The Merry Gentlemen

6.7 stars.

Honestly, it's the actors that kept me around for this one. First of all, I like both of the lead actors, I think they have a screen presence that really bursts. The elderly parents are well known actors too. But this narrative is weak.

You have a bunch of guys who apparently don't know how to dance, and then they become quasi strippers, in a rundown mom and pop restaurant/bar/club.

I don't know what to make of the narrative because it's somewhat unorthodox.

The lead actress's character is a Broadway dancer for about 10 years or so, and then she gets canned. But she looks like she's 28, which speaks volumes of the fickleness of the theater crowd. And then you have male lead, Luke the handyman, who helps her parents keep their bar operating.

Lead female comes home from the city because she's no longer employed, and figures she can create a male dance routine to regenerate and bring customers back into this failing business.

The dance routines are average, with a couple of real dancers, and a couple of guys who don't really know how to dance, and it just comes together in a flimsy way that fails to entertain.

But I keep watching, because I really like the two lead actors, and I would probably be suckered into viewing anything they are in anyway. Kudos to the casting it's the only thing that kept this charade going.

Frankly, leave this to Hallmark, because they know Christmas movies. I know why Hallmark wouldn't touch it; it's because the dancing was stripper adjacent.

They writers of this movie missed so many beats and chances that its ridiculous. The plot holes are big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Watch it once for the hit guys and forget about it. Unfortunately this is definitely not worth watching more than once. I wish it were better, but it really required alot more work.

The romance was weak, the basic plot was thin, and the premise that she should leave the three year chance of a lifetime for a one day male stripper gig that will end in a day.

There were so many ways this could have been written to really make this story sing. But they went for the ridiculous ending.

All of you reviewers who criticize this movie as being poorly written and having plot holes need to lighten up! Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's cliched, but so what?!?! If you expected more, that's on you. It's entertaining, the actors are gorgeous, the music and dancing are fun, and, honestly, that's probably all they were going for. Reviewing this as if it was intended to compete for Academy Award nominations does it a great disservice. It's a Hallmark-type movie, and IMO it's better than a lot of those I've watched. If you watch the gag reel at the end, you'll see how seriously the cast took it. They had fun and so should you. Just enjoy it for what it is or stop watching silly, romantic Christmas movies!

The Merry Gentlemen struggles to deliver a cohesive experience. The love story feels both forced and underdeveloped, lacking the emotional depth needed to make it believable. The part where the guys are dancing in the pub, intended to raise money, feels poorly executed-unconvincing in both its outcome and presentation. The movie's attempt at capturing a Christmas atmosphere also falls flat, missing the warmth and festive spirit expected from such a setting. Despite some potential, it ultimately feels disconnected and underwhelming. Giving it a 5 is kind of generous, i was honestly expecting a more fun and convincing movie.

Watched this purely because Chad Michael Murray was in it but he provides the only believable performance out of everyone involved. I like Britt but this was a terrible performance by her, wooden, she looked like someone had dragged her to the set and forced her to do this movie. There was zero chemistry between the leads which was disappointing as I love a cheesy Christmas movie with a happy ending but I couldn't enjoy the happy ending because the chemistry was not there! This missed the mark alot! Basically abs, abs and more abs, are one of the few good parts of the movie! Think my hopes were too high for this one.