As we approach Thanksgiving, we have a lot of different films in theaters and on streaming. Below is a look at the movies I saw this week and my thoughts on what’s worth checking out.

Best. Christmas. Ever! (Netflix)
Starring: Jason Biggs, Heather Graham, and Brandy
Synopsis: We’ve reached the time of the year where we’re getting holiday features. Netflix is offering this Christmas-themed film where a married couple (Biggs and Graham) in the midst of some big decisions get tricked into arriving at an old friends (Brandy) house for Christmas. The friends have lost touch but at this crucial point in their lives, a reunion might be just what they need. All you need from these type of films is a little festive setting some fun and a happy ending. This mostly tries to provide that, but the story and the characters fall short. At times, this made me yearn for the earnest storytelling of a Hallmark film. I wasn’t a big fan.
Rating: TV-PG

Dashing Through the Snow (Disney+)
Starring: Chris Bridges, Lil Rel Howery, Teyonah Parris, Madison Skye Validum, and Oscar Nunez
Synopsis: In our second holiday feature of the week, we get the tale of a father (Bridges) whose marriage is on the rocks and is trying to spend Christmas Eve with his daughter (Validum). Soon, he stumbles on a visitor (Howery) who turns out to be Santa himself. Santa’s also being pursued by some thugs because of what he stumbled on to at the home of a local official (Nunez). Can they save Christmas by saving Santa? There’s some fun and some comedy here. I enjoyed a late sequence with the reindeer as bouncers. But Bridges—also known as Ludacris—is a little too stiff through most of it. The Atlanta setting also doesn’t lend itself to much of a Christmas wonderland. This is fine and has its moments, but it’s not likely to become a Christmas classic.
Rating: Rated PG for some thematic elements and action.

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story (Prime Video)
Synopsis: The latest from Prime Video is a documentary looking at the life and career of Tyler Perry. Perry is a unique performer whose success isn’t always fully appreciated. And yet, he just keeps producing films and shows that resonate with audiences. This film examines his background, his early struggles and the way he’s morphed into a self-made mogul in the entertainment business. I enjoyed learning more about Perry’s story and this celebration of his tenacity and bravery as an artist. While I might not always love his projects, I appreciate his story and his drive. This film captures that and serves as a loving tribute, at times, to his mother, Maxine. It’s worth checking out.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for thematic material and strong language.

Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (Peacock)
Starring: Ben Marshall, John Higgins, Martin Herlihy, X Mayo, Conan O’Brien, and Megan Salter
Synopsis: The latest for Peacock is a comedy of three friends (Marshall, Higgins and Herlihy) who are in a state of arrested development and need a bit of luck and direction. They come together to look for a lost treasure worth $100 million. But will finding the treasure bring them together or tear them apart. This film is co-written by Marshall, Higgins and Herlihy, who team together as Please Don’t Destroy to make digital shorts for Saturday Night Live. There are portions of this film that feel like something that would work as a digital short. There’s also portions that work well and bring some humor. But it’s not consistent enough. It’s mildly amusing enough at times but hardly memorable.
Rating: Rated R for pervasive language, sexual material, some drug material, brief graphic nudity and violence.

Rustin (Netflix)
Starring: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Thurman, Aml Ameen, and Gus Halper
Synopsis: This biopic for Netflix looks at Bayard Rustin (Domingo) a fierce freedom fighter who was part of the movement for equal rights in the 1960s. He was also a gay man whose life was something of a crime at the time. This new biopic looks at his challenges and the way he challenged those in power for causes he believed in. This includes his close working relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King (Ameen) and how he helped organize the demonstration in Washington D.C. in 1963. Domingo gives a powerful and often fierce performance. The film, directed by George C. Wolfe, feels a bit underwhelming. It feels similar to other movies of this style and despite a good lead performance there’s not enough to make it feel compelling or special. It’s worth seeing for Domingo and to learn more about Rustin and his role in history.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some violence, sexual material, language including racial slurs, brief drug use, and smoking.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.