So, before I get started, I must say this: I LOVE Christmas! Anything with Santa Claus, Christmas carols and egg nog with a shot of rum gets me going.

With that said, I was very excited to see this film because in addition to Christmas, I adore holiday movies.

'Nothing Like the Holidays', written by Bermudian Alison Swan, delivers the funny while taking on serious storylines including infidelity, gang violence, and of course, family secrets.

The movie features John Leguizamo (Mauricio), Freddy Rodriguez (Jesse) and Vanessa Ferlito (Roxanna) as the sons and daughter of Edy (Alfred Molina) and Anna Rodriguez (Elizabeth Pena).

The children who have been flung across the country, have returned home to Chicago's largely Puerto Rican neighbourhood, Humboldt Park, for the holidays.

And as to be expected, each member has brought their own troubles to the table.

The movie begins with Jesse returning home from Iraq, obviously haunted by the war but trying to put it behind him. He is expected to take over the family bodega from his father but isn't fond of the idea. Mauricio and wife Sara, played by Debra Messing, are having martial problems. Mauricio, an attorney in Manhattan, desperately wants a baby to give his mother her first grandchild while Sara is more keen to take a job managing a hedge fund worth millions.

Roxanna, a struggling actress in LA, comes home to her family who thinks she has made it in Tinseltown. What they don't know is she lives in a studio apartment and hasn't landed a job. Edy and Anna's marriage is crumbling after 36 years of being together. Anna suspects her husband is cheating after he is seen receiving secret calls on his cellphone. The end of the movie delivers a twist that shoots down the infidelity theory.

The film is not unlike many holiday movies. The main difference is its all Latino cast with Latin music infused throughout.

It's Christmas with a boricua flair. Food clearly brings this family together with Anna intent on spending hours in the kitchen to create traditional Puerto Rican dishes for the family. In one scene, Anna scolds Sara for ordering Chinese takeout.

'Nothing Like the Holidays' is a fun theatre experience with many hilarious scenes including one where the men of the family attempt to chop down a huge tree – which clearly is an eyesore – in front of the house. Anna has asked Edy to do this for years and he obliviously thinks chopping it down on Christmas Eve will save his marriage.

I can say I really enjoyed this movie even though it reminded of last year's 'This Christmas'. It was well written and is definitely a must-see before Christmas.

Good job Alison.