A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
★★★
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie is one of those “do we even call this a movie?” situations. It’s really more of a holiday special than a full-fledged film, but honestly, that feels like the right lane for it.
Outside of knowing the Jonas Brothers exist, I have basically no personal history with them. Their peak fame hit well after my teen years, and the only song I can confidently name is “Sucker” (though I’m sure I know more than I realize). That said, every time I’ve seen Nick Jonas pop up in acting roles, I’ve thought he was surprisingly solid. So I went into this with low stakes and modest curiosity—which is probably the ideal mindset.
The setup is completely ridiculous: the brothers are trying to make it home for Christmas but are blocked by a supernatural force because… sure. Along the way, they’re guided by a Santa-adjacent figure played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell from Modern Family), who both helps and mildly torments them. None of it makes much sense, and the movie doesn’t seem particularly interested in it making sense, either.
There are plenty of cameos, most notably Will Ferrell as an apparent superfan, and the whole thing leans heavily into cheap-looking special effects. Some jokes fall flat. Some moments absolutely do not work. But then, unexpectedly, others really do.
What surprised me most was the dark humor sprinkled throughout. The Jonas Brothers actually have great comic timing and a strong sense of self-awareness. They’re willing to poke fun at themselves, and that’s where the special is at its best. The songs are also better than expected—there’s at least one original Christmas tune that’s genuinely catchy.
Will I remember A Very Jonas Christmas Movie a year from now? Almost certainly not. But that’s kind of the point. This is a perfect “throw it on while you’re wrapping presents” watch. Low commitment, mildly chaotic, occasionally funny and festive enough to keep you company while you’re getting ready for the big day.
And honestly? That’s sometimes all a Christmas movie really needs to be.
