Nothing Like the Holidays (PG-13, 2008)

Most ethnic-family Christmas films (or basically all holiday films) are incredibly similar. There's the food-obsessed mama; the bickering, regressing siblings; the prodigal son; and a dash of cultural stereotyping to exaggerate the family's "ethnic" issues. But despite its inherently formulaic nature, NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS features a believable cast (even though most of them aren't actually Puerto Rican) that turns the overly familiar story into a sweet, funny addition to the genre.

Rodriguez is a fantastic actor who deserves more leading roles. His Iraq vet is just the right mix of tortured and relieved, and when he looks at his lovely ex-girlfriend (indie darling Melonie Diaz), you can feel the longing. Comedians Leguizamo and his on-screen cousin Luis Guzman get the best lines without showboating, and heartthrob Jay Hernandez pops up as a Mexican-American friend of the family who used to be a thug. Reformed gang-bangers are as boring a role as they come for Latino actors, but Hernandez is a charming operator. The film is just like the role: predictable and cheesy but funny and sweet -- or, as we Latinos say, sabroso.