Ben Stiller’s new Christmas comedy,Nutcrackers, is streaming on Hulu, and although the movie follows some familiar holiday movie patterns, it avoids feeling unoriginal for a few key reasons. InNutcrackers, Ben Stiller plays Michael, a commercial real estate agent from Chicago who must travel to rural Ohio to look after his four nephews following the death of his sister and brother-in-law.Nutcrackers’cast of charactersalso includes Linda Cardellini as social worker Gretchen Rice and real-life brothers Homer, Ulysses, Arlo, and Atlas Janson as Justice, Junior, Simon, and Samuel Kicklighter.
From the beginning, Michael is clear that he is only in Ohio to get the boys situated with another family and has no interest in adopting them himself. Much of the plot therefore focuses on whether Michael will change his mind and stay with his nephews. BeforetheNutcrackersendinganswers that question, though,the movie navigates the complexities of grief, guilt, compassion, and forgiveness all while proving to be full of humor and heart—and steers clear of many cliché holiday tropes.
Michael Goes From The Big City To A Small Town In Nutcrackers
Michael Leaves His Professional Life In Chicago Behind
Like many Christmas movies,Nutcrackersfollows the story of a hot-shot big city professional who must go to a small town during the holiday season. The movie immediately sets up the dichotomy between Michael’s life in Chicago and his nephews' farm life in rural Ohio, with Michael showing up in a bright yellow Porsche to find animals all throughout the house.The songs inNutcrackersalso reinforce these differences, including when the boys take his Porsche for a joyride, blasting “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO and then making fun of Michael for his musical choices.
Michael also goes from someone self-absorbed, materialistic, and obsessed with work to someone full of empathy and appreciative of what he has.
Consistent with the characterization often seen in such stories, Michael also goes from someone self-absorbed, materialistic, and obsessed with work to someone full of empathy and appreciative of what he has. This is a particularly major shift in Michael, who begins the movie surprisingly callous despite the fact that his nephews have just lost both parents in a tragic car accident.Nutcrackersdepicts this transformation through the unique lens of an uncle and his four estranged and orphaned nephews,and that unique focus brings something new to this otherwise classic Christmas movie story.
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Why The Big City, Small Town Christmas Trope In Nutcrackers Works So Well
This Unusual Family Dynamic Makes The Story Feel New
As is true of many holiday movies, especially ones that include a protagonist going from the big city to a small town, many plot points inNutcrackersfeel somewhat predictable. However,because the story is focused on such an unusual family dynamic, it doesn’t feel boring. In fact,Nutcrackersdeviates from this common formula significantly by not focusing on a romantic relationship. While there is some tension between Gretchen and Michael, they are secondary (by a wide margin) to the story of Michael growing to understand and truly love his nephews.
The feeling of the movie is also atypical, likely because the four boys are played by children who have never acted before and are actually related to one another. They therefore have an authentic brotherly dynamic that suits Stiller’s signature awkward comedy style perfectly. While viewers may be able to guess the ending ofNutcrackerssoon after it starts, it nevertheless avoids reusing the same old holiday story by bringing a number of elements that feel truly unique for a Christmas movie.
Nutcrackers
Cast
Nutcrackers is a family drama film by director David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller. Stiller plays Mike, who, after his siblings pass away in a tragic car accident, heads to the heart of Ohio to care for his nephews in the aftermath. Though initially hesitant, Mike realizes they may be the family he’s always needed.
