Matthew Roth’s review published on Letterboxd:
I don’t think I did a proper review for this movie when it came out initially. Maybe I didn’t have anything to say or just didn’t care to. But now I do have something to say and that’s this is a modern Christmas classic. The story of a strict history teacher who’s forced to watch over a troubled but smart college kid along with a black cook is melancholic but you can also find moments of warmth and comfort in it too. It perfectly captures the 1970s era well with its opening logos, the credits, the clothing and classic TV shows, the classic rated R screen and even the scratches, tears, and color grading. This group of people you follow don’t want to be together but once they get to know each other, I feel like we also get to know them better and accept them as family. The acting is really solid from Paul Giamatti using literary words as quips and sly comments. Da’vine Joy Randolph captures the mother who lost her son in Vietnam with passion and sadness that won her her Oscar, but the one that no one compliments more often is Dominic Sessa. This was his first acting role? Man, he was a born talent right from the get go. Can’t wait to see his future in acting. This is a certified Christmas classic that may have some pacing issues here and there but one you and others can watch during the holidays year after year.
