Our Italian Christmas Memories

This movie was shown on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel and like many of the movies there it is less about romance and more about family. Sarah Powers' Anna is the central character along with Beau Bridges' Nonno. Anna has traveled the world as an adjunct professor which has left her with relationship problems with her siblings. A further complication is that Nonno has Alzheimer's which is progressing to the second stage.

The movie touches on the pain families endure as their patriarch loses vitality and worse. It deals with tension when one family member chooses a life away from the family home while those who stay behind must carry on and deal with the work involved in maintaining a family home, business or farm.

There is a romance which I thought should have been left out. There are a lot of things going on without it, and that particular relationship doesn't get much attention. It doesn't get enough attention to see any chemistry between Powers and Markian Tarasiuk's Dr. Greg.

The overall running theme of the movie is the importance of family no matter what. An ongoing thread in the story is the search for Nonna's favorite recipe.

This movie offers an alternative to all the Christmas romance movies. The acting and other production values are good.

This was a fair Christmas film that I had a little trouble watching.

My difficulties where threefold: first there was the lack of actual Italians or actors who looked and sounded Italian in a film that is literally called Our Italian Christmas Memories, second was the lack of Christmas in what is essentially a Christmas film...if it wasn't for the three wisemen popping up occasionally and the German tradition of finding the pickle on the tree...I wouldn't have known this was a Christmas movie at all and third I am growing weary of Hallmark's tireless agenda of dead parents, broken homes, lesbians and additionally in this film a Ukrainian doctor! It's a Christmas movie, can't the politics be set aside for some entertainment?

Now for the highlights of this film...Beau Bridges brought a lot of class to this film and even though he is quite definitely not Italian, I did feel that his portrayal of an individual suffering from dementia was a fairly good representation.

The story follows the eldest daughter in an Italian family who comes home to look after her grandfather (Nonno) while her mom takes a trip. Anna Collucia, is an adjunct college professor and she spends most of her time away from home, so it is a shock to her that her grandfather's dementia has progressed as much as it has. The younger sister and her partner have been taking care of the grandfather's farm (which seems to be a greenhouse) and she has resentment for her older sister and wants to sell the farm because it id too much for her to take care of. The younger brother is an insecure individual who has failed at a bunch of jobs, but thinks he has finally found what he wants to do...be a cook...but he is still so afraid of failure that he panics, makes mistakes and runs out on his job (I am not sure what profession that behavior is acceptable in, in real life). Anna, thanks to her Nonno's doctor, decides to try and recreate her grandmother's sugo (or sauce) to help stimulate her grandfather's mind...so she spends most of the movie looking for the recipe or asking people what they know about it.

Overall this was one of the sadder offerings for Christmas (2022) and if it wasn't for Beau Bridges...I might not recommend it at all, but my recommendation is not for romantics...but for people caring for aging parents and dealing with difficult family situations.

'Our Italian Christmas Memories' (2022)

Opening thoughts: To be honest, for me the overall standard of the previous 2022 Hallmark Christmas films (with a couple of exceptions of course) was not great. The worst being very bad. Did like the premise for 'Our Italian Christmas Memories' (lovely reflective title) and applaud any film etc that explores or portrays Alzheimer's. Hallmark are no stranger to serious, quieter films and attacking difficult sensitive themes and relatable relationships.

Quite a lot of Hallmark's have succeeded in making good films with a more serious tone and heavier subjects, though others fall into the over sentimental and heavy-handed categories. 'Our Italian Christmas Memories' doesn't fall into those traps, but it would have been a better film if it tried to do less. As a film, it is above average and well intentioned, at its best actually with the Alzheimer's portrayal. But it could have been a good deal, as not all the storytelling works as well as ought. As far as the 2022 Hallmark Christmas films go, it is not one of the worst but also not one of the best.

Good things: Starting with the many good things with 'Our Italian Christmas Memories', the best thing about it is the performance of Beau Bridges. Very classy and moving. Every bit his equal is the charming and heartfelt Sarah Power. The chemistry is sweet and genuine, never sickly, while the supporting cast are solid too despite their material being variable.

Furthermore, the production values are pleasing, with slick photography, beautiful scenery and the editing is always cohesive. The script generally flows well and doesn't feel contrived or self-indulgent, it comes over as sincere and doesn't take things too seriously. The story has enough compelling parts, is very sweet and handles the subject matter tactfully. 'Our Italian Christmas Memories' is at its best in its portrayal of Alzheimer's, very moving and honest as well as tactful. Also succeeding at showing better than most films etc revolving around it how it affects not just the person diagnosed but also family and anybody else close.

Bad things: Against all this, 'Our Italian Christmas Memories' is too over stuffed with too many subplots. What makes this a problem is that it gives a choppy and rushed feel structurally and a few of the subplots are severely under-developed and under-cooked, especially for the doctor.

Have actually highly appreciated the same sex couple relationships and welcomed the increase in diversity in Hallmark films, but the one here is so underwritten and hardly there so it was not needed. The ending is unrealistically pat. The title, as has been said already, is misleading, as said there is very little passing for Italian, the traditions not being Italian and the cast would never pass for Italians, and there is also very little that is Christmassy. There are also too many cliches with nothing fresh done with them, which make most of the situations and character decisions very easy to predict prematurely.

Closing thoughts: In conclusion, decent and with good intentions but very uneven.

6/10.

We all know Halmark holiday movies are meant to be fun lighthearted rom coms with a bit of temporary heartache/drama. Then they throw one at us that hits hard. Holly & Ivy was certainly one example.

As another reviewer mentioned, Beau Bridges absolutely nails it here. Early on, there's a scene in the kitchen with labels everywhere. Looked identical to my grandmother's home. She died from Alzheimers in 1988, and dad died in 2020. He died from cancer but suffered dementia, often severe. I am now showing early signs myself and this is terrifying.

So for Hallmark to make a movie which places light romance in the background and shines a light on real life difficulties and pain with a Christmas setting, they are to be applauded. Hallmark has the template in this movie for a Hall of Fame film, akin to A Dog Named Christmas.

Yes, the pickle ornament is German (I know personally) but families make traditions from things with varied backgrounds. Not something that should keep one from enjoying the movie. The characters RJ and Anna are relatable, imperfect adults whose stories weave into the greater storyline we'll.

Christmas time evolves for all of us, more so as you get older, lose parents, raise children to adults, and hold on to what is important best we can. It goes from magic to melancholy. This movie isn't heartbreaking. It's like a preview for people in their 20's - 30's as to what the future may hold.

The closing of the movie is wonderful, but do yourself a favor - watch the movie. It's a worthy two hours. Kudos to Beau Bridges for his portrayal of a man dealing with dementia. It's worthy of an award nomination.

Thank you for reading. I don't write many reviews but this was a personal one.

There is some good in this one, although the Alzheimer's angle is cheap and cliched. Bridges and Power are very good, actually almost excellent, although she makes some questionable hair and costume choices. There are the tiresome Hallmark broken family tropes. Hallmark never seems to hire a hair styling crew.

The diversity police must be happy, though. Every couple is mixed race, including the pregnant lesbians.

Perhaps Hallmark is reacting to the new competition from GFAC, with more recognizable actors and slightly more complicated production design, but there is not enough here to make it stand out.