“Christmas With You,” like most Christmas movies, is just different enough to stand out thanks to embracing parts of Latin American culture.
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“Christmas With You,” like most Christmas movies, is just different enough to stand out thanks to embracing parts of Latin American culture.
| Director(s) | Gabriela Tagliavini |
| Screenplay By | Paco Farias, Jennifer C. Stetson, Michael Varrati |
| Based On | N/A |
| Date Released (Netflix) | 11/17/2022 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Romance, Holiday |
| Duration | 1 Hour 30 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated TV-PG |
| Noted Cast | |
| Angelina | Aimee Garcia |
| Cristina | Deja Monique Cruz |
| Miguel | Freddie Prinze Jr. |
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Film Summary
Angelina grew up in the industry. She was even on tour with J. Lo rather than having her quinceanera. But, decades into the game, she hasn’t had as big of a hit as her first album, and her label is ready to replace her. It’s not lost on her that she needs something new, and she finds it in an unlikely place.
Thanks to a young fan, Cristina, who did a cover of one of Angelina’s songs, Angelina finds someone to connect with and in her father, Miguel, a writing partner. Heck, maybe even a potential boyfriend.
Things To Note
Why Is “Christmas With You” Rated TV-PG
- Dialog: nothing notable
- Violence: None
- Sexual Content: Suggestive clothes and dancing
- Miscellaneous: drinking
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Angelina
For nearly her entire life, Angelina has been a pop star, but as a new generation rises, less and less, it seems she can float off the success of her first album and descending quality of this which came after. Hence her label wanting something new and her willingness to go to a fan’s school and house in hopes of triggering something to write about to have a hit before Christmas.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Ella Lopez in “Lucifer,” Laura in “Woke” and Jamie Batista in “Dexter”
Cristina
While lacking a mom, thanks to her dad and grandma, never mind extended family, Cristina isn’t lacking in love. Which makes her a rare happy-go-lucky teenager who may want some independence but isn’t necessarily pushing all she has grown up with away.
Miguel
Miguel is a widow, who luckily has his mother to help him raise his daughter, but with Cristina turning 15, it might be time for Miguel to start focusing on himself. Maybe go from being a music teacher back to being a musician again.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Fred in “Scooby Doo,” Ray Bronson in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” Zack Siler in “She’s All That” and Cole Ortiz “In 24”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Highlights
Some Welcomed Diversity To The Christmas Lineup
“Christmas With You” doesn’t just feature Latin American actors but has the language, food, and sense of culture and makes an active pursuit to give you something different. Yes, you still get your usual dead parent, widow, and eccentric elder, but now with something beyond the culture of a small town or made-up kingdom. This helps alter the formula enough to make you feel you haven’t seen this exact same movie with slightly different people dozens of times. Sometimes even within the same year.
On The Fence
Not Much In The Way Of Character Development
When it comes to infusing culture, “Christmas with you” does great things. However, in terms of character development, it’s lackluster. Why did Angelina become a musician is unknown. What’s her relationship with her dad like considering her mom is dead? What got Miguel into music to the point of becoming a teacher? How did he meet his wife? So many questions are left unanswered.
Then, in terms of developing characters, what “Christmas With You” does is what most holiday films do. It gives you likable, mostly uncomplicated characters. So as much as Angelina could deal with issues regarding aging, her career slowing down, a fake relationship she is holding onto, and more, things don’t get that deep. Which, by Christmas movie standards, is the norm. However, put “Christmas With You” in the realm of being put side by side with a non-holiday movie, and it is utterly disappointing.
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I am ok with diversity in any form. But it seems they didn’t want to really embrace it here. It seems (I haven’t watched it yet) like the standard “Lifetime/Hallmark” Christmas movies. The kind if it’s about ‘african americans’ there’s paintings and art of black culture filling the house. And in this case, certain things from the latina culture to show they are “latina”. Hollywood, again.
And it seems they didn’t even bother to develop the story or characters. What a waste.
A Christmas movie has to do certain things for me; be magical, make me laugh, make me happy, make me feel spirited.
If this movie can do that than I’m good.
Too many Christmas movies theses days just keep adding the family drama and it gets boring. That’s why after one or two of these types of movies, I’m done.
And it’s back to Scrooge, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, A Christmas Story and etc.
Who wants to sit around and be sad during the holidays unless they like that stuff.
Anyways, thank you for your review.
That’s one of the main problems with the diversity initiative. In the pursuit of showing how different this show or movie is because it focuses on Latinos, Indian people, Black people who aren’t American, etc., there is a weird vibe where the characters aren’t bringing their culture to the story. Instead, the story is built around the culture, and they just cast people who are culturally appropriate and the nuance and diversity of any specific culture isn’t really dived into.
And yet, there is this feeling of being happy that there is some form of representation, even if it isn’t perfect.