Nutcrackers

4 outta 5

Nutcrackers is one of those comedies about a busy working guy who, for various reasons, must learn to settle down as they inherit guardianship of rambunctious children, which has been done many, many times before. Now Nutcrackers may not get many points for originality, but it does have a sort of chaotic indie movie vibe, which gives it a unique flair. Also, the lead actor is very entertaining, and the kids are enjoyable wacky, so it makes it a sturdy entry into this well-worn genre. And it is set at Christmas which technically can make it an appropriate Christmas movie and for this time of year.

Mike (Ben Stiller) is a city-based real estate developer who returns to rural farmland Ohio to look after his nephews after his sister has passed away. The four boys, Justice (Homer Janson), Junior (Ulysses Janson), Samuel (Atlas Janson) and Simon (Arlo Janson) are extremely hyperactive and have already run one caretaker out of the house. Mike, on the precipice of a big deal, is told he must look after them by the friendly child services agent, Gretchen (Linda Cardellini). He tries to get along with the kids, but they are very very strange, so he also attempts to find a new home for them, which may drive them apart. Finding a foster home for one kid is hard enough, but trying to find one for all four is a challenge and the kids keep screwing things up with their crazy attitude. So, Mike puts on a show with the boys as a showcase for their talents that may also find them a willing foster home in the process.

The movie starts off with both Mike and the kids as hard to like which makes some of Mike’s insistence that he just bail somewhat understandable. When he is first introduced to the kids, they’re hanging in the barn, one wearing a goat mask like a tiny serial killer and saying nothing. There is kind of a dark humour in the various ways that Mike comes up with to get rid of the kids, although each time there is a little reveal that he may actually care about them more than he lets on. One time the social worker says she has found a way to split the kids off with the twins going to a foster couple and the others going to a group home. Mike steps outside, seemingly to deliver the bad news, then he sees them having fun together and just tells them to be careful on the roof. It is a subtle bit of character work but the expression on Stiller’s face shows that he discounted the idea of splitting them apart.

Another scheme he has is finding one of the richest guys in town and scores invites for them to the Christmas party. So, he says to the rich guy that he could help him and his lonely wife with their empty nest syndrome by them adopting the kids. As they’re 12 and 10 and 8 he says it would be more like a “ten-year lease”. Things seem to be going smoothly and then the kids do some awful things involving a golf cart and an elaborate nativity scene. Later, he is approached by a woman, Rose (Edi Patterson) who says she would love to have them live with her, but she is revealed to be somewhat nutty, leading to some awkward comedy bits when Mike tries to get out of there.

Stiller is solid as the lead, as he is fantastic at being exasperated by various things going on but also showing cracks in his emotional armour. It is not the most original character arc, but he executes it well. Cardellini as the social worker is rooting for Mike to take care of the kids and when he says he is setting up a ballet performance to get them noticed for adoption, she is angry, revealing that she can’t have kids and he should consider himself lucky. All the boys are entertaining, as they are unhinged hellions and they get in some quiet emotional bits as well, with Justice being the kid who is incredibly talented at ballet but has stopped since his mom has passed away. There are a bunch of funny bits with the kids throughout, like when the two boys can’t get to sleep so Mike tells the bedtime story of Rambo, which is awesome. Other amusing scenes are when the kids get him to the middle of a lake to get cell phone service, him home-schooling the boys about sex education, or when they propose a much better version of the Nutcracker Suite but with more violence and action. The finale involves a presentation of the Nutcracker but it plays it fairly straight and for emotional payoff, which does work, but it is a bit of a letdown as they promised a cool, genre bending take on the Nutcracker involving Rambo (or a legally distinct knock off).

Sure, the broad strokes of a big city working guy realizes that small town stakes and caring for kids he never planned on looking after is a very well-worn story. But Nutcrackers has an indie movie anarchist energy that makes it distinctive, and with enough laughs and interesting moments to be a different kind of holiday film.