Item: Prijde letos Jezísek? (Little Baby Jesus)
Rating: 3
Author: Arline Ramirez

This movie isn’t really about Christmas, miracles nor little baby Jesus.

It’s confusing plot revolves around two families who are connected through stereotypical soap opera shenanigans – secret meetings with an old flame and a possible kid out of wedlock.

Apart from an invisible entity that leaves footprints in the snow, there’s no Christmas miracle that changes the lives of the characters. There is a statue of little baby Jesus tied to the narrative, but it’s just an excuse to send them back to Prague where family schemes ensue.

The characters are all made to be likable to distract you from what’s really going on. Two stand out – Dolores and Kveta want to do the right thing, but end up with unintended results that has amusing moments.

In this movie, emotional and physical cheating is normal and treated as lighthearted entertainment. This is a European movie after all.

What would have happened if that gate wasn’t locked just like in the old days between José and Kveta? Penelopé is far luckier this time of the season though, as her botched plan to take her friend to Franz Spa didn’t matter in the end.

The premise resolves with a happy ending for the characters but it hides a reality that the movie tries to mask with tradition.

Prijde letos Jezísek? is supposed to be a family movie for the holidays, but has questionable lessons.

Prijde letos Jezísek? (Little Baby Jesus)

Charming 60-something José (Josef Abrhám) returns to Prague after 30 years living in Mexico, though he was convinced that he would never see his hometown again. He was persuaded by his deeply religious Mexican wife Dolores (Dolores Heredia), who is convinced that only a miracle that might be fulfilled by Prague's famous Infant Jesus can help their daughter Penelopé (Aislinn Derbez) get pregnant. And the ideal time for this is Christmas. And when Ruda (Václav Postránecký), his friend from Prague, also insists, José agrees to return to the places he used to know and to the memories that they bring back - including his former Prague love Kveta (Libuse Safránková). And it becomes evident that the Infant Jesus is not the only one capable of making miracles come true in Prague.

Prijde letos Jezísek? is a family Christmas movie with a generic soap-opera plot, questionable lessons, and likable characters.