Nutcrackers is an example of squandered potential for a Christmas movie.
The movie follows Michael, played by Ben Stiller, who is tasked with becoming the temporary caregiver of his newly orphaned nephews while a foster home is being found for them.
The movie has some standout names from the acting world, specifically Stiller and Linda Cardellini. Despite the potential, the movie falls flat.
It follows a very stereotypical storyline. Michael comes to his nephews’ rural home and initially wants no part in taking care of the rude, chaotic boys. But as expected, they all come around as the movie nears its finish.
The movie is supposed to have a thought-provoking message, but it is dampened by its generic nature. Viewers cannot be expected to be moved by a film whose events could have been predicted since the second it started.
Also, the Christmas element is completely put on the back burner for a subpar try at a dramedy. Despite the holiday-themed marketing and the title of the movie, nothing about the film has anything to do with Christmas until the last 20 minutes. The movie ends with the boys putting on a Nutcracker show that was originally crafted to win people over and get into a good foster home.
One positive of the movie is the acting from the nephews, who are played by a group of real-life brothers. These actors perform well for what they are supposed to do. But their characters are not enjoyable to watch.
Overall, the movie is nothing special. It’s an unoriginal and uninspired film that doesn’t even have any good jokes. If viewers were looking for a new Christmas classic, or even just an enjoyable family movie, this is not the best choice.
