Review

Movie Review: A Holiday Spectacular
Subtitle: “When 1950s Glam, Romance, and Holiday Magic Make Everything Sparkle (Including the Dancing).”

“A Holiday Spectacular” is exactly what you’d expect from a movie titled A Holiday Spectacular—it’s big, it’s sparkly, and it’s packed with so much holiday cheer, you’ll need a bigger tree just to fit all the magic in. Set in the glamorous 1950s (where the Christmas lights were brighter, the glamour was shinier, and the stakes were... probably the same as they are in every Hallmark movie), this movie combines everything we love about Christmas: romance, tradition, big-city dreams, and way too many sequins.

The plot centers on Maggie (played by Ginna Claire, probably someone impossibly talented and glamorous), a small-town girl who decides to take a big leap and join the Radio City Rockettes for their famous Christmas Spectacular in New York City. Spoiler alert: The leap involves more than just high kicks. Maggie finds herself caught between living her big city dream and staying true to her family’s expectations for a quiet life—because nothing says “holiday drama” like a small-town girl navigating the glitzy world of New York and fancy Broadway shows.

The humor comes from Maggie’s perfectly exaggerated attempts to fit in with the showbiz crowd—after all, she’s used to dancing in small-town parades, not performing for thousands at the Radio City Music Hall. Cue the comedic moments where she struggles to remember the choreography, accidently knocks over prop Christmas trees, and—of course—has one of those “I’m so out of my depth” moments in the middle of the Christmas party where everyone is wearing glittery tuxedos, and she’s just hoping her sequined dress doesn’t fall apart. Watching her try to balance romance, family expectations, and a dancing career she didn’t quite plan for is like watching a Christmas parade of awkward but lovable moments.

Enter handsome love interest (insert the always dashing Mason Derek), the guy who is somehow perfect for Maggie, even though he’s clearly way too busy being a show producer to notice. As they bond over their mutual love for dance (and Maggie’s very questionable holiday cookies), the chemistry builds slowly, despite them both trying to pretend they’re not totally falling in love. Because, naturally, Maggie’s big city dreams, the love triangle, and the Radio City Rockettes’ costume drama will all come together right at the climax of the big show.

The 1950s setting adds just the right amount of glitz and glam. Imagine classic holiday pageants with way more jazz hands and a wardrobe that screams “you can’t overdo it with sparkles!” The costumes? Iconic. The setting? Absolutely magical. The romance? Predictably sweet, with just enough tension to make you scream “Just kiss already!” as Maggie runs into every single holiday disaster before finding her true love... under the mistletoe, of course.

The real star of the show? The holiday spectacle, of course. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is the equivalent of a dancing Christmas dream with lights that could power an entire city and choreography so perfect it’s probably been practiced since 1952. Watching Maggie find her footing (literally and figuratively) in this world of high-kicks and rhinestones is not only heartwarming but also hilarious, especially when she gets lost in the maze of very enthusiastic Rockettes.

The grand finale is exactly what you want from a movie about the Radio City Christmas Spectacular: a heartwarming, twinkling, glittery finale where Maggie figures out that maybe her big dreams aren’t so big after all. Of course, there’s a perfect kiss, a giant Christmas tree, and a whole lot of so much glitter that you might need sunglasses just to look at the screen.

A Holiday Spectacular is a laugh-out-loud funny, utterly magical, and predictably romantic movie that delivers exactly what it promises: spectacular dancing, holiday cheer, and the feeling that maybe, just maybe, the best Christmas magic happens when we’re true to ourselves—and our dream of one day becoming a Radio City Rockette. It’s perfect for anyone who loves dancing, romance, and Christmas glamour with a whole lot of sequins. So, grab your sparkliest sweater, your best “I’m not crying, you’re crying” attitude, and get ready to be swept away into a holiday fantasy that’s all about love, Christmas, and very high kicks. 🎄💃✨