'How the Gringo Stole Christmas' Review: Could Have Been Better, But Also Could Have Been Way Worse
Rom-com films could be divided into a lot of sub-genres, and the “fish out of water during the holidays” is one of the best-known. From The Family Stone to Guess Who to Happiest Season, these films are to rom-coms what buddy cop movies are to action flicks. The filmmakers of How the Gringo Stole Christmas have clearly done their homework, because this film fits right in with the aforementioned ones.
Bennie (George Lopez) is determined to bring his daughter Claudia (Emily Tosta) back home to Los Angeles for Christmas. Much to his surprise, she brings home a white boyfriend called Leif (Jack Kilmer). Leif has a successful career in video games, he is sensitive, and he is eager to leave a good impression on his girlfriend’s family. Thus, Leif is introduced to Bennie as well as the rest of the family: Claudia’s mother Gabbi (Mariana Trevino), her aunt Carmen (Romy Peniche), and her grandmother Tita (Alma Martinez). Rounding out the cast is Javier (Anthony Zuniga), an old friend of Claudia’s, and three local guys (Francisco Carrillo, Jairo Orozco, and Justice Alexander) who serve as the movie’s Greek chorus and the movie’s Three Stooges.
The story is a simple one; the family welcomes home their daughter and have mixed reactions to the new boyfriend. The new boyfriend tries to fit in, but he’s clumsy at best, ignorant and insecure at worst. There’s friction between him and the over-protective patriarch. There’s the culture clashes which occasionally lead to wacky hijinks. Anyone who has seen enough rom-coms will probably be able to predict exactly where the story is going. Of course the father is having trouble with seeing his little girl as a grown woman with her dream job out on the east coast. Of course the mom is the glue which keeps the family together, connecting to everyone and helping her husband to be more open-minded. Of course there are misunderstandings which lead to yet more wacky hijinks.
Sadly, this film’s commitment to formula is where it falls flattest. The third act feels too much of a retread of the rom-com playbook. While many rom-com fans will be more forgiving of that formula, I thought the commitment came at the expense of the film’s strengths. It could have been a film which was allowed to breathe and be more of a slice-of-life story, like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but instead it’s hampered by the need to check off trope boxes one after the other.
That said, this is not a film without its charm or its heart. Kilmer and Tosta have genuine chemistry as the film’s couple, and one will absolutely root for them. Similarly, Lopez and Trevino do a wonderful job acting off each other, both in comedic and dramatic moments. Lopez also has some hilarious interactions with the three guys who seem to spend their days lounging in front of the house. Peniche is having a ball as the fun-loving cougar. Quite a few moments in the film feel like the actors had a chance to improvise and have some fun. These make for some of the best moments in the film. There is also the rare occasion where a trope is subverted. There’s a couple of scenes like that which play with the cliches. There is even a measure of depth added to Lopez’ character when he explains his love for Christmas, and another when he points out his fear that Latin-American culture is being absorbed and abandoned by the younger generation. And truthfully, this film was smart enough to avoid falling into much bigger pitfalls that plague certain rom-coms. Nobody comes off as a truly malevolent person, the couple have a healthy relationship, and the family dog isn’t humping anyone’s leg.
At the end of the day, this film will live or die by your tolerance for the rom-com genre. Some will roll their eyes and bemoan the film for refusing to give up tired stereotypes, while others will enjoy the familiarity of this film and appreciate the flashes of originality. It’s certainly worth giving a try if you fall in the latter category, especially around Christmas.