by Lisa Nystrom
Worth: $13.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Tony Savino, Maria Dizzia, Matilda Fleming, Michael Cera
Intro:
... slice-of-life ensemble dramedy resides somewhere along the intersection between Christmas Vacation and The Big Chill ...
This slice-of-life ensemble dramedy resides somewhere along the intersection between Christmas Vacation and The Big Chill. Extended family gathering together for what might be their last Christmas in the old family home; laughs are had, tears are shed, secrets are revealed. From the opening scenes, shot from the point of view of a young boy lying across the backseat of the family car, watching the Christmas lights flash by above his head, the film is consistently tinged with a hazy kind of nostalgia. The fashion, hair and technology all scream early 2000s, from the classic Samsung Verizon to the low-pixel gaming system keeping the kids entertained while the parents discuss difficult topics like potential retirement homes for grandma.
Premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Director’s Fortnight section, the film does its utmost to defy genre classification, covering everything from family drama to coming-of-age teen movie, to warm-hearted comedy. There’s no real tangible thread to follow, but rather, we’re treated to a snapshot in the life of the rowdy and somewhat dysfunctional Balsano family, desperately clinging to their cherished family holiday traditions before time marches on and everything inevitably changes.
Michael Cera is attached to the project with both a producer’s credit and the near-silent role of small-town highway cop, a long way from his Superbad days. The strangely comedic soap opera lives of Cera and fellow police officer Sergeant Brooks (Gregg Turkington) are a welcome breather between the heavier scenes with the Balsanos, but even their interactions have no real plot beyond following in the destructive wake of the teenagers’ stolen night of rebellion.
Given the film’s nod towards the importance of family legacy, it’s interesting to note that both Sawyer Spielberg and Francesca Scorsese are amongst the Balsano brood. Director Tyler Taormina and co-writer Eric Berger do a solid job of never letting the film focus for too long on any one character; this is an ensemble film in its truest form, offering us pieces of each character’s story without ever providing the full outline or resolution. Much like a real-life family reunion, you gather morsels of gossip in between meals and presents. As rambunctious and disorderly as the Balsano family might be, you’ll find yourself wanting to spend more time with them just to see where they go from here.
