“The Merry Gentlemen” is a Netflix romantic comedy starring Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray. It is directed by Peter Sullivan.
Today, Netflix adds another romantic comedy to its lineup, this time making a significant contribution to the field of philosophy (disclaimer: we’re being ironic): it brings us a group of handsome men performing striptease acts.
Don’t expect anything that would offend the most traditional families: “The Merry Gentlemen” is the quintessential romantic comedy for the holiday season, perfect for watching, smiling, and then forgetting about within five minutes.
Plot
After being let go from a show in New York, Ashley returns to her hometown for Christmas. There, she discovers that her parents are struggling financially with the bar they’ve owned for years. To help them out, she decides to put together a dance show featuring attractive, shirtless men, and enlists Luke, a blonde and muscular guy with whom she falls madly in love.
About the MovieIf you’re a fan of romantic comedies, you’re going to enjoy “The Merry Gentlemen.” However, you have to be a die-hard fan of the genre, because otherwise, you’ll find it to be an utterly generic film that brings nothing new to the table. Its highest aim is to adhere strictly to the genre’s conventions: offering no originality, giving the audience all the expected holiday clichés, and incorporating the theme of male striptease in the vein of Full Monty or Magic Mike.
But don’t expect Steven Soderbergh’s touch here; instead, we have a family Christmas story that, despite flaunting certain “naughtiness” in its plot, never strays from its familial core.
Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray make an incredibly charming and attractive pair of would-be lovers, but the standout performance comes from Maxwell Caulfield. He plays the mature man who joins the group of young dancers, adding a quirky element to the mix.
Aside from that, you’ll find humor that is more or less family-friendly and nothing that will make you love Christmas any more than you already do: it’s classic and lacks any novel elements. It’s a blend of two genres that, while it could have been more daring, chooses to remain on the more traditional and family-oriented side of the holiday season.
Our Opinion
Watch, smile moderately, and then quickly and effectively forget.
Where to Watch “The Merry Gentlemen”
