Alexandra Leclère returns with her festive comedy, The Christmas Balls, featuring Valérie Bonneton and Kad Merad. The film follows Nathalie and Antonin, who face a chaotic Christmas Eve, made more complicated by the arrival of Nathalie’s estranged sister. While early reviews yield an average rating of 2.2 stars, opinions are mixed, with some praising the cast’s performances and bold humor, while others criticize the predictable storyline and awkward gags.
Director Alexandra Leclère Returns with The Christmas Balls
After a four-year hiatus following the comedy My Very Dear Children featuring Josiane Balasko and Didier Bourdon, director Alexandra Leclère makes her return with a new festive film titled The Christmas Balls. This light-hearted comedy stars a talented cast including Valérie Bonneton, Kad Merad, Noémie Lvovsky, and Rosa Bursztein.
A Holiday Family Nightmare
For Nathalie (played by Bonneton) and Antonin (Merad), Christmas Eve is a yearly ordeal. Believing they are cursed, Nathalie decides to forgo the holiday celebrations this year. However, Antonin and the kids have other plans as they invite Nicole (Lvovsky), Nathalie’s estranged sister. Will they manage to break the cycle of disaster this time around?
Early viewers have shared their thoughts on The Christmas Balls, resulting in an average rating of 2.2 stars out of 5, based on 44 ratings and 15 reviews. While some find it entertaining, others feel the humor falls flat.
Mixed Reactions: Bold Humor vs. Awkward Gags
Many viewers have praised the performances of the cast, particularly Valérie Bonneton. About 25% of comments highlight the film’s entertaining qualities, such as S PBC who remarked, “Very good comedy film, the gags keep coming, there is no downtime. I really had fun, kudos to the actors.”
Julien Di described The Christmas Balls as “A hilarious film that provides a great chance to poke fun at Christmas and its clichés. It’s the bold humor we like!” However, Jean-Pierre Gallou cautions that it’s not suitable for younger audiences: “Very good film, but don’t take children who still believe in Santa Claus. The acting was excellent, and we had a great time.”
On the other hand, some viewers found the humor to be clumsy and the storyline too predictable. Hélène S commented, “The actors are perfect, but many of the gags feel heavy or lack follow-through. One even misses the mark entirely.” Shawn777 echoed similar sentiments, noting, “The humor is dark and absurd, but the film never fully commits to satire, leading to moments of awkwardness and predictability.”
Dirty Sale expressed disappointment, stating, “This type of humor, focused on bodily functions, left me feeling uncomfortable. Predictable gags could work with a solid foundation, but here, everything feels flat and caricatured. It resembles a French version of Scary Movie for the holidays—one of the worst films I’ve seen this year.”
Final Thoughts
The Christmas Balls presents a holiday comedy that may resonate with fans of Valérie Bonneton and those who enjoy bold humor. However, its cliché storyline and some heavy-handed jokes appear to be drawbacks according to initial reviews.
Catch The Christmas Balls in theaters and don’t forget to share your thoughts after viewing!