Christmas: But With Family Drama
Ah, the holiday season. The season when Latinos across the U.S. infuse a touch of culture and tradition into the festivities, ready or not! Jose Feliciano on the radio and everyone assuring us that their grandmothers’ tamales are the best in the universe. For my better half, Melissa, the countdown to my birthday means one thing: Christmas movies.
You know, those classic Christmas movies that invade TV screens every December. She watches one every day, without fail. Some are charming, others make you question your masculinity-especially the cheesy ones. So, when she asked me if I had a Christmas movie in mind, I confidently replied, “I have the perfect Christmas movie.” His face fell. “Christmas, but with family drama,” I thought to myself. I probably didn’t expect Warriorbut the MMA movie with Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte, and that’s exactly what I offered him!
“Warrior”-Why Would You Need a Traditional Christmas Movie?
To say I was skeptical would be an understatement. When I casually suggested Warrior-yes, the MMA movie-Melissa’s face said it all. “Is it a fight movie?” she asked, horrified that I had strayed from the typical Hallmark-style Christmas movie that usually graces our screen in December. “Please don’t let it be some weird zombie comedy,” she pleaded. But I didn’t relent. This movie, while far from festive, has everything a dysfunctional family could want: drama, regrets, and more emotional baggage than an entire season of holiday dinners. Forget the typical holiday spirit-this was a movie about fighting with your fists and, more importantly, your past.
A Family Drama That Hits You Right in the Heart
What I didn’t tell Melissa-because where’s the fun in spoiling the surprise?-is that Warrior is far from your average action movie. Yes, there are MMA fights, but it’s not really about the punches. The real battle is the one fought inside a family torn apart by past grudges and broken dreams. Watching the interaction of these characters was strangely familiar, as if I was watching a reflection of some family Christmases past. The drama, raw emotion and regret-especially at this time of year-felt like a punch to the gut. Trust me, if you want a movie that will make an entire room cry while at the same time making you question your life choices, Warrior is your ideal Christmas movie. It may not have reindeer, but it has heartbreak to spare. So, Merry Christmas… I guess!
