Film Review: A stumbling mush through memories of “Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point”

A little holiday spirit is expressed and even more is shown or at least tasted “Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point.” And almost nothing is explained.

The idea behind Tyler Taormina’s (“Ham on Rye”) warm, aimless and largely laugh-free indulgence in nostalgia on Christmas Eve is the selectivity of memory and perhaps the monotony of the “colorful” memories that our director and co-writer wants us to see emerge .

Unexplained, disorganized and filled with characters we struggle to identify in banal situations that lead nowhere, this will be “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” or even “The Family Stone” or “Feast of.” will not replace “The Seven Fishes” on any holiday movie list.

What we find out – eventually – is that this extended family is gathering on snowy Long Island for what could be their “last Christmas” with Grandma Antonia (Maria Reistetter). Finally, a “Carmine” is mentioned and a few other names that suggest it is an Italian-American clan.

We see a flip phone, a 90s Buick station wagon and a 1992 Jeep Cherokee and conclude that it is an early 2000s Eve.

A few siblings argue with a few others about the Sunrise Nursing Home or Living in Aid options for their mother, about who isn’t doing enough to help this situation, and who is.

The little kids are somehow ignored – just beneath their feet – while the adults cook, smoke cigars, smoke, and reminisce, and the teens and tweens celebrate traditions like “the walk,” “the bird” (cooked), and “the parade.” “experience” – decorated fire engines driving past in a blur. Some kids borrow a family Cherokee to run to a cemetery, drink a little and frolic together in gritty close-ups and sex scenes.

“Car means FREEDOM!”

We’re assuming they’re not kissing cousins, but hey, unless you explain Jack, there’s doubt.

A few local police officers (Gregg Turkington And Michael Cera) Watch some of this while on duty and engage in an awkward conversation intended to be funny.

And the soundtrack to it is doo-wop and early ’60s pop, perhaps because of its Italian-American connotations.

I found the entire experience dissonant as there is hardly anyone to relate to, let alone identify with. There’s hardly anything new about anything presented here and there’s nothing to get excited about because it’s basically just a lot of nothing or not much happening.

Save yourself the trip. Rent The Feast of the Seven Fishes and get a lot of THESE Italians if you want to see an unforgettable period piece about an unforgettable Christmas.

Rating: PG-13, smoking, teenage drinking, sexual situations, profanity,

Cast: Elsie Fisher, Maria Dizzia, Francesca Scorsese, Ben Shenkman, Matilda Fleming, Sawyer Spielberg, Leo Chan, Gregg Turkington and Michael Cera.

Credits: Director: Tyler Taormina, Screenplay: Eric Berger and Tyler Taormina. An IFC release.

Running time: 1:47