Hot Frosty had his time in the sun, but now he has passed on his Top 10 mantle to another Christmas movie on Netflix. I was going to say it seems too early for all these Christmas movies, but there is currently a snowstorm outside my window, so perhaps not.
The new film that has surpassed Hot Frosty is called The Merry Gentlemen, which stars Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray. It is a bit more scandalous than Hot Frosty given its subject matter. The official synopsis:
“To save her parents’ small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.”
So Magic Mike, but Christmas. Sure, why not. And yes, Chad Michael Murray of One Tree Hill fame is the central stripper in question. Britt Robertson you may not recognize, but she has dozens of projects in the last decade, including roles in Big Sky, Little Fires Everywhere and For the People.
Unlike Hot Frosty, which arrived with perfect 100% reviews, The Merry Gentlemen does not have enough reviews in yet for a total. Out of seven that are in, only two are positive, meaning this may not channel the same endearing Christmas spirit as Hot Frosty. Too bad.
I would expect to see Christmas movie after Christmas movie show up on this list as we march toward the holiday, including a bunch of these low budget, one-off Netflix originals. Right now, these are the only two on the list, but they are in the #1 and #2 spots. The rest are mostly licensed films like Rob Peace, Focus, Father Figures and somehow, The Fast and the Furious. Like, the original one. Plus kids movies The Secret Life of Pets and Sing. The only other interesting offering is #3, which is Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy, which is about tricks that companies use to keep us buying stuff all the time. Relevant ahead of Black Friday after Thanksgiving, I suppose. And Cyber Monday, where I can’t believe we’re still calling that Cyber Monday in 2024.
I can actually recommend Hot Frosty, it is dumb but endearing and genuinely funny at times, thanks to a cast that includes Schitt’s Creek, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Office veterans. The Merry Gentlemen? It looks like that may not be your best option for holiday cheer. Not even the best shirtless option, as Hot Frosty has that too.
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