Director Tyler Taormina strings together a picture that seems to be 80% composed of establishing shots of tinsel and festive tat, punctuated by micro non-events and meandering conversations. It's almost radical in its banality, capturing rather effectively the overstuffed inertia of a family Christmas and the simmering generational tensions.
Taormina's all vibes, no story approach tests the patience. It isn't entirely without merit, and the director certainly has a distinctive voice.
I can't help but wonder if some of the attention lavished on this film, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year, might be thanks to the presence of a Scorsese and a Spielberg in the supporting cast.
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