is much to personally sort out and reconsider.  Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Pena, Jay Hernandez, and Debra Messing are among those making this better than it might be otherwise.  This second version of this same material is on par with the first outing, but not a classic.  Some might like it, though.

 

The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is a bit softer than expected for a new production with some motion blur and some limited detail, more noticeable on the anamorphically enhanced DVD, which is even weaker.  Color can be good, but has its limits and composition is inconsistent.  The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 on the Blu-ray is better than the PCM 5.1, but this is a dialogue-based film and Paul Oakenfold’s score is the prominent surround highlight.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix on the DVD is weaker still.  Extras include Bloopers, the original theatrical trailer, cast reunion featurette and feature length audio commentary with De Villa, Producer Robert Teitel and Rodriguez, while the Blu-ray offers the exclusive bonus option of Digital Copy of PC and PC portable devices.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo