Review: “The Best Christmas Party Ever” (2014)

Professional attire proves hit-and-miss. Jennie mostly maintains a business-appropriate look (and hallelujah, she actually covers her legs, though black tights aren’t my first choice). Nick’s casual approach to office wear makes me wonder if Petra should have included a dress code clause in that inheritance!

Following the classic “inheritance shakes things up” plot, we watch Jennie’s hopes of taking over the business crumble when Petra’s nephew appears.

The announcement scene is particularly brutal — note to business owners: maybe don’t crush your loyal employee’s dreams quite so bluntly at a holiday party of thanksgiving!

Family-friendly content throughout — no questionable situations or behavior. Even the kisses stay tasteful, with both leads actually remembering how to pucker properly (finally!).

While the story hits its marks and the performances feel natural, something about the casting keeps this from being a holiday classic. However, the party planning details and professional execution make it a solid addition to your Christmas movie playlist — even if you don’t revisit it every year.

As someone who appreciates both the technical and artistic sides of event planning, I enjoyed the attention to detail in the party scenes. Though I might question some of the professional choices (both in wardrobe and personnel management), the movie delivers its message about adversity and surprise with holiday charm. As Nick says, “The mouse king represents adversity, and adversity defines us” — though in this case, perhaps it’s less about mouse kings and more about perky nephews!