Here we are at the liturgical end of the Christmas season, at least by the standards of the Catholic Church.  Since I have been watching these movies for a while, I am ready for something different.  I saved A Sudden Case of Christmas (2024) for last for a few reasons, mainly because it speaks to something that is often spoken of only by priests in their homilies this time of year.  The fact is that it does not matter what day the calendar says it is, Christmas is something that can be celebrated whenever.  That is literally what takes place here, with the day being observed in August, but the Holiday is about the birth of Our Savior.  This can be accomplished whenever He is needed, making every day, indeed any moment, the potential for a Christmas if nowhere else than in our hearts.  It can be felt by those around us, particularly our families, which is also at the heart of today’s film.  Finally, unlike so much of what I have viewed for the better part of six weeks, it had me guessing as to its ultimate conclusion.  Throw in a couple overt references to Catholicism, and you have the makings of a decent conclusion to my seasonal run.

Because it is the season of summer, Claire (Antonella Rose) does not have A Sudden Case of Christmas.  Though it is unusual for her parents, Abbie (Lucy DeVito) and Jacob (Wilmer Valderrama), to bring their family to Italy this time of year, the young girl is excited nonetheless.  The reason for her enthusiasm is because Claire gets to visit her grandfather, Lawrence (Danny DeVito), who owns a hotel in the Italian Alps.  Their typical period to visit is during the Holidays.  Despite her happiness, Claire can tell there is something amiss.  While she runs to meet her winter “boyfriend,” in quotes because she is ten, Abbie and Jacob sit down with Lawrence to tell Abbie’s father that they are separating.  They have made this off-schedule trip in order to give their daughter a safe place to share their bad news, and they ask Lawrence to help.  That night after dinner, Lawrence tries to tell Claire the news, but she has already guessed.  This is confirmed when Lawrence brings in Abbie and Jacob.  Claire’s thoughts immediately go to the fact that they might never have another Christmas in a place so dear to her.  Upon locating the seasonal decorations in the cellar, she requests that since it is likely they will never again get this opportunity, they have a full Christmas now.  Abbie and Jacob do not think this is a good idea, but Lawrence insists.  Equally insistent is Claire on having everything that normally comes with the Yuletide celebration.  This means getting Jacob’s parents, Mark (José Zúñiga) and Rose (Andie MacDowell), to cross the Atlantic and spend the next few days at Lawrence’s establishment.  As they arrive, Mark and Rose are discussing what they already believe will be a tense situation, but they are about to find out it will be much worse.  At their first meal at the resort, Mark is walking into the dining room when he spots Claudia (Valeria Cavalli).  He had a one-night stand with her at this same lodging, but had never revealed the affair to Rose.  Hence, following disguising himself in order to get to the table, he feigns sickness for most of the trip in order to avoid pumping into Claudia.  Perhaps predictably, Claudia ends up doing most of the activities with Rose, including some steamy archery lessons with a hunk of a local instructor (Mario de la Rosa).  As they are in each other’s presence, Claudia explains that she has been coming back to the inn every year for the past ten years hoping to once again see Mark.  Rose does not know Claudia is talking about her husband, instead seeing it as romantic.  It is romance that is missing from not only Mark and Rose’s marriage, but also Abbie and Jacob’s relationship.  Abbie is a hard-working lawyer, and ever since Jacob had lost his job, he has had a sense of inadequacy.  It also does not help that he believes there is an affair going on between his wife and her boss, Phil (Roderick Hill).  The fact that they had engaged in some extra-marital activity has widened the chasm, though it is apparently not as serious as Mark’s infidelity and Jacob is aware of it.  Mark compounds the problem by continuing to lie.  Abbie and Jacob’s situation does not get any better either, especially when during a hot-air ballooning mishap, he prematurely bails from the basket, leaving Abbie and the rest to float off without him.  It all comes to a head on what they all refer to as Christmas Eve, which involves them going into town to meet Santa Claus.  It is Mark who is playing that role.  Despite being in disguise, he can no longer stand the charade and reveals himself to Claudia, who has tagged along.  While things go from bad to worse for Mark and Rose, things improve for Abbie and Jacob.  While they are looking for Claire’s lost puppy, Lawrence pulls Abbie aside and talks some sense into his daughter.  Abbie then gets separated with Jacob from the rest, and apologizes for her behavior.  Because Claire has yet to hear of this, she is still shaken from the collapse of relations in the village.  Back at the hotel, she needs some time alone while the adults begin the Christmas dinner.  She uses that time to find her missing puppy.  Upon returning, she is greeted by everyone, but with some updates to relationship statuses, if you will.  Mom and dad are staying together, but Mark and Rose are going to separate.  No matter what, though, they promise to gather at Lawrence’s for actual Christmas.

As alluded to in the introduction, who says it has to be December for there to be A Sudden Case of Christmas?  Christmas in August may be a little different.  When we think of an alternative month for the Holiday, it is usually July.  I have never understood that concept, even if I have already mentioned that Christmas can be celebrated in our hearts no matter the time of year.  The idea of Christmas in July has always struck me as a commercial stunt, even if I have never received a present at that time of year.  What the movie underscores about the season, and it fits well with a Catholic interpretation of the film, is the centrality of family.  On a sort of half Advent calendar, half dollhouse contraption, the phrase “As long as there’s love, there’s Christmas” is written on the front.  In thinking about this idea, my mind went to the Holy Family.  When we see a Nativity scene, it is a still life of a moment in time where peace and light entered the world in the form of the Messiah, Jesus.  Yet, there is Matthew 1:18-19 to consider: “(18) Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. (19) Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.”  What convinces Joseph to change his mind is a visit from that same Holy Spirit, who tells him to take Mary into his household.  In other words, to listen to God’s calling.  There are no visits from the Holy Spirit in the film, unfortunately, and there is the sad end to Mark and Rose’s marriage.  However, the saying on the dollhouse proves true with Abbie and Jacob mending their ways.  Importantly, from a Catholic perspective, Abbie gets advice not only from Lawrence, but from a priest.

The fact that there is a priest in A Sudden Case of Christmas does not make it a specifically Catholic movie, but it does not hurt for this reviewer.  I can rail against what happens between Mark and Rose, but this is what some critics might call an “honest” look at relationships.  Either way, it is one of the best I saw this year, and hopefully next year will see more like it.  Merry Christmas!