Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Alfredo De Villa

Writers (WGA):

Alison Swan (screenplay) and
Rick Najera (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 December 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago face what may be their last Christmas together. |

Plot Keywords:

Christmas

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Alfred Molina	...	Edy Rodriguez
Elizabeth Peña	...	Anna Rodriguez
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Jesse Rodriguez
Luis Guzmán	...	Johnny
Jay Hernandez	...	Ozzy
John Leguizamo	...	Mauricio Rodriguez
Debra Messing	...	Sarah Rodriguez
Vanessa Ferlito	...	Roxanna Rodriguez
Melonie Diaz	...	Marissa
Alexander Bautista	...	Hector
Ramses Jimenez	...	Fernando
Manny Perez	...	Alexis
Claudia Michelle Wallace	...	Tina
Cheryl Hamada	...	Dr. Susan Lee
Manny Sosa	...	Father Torres
David Hernandez	...	Cheuy Flores
Sam Dyer	...	Customer
Nydia Rodriguez Terracina	...	Alexis' Mom
Ulises Acosta	...	Stock Boy
Gail Rastorfer	...	Stewardess
Ana María Alvarez	...	Gladys
Marcia Wright	...	Female Patron
Jessica Zweig	...	Brunette
Jessica Camacho	...	Blonde
Eddie Martinez	...	Bartender (Julio's)
Jaslene Gonzalez	...	Fine Girl
Mike Reyes	...	Party Goer
Brian Sills	...	Josh (Agent)
Tanya Saracho	...	Sister Maria
Brandy McClendon	...	Woman with Babies
Llou Johnson	...	Van Driver
Patrick Zielinski	...	Snoring Guy
Cedric Young	...	Spencer
Gennae Bewernick	...	Hero Singer
Johnny 'Koolout' Starks	...	Alexis’ Thug
Tony Castillo	...	Suitor (Tony)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Parson	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Debbi Burns	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Sue Durso	...	Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Jamie Louachai	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Letitia D. Murray	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Laura Otto	...	Partygoer / Dancer (uncredited)
Christopher Tamez	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Rahul Thakkar	...	Airline Passanger (uncredited)
Charles E Tiedje	...	Marine Buddy (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfredo De Villa

Writing credits (WGA)
Alison Swan		(screenplay) and
Rick Najera		(screenplay)
Robert Teitel		(story) &
Rene M. Rigal		(story)

Produced by
Reid Brody	....	executive producer
Thomas J. Busch	....	co-producer
Paul Kim	....	executive producer
Rene M. Rigal	....	executive producer
Freddy Rodríguez	....	executive producer
Robert Teitel	....	producer
George Tillman Jr.	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Oakenfold

Cinematography by
Scott Kevan

Film Editing by
John Coniglio
Amy E. Duddleston

Casting by
J.C. Cantu
Venus Kanani
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Daniel B. Clancy

Art Direction by
Stephanie Gilliam

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Karen Lynn Accattato	....	makeup department head
Ross Martucci	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Wileen Dragovan	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Deigl	....	second assistant director
Michelle Gonsiorek	....	second second assistant director
Richard S. Lederer	....	first assistant director
Andy Spellman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Myke Adams	....	art production assistant
Chewie K. Darsow	....	art department intern
Jeff Errico	....	storyboard artist
Anthony Joseph Fatigato	....	painter
Thomas J. Glynn	....	on-set dresser
Kyle Holden	....	set dresser
John J. Slove Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Charles E Tiedje	....	props
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master
Scott Troha	....	leadman
Käthe Walton	....	props
Kho Wong	....	art department coordinator
Rob Yale	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Javier Bennassar	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Eakins	....	adr editor
Jim Gaudio	....	cableman
Alexander James Gross	....	cable person
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor
Robert Jackson	....	adr supervisor
Adam Mohundro	....	playback operator
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
David Obermeyer	....	sound mixer
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound recordist
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Callie Thurman	....	assistant sound editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	boom operator
Mandell Winter	....	dialogue editor

Visual Effects by
Bonnie Kanner	....	visual effects executive producer: Amalgamated Pixels
Roger Mocenigo	....	digital compositor: Amalgamated Pixels
Michael Morreale	....	executive producer: Amalgamated Pixels, Inc.
Phillip Palousek	....	visual effects coordinator
Martha Soehendra	....	digital compositor
Bob Wiatr	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title
Sebastien Betsch	....	digital painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Tobiasz Daszkiewicz	....	stunt double
James Fierro	....	stunt driver
Marie Fink	....	stunt double: Debra Messing & Vanessa Ferlito
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt double: Freddy Rodriguez
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt driver
Natalie M. Meyer	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Arnold	....	rigging grip
Sam Bertone	....	rigging gaffer
Fernando M. Briones	....	key rigging grip
Mark Castelaz	....	gaffer
Jonathan Clark	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Joseph Czerw	....	dolly grip
Jaime Dawkins	....	technocrane technician
Geoffrey Fingerhut	....	grip
Jim Handley	....	best boy grip
Marty Hechinger	....	additional electrician
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer
John Hudecek	....	dolly grip
E.J. Hunterman	....	grip
Michael Kohnhorst	....	director of photography: second unit
Matthew LeCrone	....	additional electrician
Jeremy Long	....	electrician
David 'Louie' Lukasik	....	best boy electric
Darryl Miller	....	grip
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera
Peter Morenz	....	loader
Chris Mulsoff	....	rigging best boy electric
Chris Murray	....	grip
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	Steadicam operator
Kevin Pittman	....	electrician
Keith Pokorski	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Don Powell	....	rigging best boy grip
Elliot Rudmann	....	camera trainee
Chris Ryerson	....	key grip
David Tomita	....	grip
Jerry Tran	....	electrician
Joe 'Jody' Williams	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Mark N. Woods	....	technocrane operator
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video playback engineer
Jay W. Yowler	....	chief lighting technician
Joe Carpita	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sharon D. King	....	casting
Zon M. Pickens-Dumas	....	casting assistant
Michelle Wade	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gretchen Gain	....	assistant costume designer
Vanessa King	....	costumer
Beth Morgan	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer Tillery	....	wardrobe production assistant
Jeannie Vanko	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Akkara Srauy	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Budd Carr	....	music supervisor
Nora Felder	....	music supervisor
Michael J. McEvoy	....	composer: additional music
Michael J. McEvoy	....	music arranger
Michael J. McEvoy	....	music programmer
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor

Other crew
Kwame Amoaku	....	key location assistant
Laurel Beck	....	set production assistant
Adam Berry	....	assistant: John Leguizamo
Kyle Brooks	....	location assistant
Marisia Brown	....	production office intern
Maritza Cabrera	....	stand in: Elizabeth Peña
Harold Caldwell	....	payroll accountant
Jared Ferrie	....	assistant to producer
Liz Goldsmith	....	assistant location manager
Eric Hingst	....	key set production assistant
Holli Hopkins	....	set production assistant
Robert Kreiling	....	production assistant
Robert Labrecque	....	production accountant
Christopher Lane	....	additional set production assistant
Yana Collins Lehman	....	post-production accountant
Ernie Malik	....	unit publicist
Rhys McIntyre	....	set intern
Tom Nicoll	....	assistant: Debra Messing
Margaret J. Orlando	....	production coordinator
Marc Quandt	....	locations assistant
Paul Rathburn	....	chef
Adam Slutsky	....	additional set production assistant
Edy Soto	....	assistant: director
Adrienne Swan	....	first assistant accountant
Margaret A. Thomas	....	production coordinator
Giota Trakas	....	stand-in
Jason Veley	....	assistant: producer
Mono Wilborn	....	location manager
Kameishia Wooten	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• 2DS Productions
• Overture Films
• State Street Pictures

Distributors

• Cathay-Keris Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Overture Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Evolution Entertainment (2009) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Amalgamated Pixels (visual effects)
• LOOK! Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ExtraOrdinary Casting  extras casting
• Hip-O Records  soundtrack
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Wildfire Studios  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Humboldt Park (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some sexual dialogue, and brief drug references.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44680) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

2DS Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: At the store Christmas party, the white liquid in the pitcher changes while being poured.

A good family holiday movie for everyone.

It's a shame that most people probably will skip this film - because it's a good holiday film with a good message behind it. While you have films like Four Christmases out that are the same romcom you've seen 38 times in holiday format, Nothing Like The Holidays brings the audience together as one for a good family experience.

NLTH boasts a great ensemble cast that really makes things work well, as each character is unique and genuinely interesting. I especially enjoyed the work from Freddy Rodriguez and Alfred Molina. Elizabeth Pena provides a great balance of comedy and drama as the matriarch of the family. Her role looked like a great role to play for any actress, as she got to be funny, as well as at the dramatic center of the movie. Debra Messing was also noteworthy and great.

NLTH is a holiday movie (really, Spy, I had no idea), so it plays out as such. However, this is okay, because the script is original and tugs at you emotionally, always reminding the viewer of the importance of a strong family bond. There's a nice little twist in the end that pretty much explains everything that's gone on and ends the movie nicely, happily, and joyfully. You'll no doubt leave the theater a little more cheerful once you see this film.

During the holiday season, Nothing Like The Holidays is a great movie to watch with your family, as you'll see some stuff you can relate to, and some stuff you can laugh at. It's a fun time for everyone, and the first truly original holiday movie to come around in the last few years. Kudos to everyone involved.