While Hulu has yet to release its entire holiday schedule, it has announced a new original coming at the end of November. Nutcrackers is directed by David Gordon Green, a surprising follow–up to his direction of the newest Halloween trilogy (Halloween 2018, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends).
Nutcrackers made its debut as the opening selection at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and the reviews were mixed. But judging by the Hulu trailer (which you can watch at the end of this article), it looks like a good viewing choice for people who like Christmas movies. It doesn’t seem too sappy, and it’s got some very funny moments. It also has the potential to give us the feels…something that a holiday film really needs.
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For the first time in the last seven years, Ben Stiller returns to acting in the role of Mike, a career-driven guy who finds himself in an unexpected family predicament. His sister and her husband are killed in a tragic accident, leaving behind four extremely rowdy sons, and Mike has to travel to their farm to take charge of the place and the kids.
Of course, he has no inclination to take on the full-time care of the boys, intending only to sign any needed paperwork, but ends up agreeing to care for them until the assigned child services worker (played by Linda Cardellini) can find them a foster home. As we can see from the trailer, these are some wild boys who certainly keep Mike on his toes.
Nutcrackers will begin streaming on Hulu November 29
According to the description provided by Hulu, “As the holidays approach, he discovers the big hearts behind the boys’ mischief” and must then decide whether to step up as the boys’ Uncle and closest family member or continue on his career-driven path.
In addition to Cardellini (Dead to Me, The Curse of La Llorona), the cast of Nutcrackers includes Edi Patterson (Violent Night) and Tim Heidecker (Us), as well as Homer, Ulysses, Arlo and Atlas Janson as the four rowdy brothers. Interestingly, they are real-life siblings as well and are newcomers to the film scene.