The Merry Gentlemen delivers an undercooked Christmas movie that struggles to make sense of itself and the humor falls flat. While Netflix is known for producing new movies and shows at a break-neck speed, it’s fair to say that a lot of them feel well-thought-out and executed. The same can’t be said for The Merry Gentlemen, which follows in the footsteps of hollow Hallmark Christmas movies that fail to tell a cohesive or engaging story.

A former big-city dancer returns to her hometown to save her parents’ struggling performance venue by organizing an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.Director Peter Sullivan Release Date November 20, 2024 Writers marla sokoloff Cast Britt Robertson , Chad Michael Murray , marla sokoloff , Beth Broderick , Michael Gross , Maxwell Caulfield , Hector David Jr. , Colt Prattes , Marc Anthony Samuel

When Ashley (Britt Robertson) gets cut from a big Broadway performance just before Christmas, she returns to her hometown where she learns her family has been struggling to keep their local performing venue afloat. To help raise the funds needed to save the family business, Ashley recruits some handsome local boys to participate in a steamy shirtless show. However, Ashley also finds a deeper connection with one of these men, played by the former TV teenage heartthrob Chad Michael Murray.

The Merry Gentlemen Is Barely A Christmas Movie

Christmas movies typically tell a hopeful and heartfelt story that revolves around the holiday. Santa, presents, the Christmas spirit, and hope all serve as central themes, but with just a few minor tweaks, The Merry Gentlemen doesn’t have anything that makes it a Christmas movie. Ashley is intended to be the hero who returns home and helps save her family from financial misfortune, but the character is deeply unlikable.

The Merry Gentlemen
doesn’t have anything that makes it a Christmas movie.

Her career on Broadway kept her busy, but despite endless love and support from her family, Ashley never thought about these people until she came home and saw the struggles they faced. And even then, she is more interested in fulfilling her personal goals to be involved with performing rather than actually helping to save her family’s business. The movie could have been set at any time of year and could have gotten away with being a low-budget small-town Magic Mike show.

As it stands, The Merry Gentlemen does not feel like a holiday movie, and it doesn’t have enough meat on the bone of the story to be all that interesting. Even the comedy elements fall flat, with forced moments that are more corny than comical. From the lack of any interesting developments to the predictable plot, the Netflix movie struggles at every point. It’s a Christmas movie that is not worthy of its title.

The Minor Bright Spots Of The Merry Gentlemen

The story lacks depth or creativity, and the comedy is undercooked, but if you want a mindless Christmas movie with a vague Christmas-adjacent plot and some shirtless gyrating guys, then this movie is not the worst choice. For all the flaws and everything the movie lacks, it’s a cheesy and goofy Christmas movie, and for whatever reason, that feels like it fits into some kind of brief.

The Merry Gentlemen
certainly won’t be winning any awards, but it’s inoffensive and light.

Just as the season lends itself to corny jokes and pushing through the rough patches, Christmas movies have a lower bar in general. The predictable plots provide some sense of comfort and it’s fun to watch films that have everyone critiquing and groaning together. The Merry Gentlemen certainly won’t be winning any awards, but it’s inoffensive and light.

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It’s a movie that fits into the season of binge-watching and filling up on holiday food. For fans of Murray’s career, The Merry Gentlemen gives the actor another chance to shine in an otherwise unremarkable movie. His accent and role as a country boy who breaks out of his comfort zone to support a staple of the community evokes a spirit of unity and charity that is indicative of the holiday spirit and is the only real bright spot in the film.

The Merry Gentlemen will be available to stream on Netflix from November 20.

ProsChad Michael Murray stands out as the best part of the film. ConsThe narrative feels hollow and could easily be placed at any time of year.The main character is unlikable and selfish, but the movie acts as if she’s a saint.