The Merry Gentlemen – Movie Review
First Reaction – The Merry Gentlemen is a Christmas-themed Full Monty.
Watch The Merry Gentleman on Netflix now.
Director: Peter Sullivan
Writer: Marla Sokoloff (Screenplay)
Writer: Jeffrey Schenck, Peter Sullivan (Story)
Cast
- Britt Robertson (Tomorrowland)
- Chad Michael Murray (Fortress)
- Marla Sokoloff (The Practise)
- Marc Anthony Samuel (Savaged)
- Colt Prattes (Dirty Dancing)
Plot: To save her parents’ small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.
Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Merry Gentlemen starts when big city dancer Ashley (Robertson) loses her job and returns home for Christmas. She learns her parents have been struggling to keep their small performing venue open and meets handsome handyman Luke (Murray).
Ashley decides to create a new all-male Christmas dance show with Luke as the main dancer. It is her last chance to save her family’s business, and she wants to use her expertise as a dancer to make it happen.
Verdict on The Merry Gentlemen
Recap
The movie follows a big-city dancer who loses her job and returns to a small town. She learns her family business is struggling and decides to try and save them. However, her ability to give the dancers confidence changes how she sees the world.
Best Parts
The movie brings the Christmas show to life as a determined young woman tries to turn her life around. It shows how love can make life decisions difficult and chasing dreams can leave people torn between worlds. This shows the charm of Christmas and the unlikely connections people get and that a small-town can bring people together. The performances from Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray bring plenty of life to the story. Meanwhile, the supporting cast is great too, bringing the laughs when needed but never overshadowing the leads.
Worst Parts
This movie feels like it is aimed at one audience and it isn’t going to do anything to turn people toward the romantic comedy Christmas movies. The movie also struggles to make the small-town feel like fully lived in town.
Final Thoughts –The Merry Gentlemen is a charming Christmas movie.
