Christmas Crush
Holiday reunion comedy has iffy role models, shallowness.
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Christmas Crush
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Christmas Crush is about a 28-year-old at her high school reunion. Though the film is meant to be an upbeat comedy about a girl trying to win back her old beau, it has some iffy role models and questionable material for younger kids. Most of the nearly 30 characters return to high school with high school maturity levels: The female characters are shallow and status-obsessed, and there are some mature discussions of cheating, teasing former teachers, and some heavy innuendo when a woman acts orgasmic when she hears her former teacher discuss the periodic table. There are some positive messages about what it means to be a good person and friend and the lesson that high school is not significant in the grand scheme of things, but these realizations come at the last minute.
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What's the Story?
Georgia (Rachel Boston) discovers her 10-year high school reunion is a week before Christmas and decides she'll use the event to win back her high school boyfriend Craig (Jon Prescott). While she puts her best foot forward, she contends with status-obsessed friends, her encouraging mom (Marilu Henner), and an old friend, Ben (Jonathan Bennett), who reminds her of the person she used to be.
Is It Any Good?
CHRISTMAS CRUSH has some decent elements: an enthusiastic cast, lots of impromptu singing, and a pleasant throwback feel. It folds holiday spirit into a mash-up of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Clueless, and Mean Girls. But these status-obsessed characters don't have enough heart, nor do the leads have enough chemistry, to make this feel like more than an imitation. There is a grounding performance from Marilu Henner as a positive older adult character imparting wisdom about being a good person and some nice messages about what it means to be good friends -- and a true success -- but those lessons come too late in the movie to feel sincere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about success. What do you think it means to be successful? How is that discussed in the film?
Does this movie portray high school accurately? How so, or how does it not?
What does the film say about what it means to be a good person? Who do you think is a good person in the film?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 17, 2012
- Cast: Rachel Boston, Jonathan Bennett, Marilu Henner
- Director: Marita Grabiak
- Studio: Gravitas Ventures
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship, High School, Holidays
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 21, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
Mean Girls
Mature but often hilarious teen comedy.
-
Clueless
Charming take on Jane Austen's Emma has sex, drugs.
-
Love Actually
Romantic and entertaining -- for older teens.
For kids who love the holidays
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