It would be foolish of me to expect a masterpiece from a film like "A Merry Little Ex-Max," considering it has all the hallmarks of a Hallmark Christmas movie: a generic but enjoyable plot, a couple of familiar faces in the cast, and an aesthetic that takes few risks but effectively captures the most superficial aspects of American holidays.
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I don't mean this disparagingly; it's just that every now and then it's fun to give a chance to a film that doesn't aim for more than a few moments of fun and Christmas warmth, even if we forget it a couple of hours later.
Starring Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson, "A Merry Little Ex-Max" follows Kate and Everett, a couple who started their family in a small rural town in the United States and who, after a series of misunderstandings and irreconcilable differences, decide to divorce amicably.
Although Kate and Everett are no longer husband and wife, they've decided that the best thing for their children and their families is to spend Christmas together, making the transition easier. However, things take a turn for the worse when Kate discovers that Everett has met another woman, and, considering they've been separated for several months, she thinks this is the perfect opportunity to introduce her and try to bridge the gap between their old and new lives.
I don't need to explain much more, do I?
Directed by Steve Carr, A Merry Little Ex-Max is one of those typical stories where two people who don't seem to get along are forced by circumstances to connect.
Beyond the predictable and generic nature of its plot, we're presented with a succession of amusing sequences, and if we don't waste energy questioning the logic and reasoning of its characters, we can enjoy it all without a problem.
Aesthetically, it's well done, and the script captures the frustrations of a middle-class mother who ends up trapped in a small town with the love of her life.
While I prefer the Christmas nostalgia that films like Home Alone or the animated beauty of Klaus bring me, A Merry Little Ex-Max is a solid comedy, perfect for killing some time on a boring Sunday in December.
This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.
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