As a cynical and jaded viewer who has watched more than my fair share of Hallmark holiday films, I must say that The Merry Gentlemen is a prime example of why these movies often get such a bad rap. This film feels like it was written by someone who has never left their small town and only knows about big cities from watching reruns of Gilmore Girls.
When Netflix presents its collection of holiday flicks once more, the movie “The Merry Gentlemen” falters by leaning too heavily on familiar Hallmark tropes. In essence, it feels like any standard Hallmark Christmas movie, since its narrative follows a woman departing from New York City to revisit her countryside home, where she encounters a local man, falls for him, and decides to stay in the town. Notably, the film’s female protagonist, Ashley, hails from this very town, while her romantic interest, Luke, is supposedly from the city. However, these details do little to set the movie apart, as it persists in portraying Luke as a small-town man.
In a manner reminiscent of a typical Hallmark movie, The Merry Gentlemen is predictable to the point of inducing boredom in viewers. The main issue lies in its reluctance to venture beyond the ordinary, even when presented with opportunities for an unconventional conclusion. As expected, Ashley decides to stay in her quaint hometown with Luke instead of returning to a career that has been terminated, despite having the job offer rescinded. However, this movie missed a chance to explore more creative avenues with its storylines.
After being dismissed from the Jingle Bells production and learning that The Rhythm Room, her family’s business, is about to close for good, Ashley comes up with an unconventional plan to save the bar. This idea arises following a discussion with her sister. She gathers Luke, along with other local men who support keeping the Rhythm Room open, to organize a male revue or strip show. However, this part of the movie seems inconsistent because Ashley is portrayed as having lived and worked in New York City for years, yet she suddenly appears to have given up on her dance career after just one Christmas show. Given Ashley’s supposed dancing talent, it’s hard to understand why the film presents her career as if it started and ended with that annual performance. One might wonder if Ashley ever secured other dancing roles in various performances.
As a gamer, I can’t help but feel disappointed that Ashley’s passion for choreography, which seemed like the driving force behind her decision to stay in town, never truly developed into a concrete career path. Even though it’s clear she adores dancing, the movie doesn’t explore the idea of her opening a dance studio locally or even hint at the possibility of it becoming a profession for her. This seems like a significant oversight in The Merry Gentlemen that could have added depth to Ashley’s character and storyline.
Instead, “The Merry Gentlemen” errs by prioritizing the burgeoning romance between Ashley and Luke excessively, while underdeveloping Ashley’s relationships with the male dancers who come to aid her struggling family business. Unfortunately, Luke lacks depth in his characterization. By failing to provide ample time for Ashley to connect with other characters, emotional strife among the group feels insincere. Considering the limited interactions initially shown, it’s hard to feel invested in watching the group disintegrate. Essentially, if we don’t witness their bonding moments, why should we care about their eventual falling out?
Instead of developing Ashley’s narrative around her discovery of her love for choreography and her commitment to her family and friends, The Merry Gentlemen prioritizes the tiresome and redundant aspect of focusing on their romantic entanglement. This becomes challenging to accept, considering that Ashley and Luke had only known each other for a month when she moved to town and at the end of the film. While there may be an initial attraction between them, it seems questionable whether their relationship is strong enough for Ashley to abandon her dream career in New York City. The Merry Gentlemen presents numerous alternatives that would have justified Ashley’s decision to stay, making Luke’s influence on her choice seem inconsequential. This portrayal of Ashley’s storyline as more about falling in love with a man rather than her personal growth feels disproportionate. Luke could have been an essential part of Ashley’s happiness without overshadowing the other aspects of her life, especially since The Merry Gentlemen earlier emphasizes that a woman doesn’t need a man to be content.
In a more simplified manner, the film The Merry Gentlemen could have skillfully blended Ashley’s self-discovery journey and her falling in love with Luke. Regrettably, the ending of the movie prioritized romance over individuality, pushing Ashley to adjust her life for Luke instead of exploring if Luke would be open to accompanying Ashley to pursue her dreams. This portrayal unfairly placed guilt on Ashley for leaving Luke behind when he was reluctant to travel with her, which felt harmful both to the characters and the plotline. Despite its intention to be an enjoyable Christmas movie, The Merry Gentlemen lacks substantial depth.
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2024-11-28 20:15