This is the story of a Puerto Rican family getting together for Christmas. They have 3 kids: Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez), Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito) and Mauricio (John Leguizamo). Jesse is just home from Iraq and his father Edy (Alfred Molina) wants him to take over the family business - a small neighborhood grocery store. Roxanna is an actress trying to make it in Hollywood, and she is constantly hoping her agent will call with good news about a TV show. Mauricio has a successful wife (Debra Messing) who is not Puerto Rican, and is not sure she wants kids. There's a twist - usually its the guy that doesn't want kids. Mauricio's mother Anna (Elizabeth Pena) doesn't like his wife, and is constantly asking when she is going to get grandkids.
Edy and Anna don't seem to have a happy marriage. Anna thinks Edy has been unfaithful to her, and at dinner she announces that she is going to divorce Edy. This is just one of many plot points in this story.
The hilarious Luis Guzman shows up to steal every scene he is in. He is a cousin and he owns an electronics store. Jay Hernandez also shows up as a family friend who likes Roxanna and has a history of gang violence.
The movie really takes its time. There is a great scene where the three siblings gather in the attic and reminisce. Anyone who grew up with brothers and sisters can probably relate. The actors have great chemistry together, and its nice to just watch them act like a family.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching good actors portray interesting characters. But the movie does move slowly - maybe too slowly for some.
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