By Danielle Cherry
In this comedic Christmas movie, the Jonas Brothers portray themselves in their struggle to get home for Christmas. Through all the singing and hijinks, the brothers’ biggest obstacle is themselves and the bond that seems to be disappearing before their eyes.
Throughout the film, each brother struggles with some level of self-doubt, each stemming from popular internet knowledge. Nick is the uptight brother, Joe is the womanizer, and Kevin just wants to sing a lead.
Comedy is hardly a word to describe the laughter this movie brings; each joke is intentional in bringing out the humor of the actors.
One moment of particular hilarity was a reference to Nick Jonas’ candle brand: Nick Wick Candles (something I didn’t know existed till this movie). Instead of running with the jokes that could come from a preexisting candle brand, the writers took the joke a step further, pretending Nick was unsuccessful in creating a candle brand while his brother Joe made a multimillion-dollar brand called “Glow by Joe.”
What made this movie iconic was that the comedy extended beyond the screen. Cameos of actors like Andrew Barth Feldman, who played Evan Hansen on Broadway, and KJ Apa, known for his heartthrob role as Archie in Riverdale, elevated the irony level beyond any comedy movie I have ever seen.
Feldman’s ironic moment was his inability to sing high notes. In the song “Home Alone,” which is now on repeat on my playlist, both Feldman and Nick Jonas progressively hit higher and higher notes, ending with Feldman being unable to hit the iconic note he is known for hitting in Dear Evan Hansen. Moments like this offset their lack of emotion with brilliant comedic timing and pacing.
“A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” has a basic plotline that falls short in emotional depth and tension. Between the short runtime and unoriginal writing, the cast had little to work with to save the movie. Because of the drab plotline, the movie leaned heavily into comedy, attempting to bolster the lack of tension with some well-timed laughs.
The Jonas brothers are excellent singers, something I rediscovered after some particularly incredible bangers in this movie. But that is all they are, singers and performers – not actors. Besides the show “The Jonas Brothers,” the siblings have little acting experience, with the exception of Nick Jonas who has been picked up in bigger projects like “Jumanji” and “Chaos Walking.” Even still, the brothers have no idea how to act, relying heavily on their chemistry with each other, which is oddly awkward and feels forced.
While the brothers were playing themselves, there were some awkward moments interacting with other characters, especially those who were not family. Their poor acting coalesced in their musical numbers, where their lip-syncing was terribly off from their recorded singing voice.
With that said, this movie is not going to win an Oscar, or really any awards – but it did win my heart. Long-time fans of the Jonas brothers will enjoy the snarky references made in this film to moments of their personal lives and performances.
While the plotline was basic, every joke falls into both high or low comedy, entertaining old and young people equally. Even a countdown-to-Christmas timer that would appear on-screen was comedic. The random set pieces and costuming elevated funny internet references and comeback jokes.
“A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” also serves as a timeline of the brothers’ careers. In the sentimental song “Remember When” home video clips of the Jonas brothers as young boys play, making this movie not only a joyful adventure but also a beautiful moment of remembering family and friends.
Entertainment was certainly the top priority, but the theme of family and love that extends beyond flaws was greater. What made this movie truly beautiful was how each of the Jonas brothers’ real-life families played a role. Despite recent controversy over Joe Jonas’ failed relationship, his story arc gives him the opportunity to pursue new love in the face of heartbreak.
Since this is a Jonas Brothers movie, it’s only right that the movie would give fans some new bangers to play on repeat. The brothers’ vocal harmonies (minus Kevin, who never sings) do not disappoint, especially in “Coming Home for Christmas” and “Feel Something,” which will have fans running to add these songs to their playlist.
Even though this movie had poor acting and barely a plotline to follow, it makes up for it in its hilarious jokes that had me laughing even after the movie was over. For the first time in my life, I found myself rewinding the movie as soon as it was finished, going right back to those hysterical moments.
Whether you call yourself a fan, are curious who the Jonas brothers are, or want a new Christmas movie, there is something here for you. For me, I found two things: a movie that captures my sense of humor and my new favorite Christmas song, “Coming Home for Christmas.”
Images Courtesy of 20th Century Television.
Danielle Cherry is a sophomore communication major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves to travel, play volleyball and has found her new obsession in listening to “Coming Home for Christmas” on repeat.
“A Very Jonas Christmas movie” is currently streaming on Disney+
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