Christmas But Make It Family Drama
Ah, Christmas time. The season when Latinos across America infuse a dash of culture and tradition into the festivities, whether we’re ready for it or not. José Feliciano on the radio and everyone claiming their grandmas tamales are the best in the universe! For my better half, Melissa, the countdown to my birthday means one thing: Christmas movies. You know, the classic holiday films that flood TV screens every December. She watches one every day, without fail. Some are charming, others make you question your masculinity—especially the girly ones. So when she asked if I had a Christmas movie pick, I responded with confidence, “I have a perfect Christmas movie.” Her face dropped. “Christmas, but make it family drama,” I thought to myself. She probably wasn’t expecting Warrior, the MMA movie with Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte, but that’s exactly what I delivered.
“Warrior”—Because Who Needs a Traditional Christmas Movie?
To say she was skeptical would be an understatement. When I casually suggested Warrior—yes, the MMA movie —Melissa’s face said it all. “Wait, a fight movie?” she asked, horrified that I’d strayed from the annual Hallmark-style fluff that usually graces our TV screen in December. “Please don’t let it be a weird zombie comedy,” she begged. But I was unwavering. This movie, while far from festive, has everything a dysfunctional family could want: drama, regret, and more emotional baggage than a season’s worth of holiday dinners. Forget the typical Christmas cheer—this was a film about fighting with your fists and, more importantly, with your past.
A Family Drama That Hits You Right in the Feels
What I didn’t tell Melissa—because where’s the fun in ruining the surprise—was that Warrior is far from your typical action flick. Yes, there are MMA fights, but it’s not really about the punches. The real battle is the one fought within a family crippled by old grudges and crushed dreams. Watching these characters interact felt eerily familiar, as if I were watching a mirror of some past family Christmases. The drama, the raw emotion, and the regret—especially around the holidays—felt like a punch to the gut. Trust me, if you want a movie that can get an entire room full of people crying while simultaneously questioning their life choices, Warrior is your go-to holiday flick. It may not have reindeer, but it has plenty of broken hearts. So, Merry Christmas… I guess?
