The Merry Gentlemen (2024 Netflix)
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Cast: Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick
Director: Peter Sullivan
Writer(s): Marla Sokoloff, Peter Sullivan, Jeffrey Schenck
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Netflix)
To save her parents’ small-town nightclub, a Broadway dancer stages an all-male, Christmas-themed revue — and meets a guy with all the right moves.
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below or @lifetimeuncorked
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie starts at the THEATER! Ashley, Britt Robertson, is a Rockett-esqe Dancer. She isn’t the best and even stumbles slightly onstage when she breaks a heel. Meredith Thomas, Lifetime KWEEN, plays the show’s choreographer, and she fired Ashley because the show needs a refresh. (AKA, Ashley is too old to be a professional dancer.) Ashely goes home to veg out and watch A Christmas Prince when she gets a call from her mother, Beth Broderick?!?!? (How many icons can we have in one movie?!?!) Beth Broderick tells Ashley that they are planning a trip to visit and see the show, but since Ashley isn’t in it anymore, she tells them she will come home for Christmas.
Once home, Ashey knocks over Chad Michael Murray decorating on a ladder. He plays Luke, the maintenance man for her family’s bar. The Rhythm Room has seen better days and doesn’t draw the crowds or musical talent it used to.
Ashley’s sister Marie (played by Marla Sokoloff!?!? Stop with the icons!) runs the town diner to keep the traditions of the town alive. Ashley and her husband, Roger, are too busy with work to take Ashley home, and they ask Luke to give her a ride. (Later, Marie randomly tells Ashley she used to date a stripper who danced as a doctor! It is so random!) Luke thinks Ashley is a big-city diva who thinks she is too good for their small town. Ashley sets him straight and tells him that she is on an indefinite hiatus from Broadway.
Back at the bar, Ashley walks in on Luke fixing a sink shirtless and thinks he is naked. (I wish!) The Landlady shows up and tells Ashley her parents are behind on rent and only have enough money to keep the place open for six months. She will need to evict them. Ashley suggests a new act, and the Landlady laughs and says they need a doctor. Ashley remembers the conversation with her sister about the stripper doctor, and an idea is born. Ashley pitches the idea on the spot and says Luke is the star. The Landlady is into it. (I wish she was a bit more horney tho.)
Luke reluctantly agrees to help, and they recruit the bartender, Troy, and Marie’s husband, Roger, to round out the impromptu cast. There is a training montage, and Ashley teaches Luke to slow down the romantic dance for some reason.
It is thankfully opening night ALREADY! Bring on the shirtless hunks.
The show gets off to a rocky start when Luke gets stage fright so bad beforehand. They don construction vests and hard hats and dance to a disco version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” It wins over the crowd, and the bartender is JACKED. The club makes the most money it has in years. Luke, Troy, and Roger thank Ashley for pulling the show together, and they are on a post-show high.
Since this is a Christmas movie, Luke brings Ashley to talk to Santa and makes her sit on his lap and tell him what she wants for Christmas. Ashley realizes that she doesn’t just want to be a performer; she wants to produce shows and direct.
Show tickets aren’t going to cut it to raise the amount of money they need to save the Rhythm room. They also make a Christmas Yule Log to sell at the bar too! They get a write-up in the town paper, and it is time to up their game. Ashley asks the town cabbie to join the guys on stage. He adds some legit flips and splits to the routine.
We get a different theme every night. There is 80’s Night, Cowboy, Cabert, and more! When Roger slips on some ice, the local barfly fills in. He spends all his time at the bar and knows all the routines.
Chad Michael Murray isn’t shirtless the whole movie; he works in the barn doing wooden Christmas crafts. Ashley brings him some lunch, and they end up slow dancing and kissing. Thus complicating their dancer/director relationship.
Ashley gets a call from her Broadway choreographer, who needs her to return immediately. The job would be a three-year contract and a 25% pay increase. Ashley jumps at the opportunity until she learns she has to miss Christmas with her family. Ashley’s parents tell her to go, reassuring her they have things covered.
Ashley breaks the news to the boys, and they are so sad and so shirtless. Luke tells Ashley he is starting to fall for her and passively thanks her for showing her true colors to him. (Damn!) The men argue in rehearsal and aren’t as cohesive without a leader.
The Christmas Eve show is hip-hop-themed! It includes break-dancing.
Meanwhile, Ashley is stuck in traffic, and the song she slowly danced to with Luke comes on the radio. She has a change of heart and comes back just in time to see Chad Michael Murray hump the floor. She apologizes for not talking to Luke first and tells him she wants to stay and be with him. They kiss and make up.
On Christmas day, the dancers and family have dinner at the table Luke made. Ashley announces they hit their targeted goal, and the bar is saved! The Landlady apologizes to Ashley and tells her she is impressed with the turnaround. She joins everyone for dinner and is all on board with the bar, staying a tenant.
Luke and Ashley makeout some more. The end!
Side Note/Stray Observations
I respect Chad Michael Murray‘s chest hair.
Hector David Jr. dusted off those Green Power Ranger Skills
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Overall rating
Pour it Up!
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Tree)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷 (2 glasses of wine.)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
*Photo Credit: © 2024 Netflix
