A Merry Holiday

I just loved Mistletoe & Menorahs aka A Merry Holiday (2019). I had yet to find a decent movie about Hanukkah and this was really fun and enjoyable since I am Jewish but also secretly love Christmas. Plus the actors were so lovable and had such great chemistry. Plus, it's just a great overview of the Hanukah story in general.

In general it was a movie with a good message, but it didn't have enough balance. I would have preferred that the Christmas celebration also mentioned the religious part of how and why Christians celebrate CHRISTmas. I work in an international school and we learn to appreciate different cultures and faiths. In my classroom parents were invited to share about theirs in special occasions: Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, also Carnival in the nice child's version. We also said not everyone had a religion and that also needed to be respected and accepted. So I would have liked to see the balance here as well. We say Happy Holidays but are sometimes constricted about saying Merry Christmas because it's 'religious'. Why?

I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, it had the usual characters, but it was a watchable, feel good movie.

Christy loves Christmas, and she is putting a presentation at work for someone who is Jewish, which she knows nothing about. Jonathan is Jewish and her girlfriend's family celebrates Christmas, which he doesn't known anything about. So, they make a pact to teach each other about their respective holidays.

I love this concept. I really enjoyed the movie. It was quite educational, at least for me, someone who knew NOTHING about Hanukkah, plus add the romance and you have a winner! There are a lot of movies about Christmas out there. I've seen one or two with Jewish theme, but this had both, and it works!

Great chemistry between the leads. I would definitely watch them again in the future. She is cheerful, but not in a cringey way and he is quite charming. I definitely recommend it!

Not sure which movie title this film is using..I saw it as Mistletoe and Menorahs on Lifetime Channel and was absolutely enchanted! The premise of the story is politically so relevant in today's culture. The two leading characters come from different religious backgrounds and each needs to learn about the other's religious traditions in order to impress someone in their life. Bravo to Lifetime for addressing the reality that there are different religions celebrating this season! The female lead needs to learn about Hanukkah and the male lead needs to learn about Christmas. Of course, we know that no matter how this adventure unfolds, it will end happily with a kiss. But on its way to that ending, the lessons learned are portrayed beautifully and respectfully, with both religions being learned about with joy and warm emotions. There is an abundance of historical meaning explained regarding both religions and their traditions. The leading couple are two of the most attractive to be featured a holiday movie in a very long time. The heroine is not only beautiful, but is portrayed as intelligent, serious, not frivolous and giggling as so many holiday movie heroines are portrayed. Her smile is dazzling! The leading man is a new face for this viewer, handsome, with sparkling eyes and a really attractive personality. One wishes to see a great deal more of this actor. The movie also ventures into yet another new territory, in that it portrays a gay marriage between two of the male characters..The relationship is presented with love, dignity and maturity. There is not one second of any inappropriate dialogue or characterization. Bravo to Lifetime for bringing its viewers into the 21st century! The only characterization in the film that was a bit over the top was that of the Jewish grandmother, whose mannerisms and intonations were a bit of a caricature. She was lovely looking but somewhat excessively portrayed. Other than that, this is a glorious holiday film for everyone, and should be on a 'must see' list for this season. It is also appropriate for children to watch as the lessons it teaches about religions other than ones own are beautifully taught. I will watch it again.