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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS" (2008) (Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Peņa) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor Heavy Moderate Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None Moderate Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Mild Heavy Moderate Mild QUICK TAKE: Dramedy: A Puerto Rican family assembles for the holidays but must deal with various familial and other relationship issues. PLOT: It's Christmastime and the various members of the far-flung Rodriguez family have assembled at the Chicago home of parents Eduardo (ALFRED MOLINA) and Anna (ELIZABETH PEŅA). Struggling actress Roxanna (VANESSA FERLITO) has traveled from Hollywood but keeps waiting for an important call from her agent, while Mauricio (JOHN LEGUIZAMO) and his wife Sarah (DEBRA MESSING) have arrived from New York. She's the only non-Puerto Rican of the bunch, with Mauricio informing her of their customs, all while trying to his mom at bay regarding asking Sarah when she's going to start popping out grandchildren for her. But everyone's happy to see Jesse (FREDDY RODRIGUEZ) who's back from Iraq and met at the airport by his buddies Johnny (LUIS GUZMAN) and Ozzy (JAY HERNANDEZ). Jesse is somewhat withdrawn due to something that happened in the war, but he perks up upon seeing his ex-girlfriend, Marissa (MELONIE DIAZ), despite her now being with Fernando (RAMSES JIMENEZ). Beyond being pestered by the baby talk, Sarah is taken aback a bit by the boisterousness of the family gathering, but Mauricio assures her that the shouting is normal for them. Yet, no one is prepared for Anna suddenly announcing that she's divorcing Eduardo after thirty-four years of marriage. From that point on, the various adult children try to come to grips with that and other preexisting and new situations that arise. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of holiday movies and/or anyone in the cast, they might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For thematic elements including some sexual dialogue, and brief drug references. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JOHN LEGUIZAMO plays one of the adult sons, a New York lawyer who's brought his non-Puerto Rican wife home for the holidays. He's the most upset by his mother's announcement of ending her marriage to his father, but must also contend with a surprise job revelation from Sarah. He drinks some and has a cigar in one scene. DEBRA MESSING plays his wife who works on Wall Street, is taken aback a bit by the family's boisterous and loud gathering, and isn't happy about the grandkids pressure coming from her mother-in-law. She uses some profanity, and is hung-over the morning after drinking. FREDDY RODRIGUEZ plays a war veteran who's returned from Iraq sporting some superficial physical injuries but hides a deeper emotional one. He drinks, uses some profanity, has a cigar in one scene, and wants to get back with Marissa despite previously breaking up with her and her now being with another man. ALFRED MOLINA plays the family patriarch who's shocked by Anna's decision to leave him, particularly in light of a secret he's been keeping from everyone until after the holidays. Otherwise, he tries to maintain a happy face and make sure the family enjoys the holiday. He drinks some and has a cigar in one scene. ELIZABETH PEŅA plays his wife who suddenly announces she's divorcing Eduardo after 34 years of marriage, as she's suspicious that he's cheating on her again. She also puts pressure on Sarah to give her a grandchild, and appears a bit intoxicated upon returning from a night out with her friends. VANESSA FERLITO plays the family's daughter, a struggling Hollywood actress who's yet to get her break in the business. She uses some profanity and drinks. JAY HERNANDEZ plays Jesse's friend who's happy to see his return, but must contend with some gang members and his desire to get revenge on one. He has a cigar and beer in one scene. LUIS GUZMAN plays Jesse's other close friend who runs an electronics store, uses some profanity, briefly smokes (cigar), and is somewhat of a cut-up. MELONIE DIAZ plays Jesse's ex-girlfriend who's torn about what to do upon his return and obvious desire to rekindle their past, longtime romance that he ended. She drinks some. RAMSES JIMENEZ plays Marissa's boyfriend who isn't happy to see Jesse back in the picture, especially when the latter shows he's still interested in her. Accordingly, he punches Jesse when the latter kisses Marissa. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated dramedy. Profanity consists of at least 14 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related innuendo, dialogue and song lyrics are present, while off-screen, married sex is referenced. There's a brief fight and some whacking on others, while a man threatens to shoot another with a gun, but reconsiders. Various characters drink in various scenes (with at least one intoxicated and another hung-over in a different scene), and there are some drug-related comments, while some smoking also occurs. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while tense family material (including about an announced, pending divorce) is also present. Some behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that from flashing emergency lights. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's a spin around camera shot. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE About a comment Mauricio made (not fueled by drugs), Sarah asks, "Are you high?" Various family members have holiday drinks, while wine is also present. Eduardo, Mauricio, Johnny, Ozzy, Fernando and Jesse have cigars and beer while seated outside in the cold. The family has dinner with wine. About the way he's acting (but not drug-related), Sarah asks Mauricio, "Have you gone of your meds?" Roxanna announces she has tequila (in a flask) and then shares that with Mauricio and then Jesse. The latter then makes some comment about smoking a "blunt." The next morning, Anna comments on Roxanna drinking with her brothers and asks if she's still drunk. We see liquor bottles on the shelves in Eduardo's store. Anna appears to be intoxicated upon returning from happy hour. The family priest is there and asks if he can get some more rum for his drink. The siblings, Sarah and Marissa do shots in a bar where others drink, and we then see Jesse with a beer. The next morning, Sarah is hung-over in bed, and comments on being loaded the night before. People have drinks at a holiday party at Eduardo's store. Eduardo drinks alone, with Mauricio and Jesse then joining him with beer. BLOOD/GORE Jesse has some dried, war-related cuts on his face, including around one eye. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Sarah doesn't like Anna for a number of reasons, mostly for pressuring her to have children, but also (and mentioned just once) because she's a re-gifter. Ozzy isn't happy to see some gangbangers, especially their leader who he says killed his brother. Later, Ozzy nearly murders that leader, but then reconsiders. There are some brief, gay-related jokey references by family members in one scene. There's a brief, playful pillow fight among family members, with Johnny telling one guy, "You swing like a girl." After Eduardo takes a call on his cell phone while making a holiday meal speech, Anna takes over and states that she's divorcing him. This creates a great deal of discord among their kids, with Mauricio asking his father if he cheated again, and then having a bad attitude toward Jesse for not being more upset about this. In the end, everyone but Anna and Sarah get up from the table and leave. Jesse kisses Marissa, prompting Fernando to punch him. Jesse then rushes Fernando and drives him back onto a table that collapses to the floor where Jesse punches him until Johnny pulls him away. FRIGHTENING SCENES Eduardo has a medical emergency while driving and accidentally swerves into oncoming traffic. Sarah grabs the wheel and saves them, and then retrieves his medicine for him. Ozzy confronts a gangbanger (the one who killed his brother before the film begins), shows that he has a handgun, and then aims that at the thug (who accepts his fate). But Ozzy can't do it, and a phone call interrupts him and he leaves. We then see him throw the handgun into a lake. GUNS/WEAPONS Ozzy confronts a gangbanger (the one who killed his brother before the film begins), shows that he has a handgun, and then aims that at the thug (who accepts his fate). But Ozzy can't do it, and a phone call interrupts him and he leaves. We then see him throw the handgun into a lake. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Sappy sh*t," "Ah sh*t," "Piece of sh*t," "That's white people sh*t," "I feel like sh*t," "I'm just trying to give you 60 inches," "Pissed," "Freaking," "You know damn well," "Are you high?" "Mister asshole," "You old ass man," "Bitch" (man), "Punk ass," "Getting their asses kicked," "You stupid ass," "So G*ddman tasty," "Jerk," "You swing like a girl," "Shabby ass," "Screwed up," "Well, Merry G*ddamn Christmas," "Have you gone off your meds?" "Freaked out," "Jar-head," "Chick," "Dirty old man," "You back off, Barbie," "What the hell /are you doing?" "You're embarrassing the hell out of me," "Honeys," "You're a G*ddamn war hero," "Oh hell yeah," "Shut up" and "Don't make me kick your ass." Ozzy has a large tattoo on his neck. Some gangbangers have tattoos. Jesse has some tattoos. There's a brief, playful pillow fight among family members, with Johnny telling one guy, "You swing like a girl." Eduardo tries to take down the front yard tree by wrapping a chain around it and his back bumper. As he tries to drive away, the bumper comes off, sending his car crashing into a parked car. He doesn't appear hurt, but is taken to the hospital. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A little bit of suspenseful music plays in one scene. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Some songs had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing something objectionable. A song has the lyric "Sex you up." A song has the line "Give me that good, good love." A song has the line "Oh my sexy baby." PROFANITY At least 14 "s" words, 16 asses (4 used with "hole"), 7 hells, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B., 6 uses of "God," 4 each of "G-damn" (1 in subtitles) and "Oh God," 2 of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "Jesus" and "Jesus Christ." SEX/NUDITY Johnny listens to one of his electronics store commercials on the radio. It's laced with innuendo, including when the voice says he's just "trying to give you 60 inches." A man dressed as Santa suggestively but playfully tells one of Eduardo's workers (a middle-aged woman) to sit on his lap and tell him her wish list. About Mauricio and Sarah not having kids yet, Johnny jokingly asks Mauricio if his plumbing works. Roxanna shows cleavage. A song has the lyric "Sex you up." Johnny walks in on Roxanna and Marissa and playfully asks if they were kissing (they weren't). We see Eduardo in his briefs and a tank-top. About a sofa Roxanna and Mauricio are seated on, Jesse states he lost his virginity on it, with Roxanna saying she did as well, grossing out Mauricio (who's in a t-shirt and briefs). Watching the guys trying to cut down the tree in the front yard with a chainsaw, Roxanna jokes to Marissa about Fernando that he sure is good with his "tool." Marissa replies that he's good with his hands too. When Sarah says she'll take Fernando, adding he's big, Marissa doesn't get the joke and tells her, "Back off, Barbie." Roxanna and Ozzy joke about being in a telenovel, with Roxanna commenting on them sleeping together and Ozzy joking about her climaxing and screaming. About Sarah busy with work, Anna says the only sex Mauricio will be having is on the phone. Sarah then sarcastically says he'll be lucky if he gets that. Hearing a song on the radio, Eduardo tells Sarah that Mauricio was conceived to that song. At a bar and talking to women about Jesse, Johnny jokingly says that the latter's "d*ck" was shot off, replaced with a bionic one, and that he can both jack up a car and change the tires with that. Marissa shows cleavage, as do some miscellaneous young women. As Mauricio is angled downward with his hands on the floor and his legs up on something (about a 45 degree angle), Sarah sits on his back facing the other direction and playfully slaps and grabs his clothed butt. We briefly see a miscellaneous couple making out in a bar. A song has the line "Give me that good, good love." In bed with a shirtless Mauricio, Sarah (in a nightgown) checks her diaphragm case, surprised to find it still in there. She tells him they didn't use protection, with him saying she said she wanted to make a baby. She replies that she was loaded then and, not happy with his attitude, tells him "Eat me." His expression shows he likes the thought of that, prompting her to add, "Don't even think about it." A song has the line "Oh my sexy baby." As Anna and Eduardo leave a party, Johnny seems to jokingly say something about safe sex. Ozzy and Roxanna passionately kiss. Ozzy and Roxanna passionately kiss in another scene. In the family room and apparently given as a gift, Mauricio holds up a leopard print thong for Eduardo, with Jesse then jokingly telling Mauricio to smell it, so he does. SMOKING Johnny smokes a cigar, while a few miscellaneous characters smoke. A man wants to buy one cigarette from Eduardo's store, and we then see him with one unlit cigarette. Eduardo, Mauricio, Johnny, Ozzy, Fernando and Jesse have cigars and beer while seated outside in the cold. Roxanna nearly smokes, but Mauricio stops her. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Ozzy isn't happy to see some gangbangers, especially their leader who he says killed his brother (before this story begins). After Eduardo takes a call on his cell phone while making a holiday meal speech, Anna takes over and states that she's divorcing him. This creates a great deal of discord among their kids, with Mauricio asking his father if he cheated again, and then having a bad attitude toward Jesse for not being more upset about this. In the end, everyone but Anna and Sarah get up from the table and leave. There's some growing tension between Sarah and Mauricio over Anna trying to pressure them to have a baby, as well as Sarah saying she's reconsidering a past job offer. Some of the siblings argue. With Eduardo always getting calls, Anna thinks it's his lover (but we later learn, as does she, that's not the case). Eduardo tells Anna that he just wants the kids to enjoy the holidays, with her replying (still not knowing the truth) that once their children are gone, she and Eduardo will have nothing to say to each other. Spoiler Alert: We hear that Eduardo has cancer, as does his wife and kids who are devastated by the news. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT How holiday gatherings can exacerbate family tension. Jesse admits that a guy in his military unit died because of him. He then clarifies that by saying another soldier took over his post and was then killed by an RPG fired into the room they were in. Jesse planning to sign up again for another military tour, saying he's doing so to feel he has purpose. Having cancer. Parents who put pressure on their adult kids to produce grandchildren for them. VIOLENCE After Mauricio makes a half-joking comment about no "jar heads" (military jargon for Marines) being allowed in the room, Jesse kicks his leg. Marissa whacks Jesse. Anna whacks Mauricio and then grabs him by the ears (for bringing the family priest to their home to try to patch up his parents' marriage). Jesse kisses Marissa, prompting Fernando to punch him. Jesse then rushes Fernando and drives him back onto a table that collapses to the floor where Jesse punches him until Johnny pulls him away. Eduardo tries to take down the front yard tree by wrapping a chain around it and his back bumper. As he tries to drive away, the bumper comes off, sending his car crashing into a parked car. He doesn't appear hurt, but is taken to the hospital. Reviewed October 9, 2008 / Posted December 12, 2008

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