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Nothing Like the Holidays: The Fruitcake of the Holiday Movie Season

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:30:52 -0800

The Christmas dramedy Nothing Like the Holidays really is like a fruitcake: Seasonal, obligatory and cliche. It's unoriginal in its presentation, but then again, it is the holidays and someone put in the effort to make it, so a part of you appreciates it a little. You just don't want to taste it ever again. And maybe another part of you is the teeniest bit resentful that you were given something so forgettable.

Having said all that, there are some refreshing aspects to this particular sweet-sour overbaked good. The plot relies heavily on that tiresome declaration of "look how totally wacky and loud we are but we are also so loving!" But at least this time it's a Puerto Rican-American family, an ethnic group that's pretty severely underrepresented in mainstream film. The adult children in the Rodriguez family are gathering together at their parents' Chicago home for Christmas, including big-time New York City lawyer Mauricio (John Leguizamo) and his Jewish fish-out-of-water wife Sarah (Debra Messing), aspiring Hollywood actress Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), and soldier Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) who is just now returning from Iraq. A circle of extra players surrounds the group: cousin Johnny (Luis Guzmán), family friend with a history of gangster life Ozzy (Jay Hernandez), and Jesse's old flame (the one that got away) Marissa (Melonie Diaz) - along with her son and new boyfriend. For more on why there's just nothing like the holidays, read more.

The familial relationships are equal parts tension and love, anger and sweetness, cruelty and warmth. Emotions run high all the time and everyone's got some kind of drama going on. Sarah feels unfairly pressured to have kids, Roxanna fears her fledgling career in TV and film will never take off, and Ozzy is filled with rage toward the recently-sprung-from-prison guy who killed his brother. Jesse's storyline is the most intriguing, largely due to Freddy Rodriguez's wonderful onscreen charisma: Trying to adapt to civilian life again, he wonders what his purpose is and desperately wants to be with Marissa. Finally, there's the ridiculously lame plotline of the parents: Edy (the magnificent teddy-bear-dad Alfred Molina) is hiding something, Anna (Elizabeth Peña) thinks he's cheating on her and thus wants a divorce, leading the kids to think this is their last Christmas together.

All these storylines get knitted together in one big tangly ball of mess, which doesn't give any one character the space to grow beyond the one-dimensional stereotype he or she is given. The actors try mightily to counter this, however, and at times they succeed. These are heavyweight actors who are way above this material, and if there's a reason to see this movie at all, it's them. Their determination to be a part of this story is admirable, and in certain scenes they even manage to add some flavor to an otherwise bland Christmas offering. Overall, though, I'd say you can pass on this dessert - at least until it's re-gifted on TV during next year's holiday season.

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Movie Preview: Nothing Like the Holidays

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:30:24 -0700

Sure, when I first saw the poster and description for Nothing Like the Holidays, I kinda groaned inside. Nothing like another reheated family holiday flick! And yet, now that I've watched the trailer, I'm charmed by this new take on an old genre.

For one thing, the film focuses on a Latino family, which is unusual (embarrassingly so) in both film and television. For another thing, the cast is fantastic. John Leguizamo has already won me over (being one of my favorite actors ever helps), as has another favorite of mine, Alfred Molina. In addition there's the lovable Debra Messing and (ready, Getty Girls?) the winsome Freddy Rodriguez.

The movie's description goes like this: "A Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago face what may be their last Christmas together." It starts out seeming tamely cute/funny, and then moves into some more poignant territory. Nothing Like the Holidays opens Nov. 21, and to watch the trailer, read more.

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Bottle Shock: Intriguing Story Muddled by a Fruity Aftertaste

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:00:11 -0700

I live near Napa Valley and I enjoy wine a great deal, so when I first heard about a new little movie called Bottle Shock all about the historical legitimization of California wine, I was intrigued. I may have taken for granted the fact that Napa hasn't always been a world-renowned winemaking region, and that at one point it was viewed as nothing more than a bunch of back-water country hicks noodling around with grapes. Which is why I was disappointed to not love this sincere attempt to bring this story to life on the screen. I had such high hopes, but in the end the movie spends too much time on other stuff and not enough on the part that's the most interesting.

Invariably, this tale of Napa's beginnings will be compared to another indie film about California wine, Sideways, and though the subject matter may be similar, it's not an accurate pairing. Where Sideways uses wine country as a setting in which to explore the lives of four intriguing characters, Bottle Shock is a saccharine mix of slapstick comedy, melodrama, and sweeping shots of California's golden hills. This director practically fetishizes the beauty of the state's coast, and at times the movie feels more like a tourist ad than anything else. I wish the filmmakers had relied on the interesting true story for a dramatic arc rather than tossing in several tedious subplots, including an emotionally weightless father-son drama and a mind-numbing love triangle. To see why, read more.

In 1976 a British wine shop owner named Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) and his American neighbor Maurine (played wonderfully by Dennis Farina) come up with the idea of a blind tasting that would pit France's best winemakers against the renegades in America, intending to prove that great wine could only be made in France. Surrier travels to California and makes his way from one roadside tasting to another, carefully noting which regions are best. At the same time, Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) and his free-spirited, slacker son Bo (Chris Pine) are attempting to create a perfect chardonnay at their winery, Chateau Montelena. Bo sees Surrier's arrival as a chance to prove to his dad that he can make something happen for the winery. Meanwhile one of the Barrett's employees, Gustavo Brambila (Freddy Rodríguez), is making his own wine on the side and frequently butts heads with Jim.

Oh, and then a blond bombshell "intern" shows up at the Chateau and proceeds to befriend and bed both young men amidst winery duties, which include wearing sexy outfits and hosing off a barrel while the water runs down her body, not unlike a Playboy fantasy, while the dirty old men of the winery gawk.

There's a lot of time spent on these characters but it all falls flat because tonally their stories don't jive with what's going on over in Alan Rickman's movie. While they run around an Anthropology catalogue, delivering dramatic monologues about feeling wine in your blood, Alan's tasting Kentucky Friend Chicken for the first time and it's hysterical. Eventually we get to the climax of the film - the industry-changing wine tasting in France - but by that time I was pretty much over it and couldn't care less about the fate of these people.

The sad thing about this movie is that it's well-intentioned and wants to do justice to the stories of these real-life people. The saving grace, predictably, is Alan Rickman and there isn't a single scene he's in that doesn't sparkle with wry humor and simple elegance. But alas, his scenes are too few, and when they end we're swept away via endless aerial shots of vineyards to the dopey plotlines of the other characters.

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Buzz Interview: Freddy Rodriguez at the Premiere of Bottle Shock

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:30:21 -0700

When I traveled to Napa to attend the premiere of Bottle Shock, one of the stars I was most excited to speak with was ~~Gio!~~ Freddy Rodriguez. I've always admired his work on shows like Six Feet Under and of course Ugly Betty, and I'm excited to see that he'll still take part in an independent movie now and again.

His character in the movie, Gustavo Brambila, is a person in real life, and Rodriguez appeared to have a good relationship with him at the premiere. Gustavo is supposed to have an incredible palate and winemaking abilities, and though he's portrayed as an intense dude in the movie, Rodriguez told me he's actually very shy in person.

To read about how much Freddy really knows about wine and even some clues about Gio's feelings for Betty, read more.

Why fit a little movie like Bottle Shock in your busy schedule?
Well, I shot this right after I finished Grindhouse, which was so incredibly demanding, physically and mentally, I just needed a change of pace. So this came up - right elements, great script, I loved the character. It just fit right.

How much did you know about wine before you started filming?
I didn't know much about wine! It wasn't until I got here that I started to learn about what to look for when you’re tasting wine, but I learned a lot more. I'm not a good drinker though! We were drinking wine earlier today and I said, "Man, I can’t drink wine at like one in the afternoon or I’ll fall asleep!"

I wanted to make sure and tell you that I'm on Team Gio.
What? That’s funny! What does that mean?

You've never heard "Team Gio?" It's like, who are you rooting for Betty to be with - Henry or Gio? So, what does Gio see in Betty? Why does he like her?
(laughs) What does Gio see in Betty? Wow, you know, I think he just sees her for who she is, you know? It isn’t about physicality at all. I think he just sees what's inside, you know?

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Buzz In: Which Actors Do You Associate With One Character?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:32:14 -0700

It's been a few days, and I still haven't been able to get my head around the notion that Tristan Wilds from The Wire is joining the cast of the 90210 spinoff. I'm so used to seeing him as this hardened, tough little boy on the streets of Baltimore that it's going to be a challenge to see him among the glitz of posh Beverly Hills - and, to some extent, he's just always going to be Michael.

I can think of a lot of other actors who, like Wilds, so embodied their characters for me that I have a hard time changing the way I think of them. Will and Grace has been off the air for a couple of years now, and I still can't see Megan Mullally as anything but Karen Walker. When Gio pops up on Ugly Betty, it takes me a minute to remember why Freddy Rodriguez isn't in a funeral home a la his Six Feet Under character. And we all know that Jared Padalecki will always be Dean to me.

Felicity Huffman just talked to the Hollywood Reporter about this issue, saying that when you're on a weekly series, "You go into acting jail for a number of years afterwards because people are so tired of your face," and when you get offers, they're all similar to the roles you just played. This is probably the biggest problem on TV, where we can check in with characters weekly, but it can also happen with particularly memorable movie roles (just think of how many people immediately thought of "the lotion girl" from Silence of the Lambs when Brooke Smith joined Grey's Anatomy ). So tell me: Which actors will always just be a certain character to you?

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Should Betty Date Gio or Henry?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:30:22 -0700

As some of you know, I've been a little bit irked by the Gio-Betty-Henry love triangle that's heating up now that Ugly Betty is back with new episodes. Well, to be fair, I'm not entirely sure how "hot" it's gotten, considering Gio has yet to proclaim his love to Betty and Henry is fairly spineless and challenged in the heat-generating department.

However, Gio obviously has feelings for Betty because he does such thoughtful things (like when he salvaged her entire birthday). And Henry clearly loves her but is leaving with his baby mama just as soon as the kid comes (at least that's the plan for now) - so what exactly is the point of their continued romance?

californiagirlx7 suggested I ask which guy should be Betty's beau, so before we watch tonight's episode, tell me: Is Henry or Gio the right pick for Betty?

TV Tonight: "Ugly Betty"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:30:00 -0700

Just when we thought the Henry-Betty love connection might be back in full force, there's a new man on the scene tonight. Freddy Rodriguez, who will forever be Rico from "Six Feet Under" to me, guest-stars as Gio, a new sandwich vendor who makes a splash on the Mode scene when Betty gets him fired. It sounds like he's sticking around for a while, complicating Betty's love life.

Meanwhile, Amanda is preparing to rock the Mode world with the news that Fey Sommers is her mother, and there's plenty of glamour as the office prepares for the Meade family's annual Black and White Ball. To watch a sneak preview with Betty and Gio, just read more

Where is the Fisher Family Now?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:28:38 -0700

With today's news that Freddy Rodriguez is joining the cast of "Ugly Betty," nearly every actor who played a main character on "Six Feet Under" is now back on TV somewhere. Here's a look at where the Fisher and Diaz folks have ended up:

Peter Krause (Nate Fisher) will star in ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" this fall as Nick George, an attorney who takes over his father's role as counselor to the absurdly wealthy Darling family.
Michael C. Hall (David Fisher) has reinvented himself as a blood spatter analyst-turned-serial killer in Showtime's "Dexter," for which he already received a Golden Globe nomination.
Lauren Ambrose (Claire Fisher) has been cast as Parker Posey's sister in "The Return of Jezebel James," a Fox comedy from "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino that is currently scheduled to air as a midseason replacement.

Lots more - including Rico's new role - so read more

Freddy Rodriguez (Rico Diaz) is newly cast in "Ugly Betty" as Gio, an ambitious blue-collar sandwich maker who just might complicate the burgeoning love between Betty and Henry.
Rachel Griffiths (Brenda Chenowith) now plays Sarah on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" - and is a big part of the reason I hope the women of that show will pull in some Emmy nominations.
Jeremy Sisto (Billy Chenowith) had a short-lived stint on NBC's "Kidnapped" last fall, but this year he'll be back as the new detective on "Law & Order."
Lili Taylor (Lisa Kimmel Fisher) starts a starring turn this Sunday as a mixed-up therapist on Lifetime's "State of Mind."

As for the others, Frances Conroy (Ruth Fisher), Mathew St. Patrick (Keith Charles) and Justina Machado (Vanessa) are currently filming movies, while James Cromwell (George) starred this past season as Jack's dad on "24."

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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:30:00 -0700

It's Tuesday, which means new DVDs hit shelves to fatten up your entertainment library! Trying to decide which to add to your Netflix queue? Check out these three releases.

Orphan

All right, so it's not the best horror film ever - for that, take a peek at my scary movie bracket - but who doesn't love a good spook just in time for Halloween? In Orphan, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star as parents who adopt a destructive little girl with a huge secret. The movie borders on ridiculous, but if you like to laugh during your fright flicks, it's got a bit of dark humor and over-the-top slasher scenes. Bonus features include deleted scenes and an alternate ending - which should be good for keeping things fresh, seeing as how the big twist has already been spoiled by pretty much anyone who's seen it.

55%

See two more new releases when you read more.

Nothing Like the Holidays

If you're feeling anti-Orphan, then perhaps a Christmas-themed ensemble film is more your speed. Nothing Like the Holidays follows a large, boisterous Puerto Rican-American family as they gather at their parents' home, and the obligatory love-hate relationships ensue. The storyline is a little stale, so I wasn't a fan when the movie first came out - but it may be a solid rental to get into the pre-holiday spirit and for the actors. (Alfred Molina and Freddy Rodriguez are particularly good as father and son.) There's also a bonus blooper real.

49%

Whatever Works

Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David stars in Woody Allen's story of a crabby New Yorker who takes in a young Southern runaway named Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood). Putting aside the somewhat unsettling older man and much younger woman relationship, the real joy to be had is from the bit character parts. Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. turn in hilarious performances as Melodie's parents, and dreamy Henry Cavill of The Tudors plays a love interest. If you can get beyond David doing his tiring, whiny Allen schtick, they make the film worth checking out.

48%