There isn’t much to the sweet and accessible holiday dramedy “El Sabor de la Navidad,” but it sure is cute. In what feels like a sub par take on the Christmas classic “Love, Actually,” this trio of stories set in Mexico City all come together in the end with a rousing, intertwined finale. While shining a spotlight on Mexican heritage and holiday traditions, the film oozes charm with universal themes of love, acceptance, and of course, cuisine.
As with most anthology narrative films, some stories are stronger than others. There’s the sentimental story line about an estranged daughter who longs to reconcile with her family, a romance between a lonely chef and her kitchen assistant, and the comic relief of two best friends who start working as competing Santa Clauses.
Everything is centered around Christmas and is designed to capture the spirit and magic of the popular holiday, but with a modern twist. There are discussions of class differences and inequality, the contrast between older and younger generations, and learning tolerance towards the LBGTQ+ community. The film features stories rooted in love, family, and friendship, but also in acceptance and understanding.
Nothing here is particularly memorable, and screenwriter Jose Tamez has zero issue with tugging on those emotional heartstrings at every opportune moment. Think of it as a Hallmark movie (in terms of tone, story, and quality). Director Alejandro Lozano certainly understands pacing, throwing in crowd-pleasing musical numbers (and bursts of humor) at just the right moments.
The eventual intersection of the character arcs is as heartwarming as you’d expect because, you know, this is a Christmas movie after all. Rights are wronged, a secret love is professed, the past is forgiven, and everyone embraces the true spirit of the season.
“El Sabor de la Navidad” isn’t destined to become the next modern holiday classic, but it lends enough originality, diversity, and comforting fun to make it a worthy Christmas charmer.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 