User reviews

Look... I love cheesy Christmas movies just as much as the next girl, I really want to like this movie, I mean, come on, Lucas Scott dancing on the stage shirtless. Hello?!! It just missed the mark for me.

There wasn't enough character/ relationship development, and it felt very rushed. I gave it a 5 because of shirtless Chad Michael Murray , though. I would have liked to see her parents and a little more and how they play in to make her want to step in more, the dad didn't say very much the entire movie, the scene where Chad gave her the necklace was a bit cringe and kinda out of left field, felt random.

I'm not sure why people go into these Christmas rom-coms expecting some kind of amazing gripping drama. These are for fun, something light hearted and entertaining, and this was exactly that. Was it corny? Sure, but all these movies are. I actually enjoy corny. The main leads had good chemistry together. I love CMM in everything and Brit Robertson is great as well. I would reccomend this for anyone who enjoys these kind of movies. Also side note: it was so random to see Maxwell Caulfield show up in this (aka Michael from grease 2), but it was really great to see him, he looks great!

Is this movie going to blow you out of the water? No. Is it fun? Yes. Did the main leads have great chemistry together? Yes. Is there a happy ending? Yes. All in all worth a watch!

Watched this purely because Chad Michael Murray was in it but he provides the only believable performance out of everyone involved. I like Britt but this was a terrible performance by her, wooden, she looked like someone had dragged her to the set and forced her to do this movie. There was zero chemistry between the leads which was disappointing as I love a cheesy Christmas movie with a happy ending but I couldn't enjoy the happy ending because the chemistry was not there! This missed the mark alot! Basically abs, abs and more abs, are one of the few good parts of the movie! Think my hopes were too high for this one.

In theory this is a great premise for a movie...however all I could think about was how shocking Ashley's wig was...the colour, the style, the hairline, it was as flat as this film's whole vibe.

I couldn't concentrate on anything else, if the actress had short hair at the time is it too mind blowing for the female lead in a Christmas film to have short hair? I'm so confused. Just have a bob for Christmas, it's fine. They must've had budget for a decent wig, just that styling tucked behind the ear with a bit down in front of the ear to hide the wig line. Awful - just. Awful. Enjoyed the dancing though.

This movie is terribly written. At best that should have been a first draft. Even for the genre it is beyond superficial. No character development; no reason to care for the story nor its characters. No actual connection/chemistry between the characters nor between the actors. I found myself rolling my eyes several times at how bad it was; pausing it many times and wondering if I was going to actually see the entire thing. I did but it is not because I was interested or cared I just tend to want to see things through. I do not recommend even from a "it's a Christmas Hallmark type of movie" point of view. On the other hand Hot Frosty got it right.

Ok this was alot better than I thought. The trailer made it seem like it was going to be a bad movie. But I was wrong. And to be honest I kinda tuned in for just Chad Michael Murray. I have not seen him act since the tv show One Tree Hill. And a movie he did a long time ago back in early 2000's called House of Wax and Freaky Friday. I have not seen him much in anything else. But it did feel good to see him act in a Netflix movie. And he got to dance his hotness out. I really did enjoy a PG hotness of a Christmas story. Something new that isn't the same old story but at the same time keeping it PG.

They writers of this movie missed so many beats and chances that its ridiculous. The plot holes are big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Watch it once for the hit guys and forget about it. Unfortunately this is definitely not worth watching more than once. I wish it were better, but it really required alot more work.

The romance was weak, the basic plot was thin, and the premise that she should leave the three year chance of a lifetime for a one day male stripper gig that will end in a day.

There were so many ways this could have been written to really make this story sing. But they went for the ridiculous ending.

I had high hopes for this movie, but it fell flat. I love CMM, but he is not very good at picking scripts. His Hallmark movies are also hit or miss. He is pretty, though.

Back to the movie:

Cons: Bad writing, bad plot, no romantic buildup, overacting from Britt, that wig, toxic behavior from Luke, random Christmas decorations at Luke's wood workshop (this bugged me for some reason), and no chemistry.

Pro: Half-naked CMM.

Netflix isn't doing it for me this Christmas, and I'm a Christmas movie junkie. Meet Me Next Christmas was just fine; Hot Frosty was not for me, but I can see its charm. This one, however, was at the bottom. I hope Lindsey can save Christmas.

I'd watch Chad in anything lol. I've met him a few times and he's one of the nicest actors I've ever met! He gave me a signed shirt on my 21st birthday in buffalo back in like 2012. Watching him dance in this movie def the best Christmas movie of 2024! Specially them putting Luke as his name made is even better!

His hair was perfect! And the smile is hard to look away from!

I never thought I'd see him dance like that in a movie! This is a must watch! Loved her in tomarrow land. And a dogs purpose.

It's nice to see them both do somehh to big different. Chances are this will be my new watch every year movie!

The ingredients were all there for some cheesy fun for those who like their eggnogs a little spicier. Only if it all wasn't so lazy, lukewarm, and unintentionally odd.

The dude who is endlessly lurking at the bar fixing things; the guy randomly dancing at a diner. The leads both appear to be sporting bad wigs (of varied colors!), always look strangely angry and resentful, and aren't terribly sympathetic.

That didn't add up to a feelgood Christmas romcom - and actually the movie felt more like a parody. The dance numbers were quite fun though - points for that.

On top of that, I resented that once again the woman is expected to give up her lifelong dream (of being a "Jingle Belle", no less) - or else she'd lose the man. Why can't she have both?

This Christmas movie was a real snoozefest, and the predictable plot and lackluster performances made it hard to stay awake. The main characters had zero chemistry, and their forced romance was cringe-worthy to say the least. Additionally, the bare chest of Chad Michael Murray didn't save the day, but quite the opposite. While the holiday setting was festive, it couldn't save this film from being a complete disappointment.

Every year, there are countless Christmas movies with an attempt to bring joy and cheer, but this one missed the mark entirely. If you're looking for a heartwarming or even half way decent Christmas movie, this one isn't worth your time.

All of you reviewers who criticize this movie as being poorly written and having plot holes need to lighten up! Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's cliched, but so what?!?! If you expected more, that's on you. It's entertaining, the actors are gorgeous, the music and dancing are fun, and, honestly, that's probably all they were going for. Reviewing this as if it was intended to compete for Academy Award nominations does it a great disservice. It's a Hallmark-type movie, and IMO it's better than a lot of those I've watched. If you watch the gag reel at the end, you'll see how seriously the cast took it. They had fun and so should you. Just enjoy it for what it is or stop watching silly, romantic Christmas movies!

"The Merry Gentlemen" (2024) is a feel-good Christmas movie that delivers exactly what you'd expect: festive cheer, a dash of romance, and a healthy dose of shirtless men dancing. While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it's a perfectly enjoyable watch for those seeking lighthearted holiday entertainment.

The film follows Ashley, a Broadway dancer who returns home for Christmas after a career setback. Determined to save her parents' struggling nightclub, she comes up with a rather unconventional plan: a male stripper show featuring local talent.

The premise is undeniably cheesy, but the film embraces its silliness with a wink and a smile. The dance sequences are surprisingly well-choreographed, offering a touch of "Magic Mike" magic to the holiday season. The film's humor is lighthearted and occasionally even laugh-out-loud funny.

The romance between Ashley and Luke, the charming carpenter who joins the dance troupe, is predictable but sweet. The chemistry between the leads is decent, and their relationship adds a heartwarming element to the festive storyline.

While the plot is predictable and the characters are somewhat one-dimensional, "The Merry Gentlemen" is a perfectly enjoyable holiday romp. It's a lighthearted and entertaining film that will leave you with a smile on your face and a touch of Christmas cheer.

6.7 stars.

Honestly, it's the actors that kept me around for this one. First of all, I like both of the lead actors, I think they have a screen presence that really bursts. The elderly parents are well known actors too. But this narrative is weak.

You have a bunch of guys who apparently don't know how to dance, and then they become quasi strippers, in a rundown mom and pop restaurant/bar/club.

I don't know what to make of the narrative because it's somewhat unorthodox.

The lead actress's character is a Broadway dancer for about 10 years or so, and then she gets canned. But she looks like she's 28, which speaks volumes of the fickleness of the theater crowd. And then you have male lead, Luke the handyman, who helps her parents keep their bar operating.

Lead female comes home from the city because she's no longer employed, and figures she can create a male dance routine to regenerate and bring customers back into this failing business.

The dance routines are average, with a couple of real dancers, and a couple of guys who don't really know how to dance, and it just comes together in a flimsy way that fails to entertain.

But I keep watching, because I really like the two lead actors, and I would probably be suckered into viewing anything they are in anyway. Kudos to the casting it's the only thing that kept this charade going.

Frankly, leave this to Hallmark, because they know Christmas movies. I know why Hallmark wouldn't touch it; it's because the dancing was stripper adjacent.

Ok, so come on, no one's expecting this to be Citizen Kane. I thought for a Christmas rom-com it was top notch! It also turned a lot of the Hallmark type tropes on their head. Lots of steamy, shirtless fun. There were a lot of funny moments in this film, and it was shot really well, it looked like a real movie (if that makes sense). The performances (especially Murray from ONE TREE HILL!) were really strong. I did believe that they liked each other irl, they had chemistry. The music outlined the romance really well. And the dance numbers hit soo hard! It was really nice to see "Rex Manning" in another movie! If ya know, ya know. And the dad from family ties. It came up on Netflix today, I took a chance and I enjoyed it.

The storyline was just horrible.. made no sense..!!! Would of made more sense if he was already a struggling dancer and that the group was horrible then she arrived and help them become better and at the same time save her parent bar! But NOT a carpenter a person she never meet before has no connection to become a sexy dancer with 4 other man that she as never meet but 1 her brother in law... to save her parent bar! I watch the movie because I love these actor but some where not very good. Would not suggest the movie to anyone. Very disappointed I love cutie movie but these was no one of them.