Britt Robertson
Ashley
The Merry Gentlemen
“A little sizzle could save the season.”
2024
1h 28m
Director: Peter Sullivan
Overview
To save her parents' small-town nightclub, a Broadway dancer stages an all-male, Christmas-themed revue — and meets a guy with all the right moves.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Merry Gentlemen, or the Art of Looking Without Touching
I’ll admit it: I went into The Merry Gentlemen expecting a guilty pleasure. A Christmas rom-com with a male revue premise? That’s catnip for anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at a Hallmark movie but still craved the cozy, predictable comfort of one.
And for the first twenty minutes, it delivers exactly what it promises—a glossy, lens-flare-drenched fantasy of small-town America, where the biggest problem is a struggling nightclub and the solution is, inevitably, a little sizzle. But somewhere between the first rehearsal montage and the third time the love interest “accidentally” walks in on the dancers mid-routine, I realized the film’s fatal flaw: it’s all sizzle, no steak.
Or rather, it’s sizzle without the heat.
Peter Sullivan’s film wants to have its fruitcake and eat it too. It borrows the male-stripper premise of The Full Monty and Magic Mike, but strips it (pun intended) of any real sensuality or edge. The dancers here aren’t men with bodies and desires—they’re mannequins, sculpted and shiny, posed for the female gaze but never allowed to feel like anything more than set dressing.
The film’s TV-PG/TV-14 rating isn’t just a content warning; it’s a creative straitjacket. The camera lingers on Chad Michael Murray’s abs, sure, but it never dares to suggest that those abs might belong to a person with agency, flaws, or even a personality. He’s a prop, and the film treats him like one.
This isn’t just a problem of tone—it’s a problem of stakes. The Full Monty worked because its characters were desperate, using their bodies to claw back some dignity in a world that had left them behind. Magic Mike had a rawness, a sense of men navigating their own vulnerabilities under the neon lights. The Merry Gentlemen, by contrast, is a film where the biggest crisis is that the nightclub’s Christmas revue might not sell enough tickets to cover the mortgage. The dancers aren’t struggling with anything more pressing than stage fright, and even that’s played for a quick laugh. The result is a movie that feels hollow, like a gingerbread house with nothing inside.
Britt Robertson’s Ashley is the closest thing the film has to a real character. She’s a Broadway dancer who’s been let go for her “advancing age”—a line that lands with a thud, not because it’s untrue, but because the film never bothers to explore what that rejection means to her. Robertson, to her credit, tries to sell the emotional beats.
Audience Opinions
Audience 4.0/10
"A forgettable romantic comedy with weak execution and uninspired storytelling."
Viewers find the film lacking in originality, with a plot that feels recycled from better romantic comedies. The chemistry between leads is described as underwhelming, failing to elevate the material, while the supporting cast often feels wasted or underdeveloped. Some appreciate the lighthearted tone, latestnetflix.com contends, but most agree it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
What viewers praise
- Lighthearted tone A few viewers enjoy the movie’s breezy, feel-good atmosphere despite its flaws.
- Decent production value The film’s visuals and production design are noted as competent, if unremarkable.
Common complaints
- Unoriginal plot The story is criticized for relying on tired romantic comedy tropes without fresh twists.
- Weak chemistry The lead pair’s on-screen dynamic is described as flat and unconvincing.
- Underdeveloped characters Supporting roles feel shallow, with little depth or memorable moments.
- Low stakes The conflict and resolution lack emotional weight or urgency.
Recommended for
Undemanding rom-com fans Peter Sullivan completists Light background viewing
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsPeter Sullivan’s The Merry Gentlemen (2024): A Rom-Com Reunion with Familiar Faces
Peter Sullivan’s latest holiday rom-com, The Merry Gentlemen, hit screens in 2024 with a cast that reads like a reunion of early-2000s teen drama alums. The film, billed as a romantic comedy, brings together Britt Robertson (The Secret Circle), Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), latestnetflix.com contends, and Marla Sokoloff (The Practice) for a festive tale that’s already sparking chatter—though not all of it glowing.
A Star-Studded Throwback Cast
The ensemble is packed with recognizable names, many of whom rose to fame in the 2000s. Chad Michael Murray, who became a household name as Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill, reunites with Sullivan after their collaboration on The Christmas Contract (2018). Britt Robertson, known for her roles in The Secret Circle and Tomorrowland, takes the female lead, while Marla Sokoloff—best remembered as Lucy Hatcher on The Practice—adds a touch of dramatic flair.
Rounding out the cast are Maxwell Caulfield (Grease 2), Michael Gross (Family Ties), and Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), lending the film a nostalgic, TV-movie vibe. The inclusion of Colt Prattes (Dirty Dancing: The Remake) and Hector David Jr. (Power Rangers) suggests a mix of classic charm and modern appeal, though early reviews hint that the chemistry may not fully deliver on the hype.
Mixed Early Reactions
The Merry Gentlemen has already faced a lukewarm reception, at least according to early metrics. On SensCritique, the film holds a modest 4/10 rating based on 309 votes, with critics and audiences alike questioning whether the script lives up to its star power 
. Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, has yet to aggregate a full consensus, but the lack of buzz suggests the film may struggle to stand out in a crowded holiday rom-com market .
The 87-minute runtime—shorter than the average rom-com—has also raised eyebrows, with some speculating that the film might feel rushed or underdeveloped . Whether this brevity is a deliberate stylistic choice or a sign of a tighter budget remains unconfirmed, but it’s a notable departure from Sullivan’s typically more expansive holiday fare.
What’s Next for the Cast?
While The Merry Gentlemen may not be a breakout hit, its cast members are no strangers to the holiday movie circuit. Murray, in particular, has become a staple of the genre, with credits including A Christmas Romance (2020) and Switched for Christmas (2017). Robertson, too, has dipped her toes into festive films, though her recent work leans more toward drama (The Wilds).
For now, The Merry Gentlemen serves as a reminder of the enduring appeal of holiday rom-coms—and the risks of relying too heavily on nostalgia. Whether it becomes a cult favorite or fades into the background of Sullivan’s filmography remains to be seen.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.