Review

Movie Review: Hanukkah on Rye
Subtitle: “When Matzo Balls, Family Drama, and Way Too Many Holiday Miracles Collide in the Most Predictably Hilarious Way.”

“Hanukkah on Rye” is Hallmark’s attempt at spicing up your holiday season with a little matzo ball soup, a side of family drama, and enough unresolved romantic tension to make you want to call your relatives and immediately cancel your own holiday plans. If you’ve ever thought, “What if Hanukkah was more about love, competition over the best latkes, and a lot of awkward family dinners?”, this is the movie for you.

The plot follows Rachel (played by Yael Grobglas), a woman who’s doing just fine—until her family’s small deli gets unintentionally involved in a very dramatic holiday rivalry with a rival deli (because apparently, this is what’s happening in your neighborhood during Hanukkah). Enter Josh (played by Jeremy Jordan), a charming guy who just so happens to be working at the rival deli. Guess what? They’re both secretly trying to win the annual Hanukkah food competition with their grandmothers’ legendary recipes. But because this is Hallmark, it’s definitely not just about the food—it’s about love, family, and way too many "oops, I accidentally fell into your arms" moments.

The humor comes from the utter absurdity of the situation. Rachel and Josh’s “competition” is so over-the-top that it makes you wonder if every deli in the world is secretly a battleground for holiday supremacy. Watching Rachel and Josh’s “friendly rivalry” escalate into food-related chaos is a whole vibe—like watching someone try to bake the perfect latke while also realizing that they might just be falling in love with their competition. There’s a scene where Rachel’s carefully crafted latkes fall apart, and Josh has the audacity to laugh (in the most charming way possible), making this a hilarious holiday disaster waiting to happen. If there’s one thing that could make Hanukkah better, it’s definitely a high-stakes latke battle—and maybe a dash of romance on the side.

The best part of the movie, though? The families. It’s not a Hallmark holiday movie without the overzealous relatives who are way too invested in the love lives of their grown-up children. Rachel’s grandmother? She's just trying to play matchmaker by getting Rachel and Josh together with way too many hints that are so subtle, even the cousin who’s “too busy” to notice picks up on it. The rival deli's family is equally enthusiastic, except they may or may not be secretly plotting to steal the competition (with a side of family bonding). Watching Rachel’s family try to pretend they’re “neutral” while shoving her back into Josh’s arms for yet another perfectly timed accident is like watching your own holiday dinner play out—but with way more drama and latkes.

And let’s not forget the delicious food—because the real star of this movie isn’t Rachel, Josh, or even the Christmas-obsessed neighbors. It’s the latkes, the matzo ball soup, and all the delicious Hanukkah dishes that make you seriously consider heading to your local deli after the movie ends. The film actually gets so caught up in the cooking chaos that you’ll find yourself getting emotionally invested in the outcome of their latke competition. (Spoiler alert: there’s definitely some last-minute magic and a lot of “this is what family’s all about” moments.)

The grand finale? Well, you know exactly what’s going to happen: the latke competition, the heartfelt love confession, and the realization that the real holiday miracle is actually falling in love while fighting over food. Rachel and Josh finally admit their feelings (probably over a plate of delicious latkes), the families make up (because holiday spirit), and there’s a perfectly timed kiss under the mistletoe. The only thing better than that? Maybe another plate of latkes.

“Hanukkah on Rye” is a hilarious, heartwarming, and deliciously cheesy holiday movie that will make you want to cancel your gym membership and eat your weight in latkes. It’s predictable in the best way possible, and perfect for anyone who loves family drama, holiday food wars, and the idea that sometimes, the best thing about the holidays is fighting over food with someone you might just fall in love with. Grab your coziest sweater, your favorite snack, and get ready for a Hanukkah movie that proves love (and latkes) can conquer all. 🕎❤️🍽