'Hanukkah on the Rocks' Reviews: "Ultimately, the ensemble nature of this movie as well as the focus on celebrating Jewish culture and traditions help to make it feel worth watching for viewers of all backgrounds."

         On December 13, 2024, Hallmark Channel released 'Hanukkah on the Rocks', which has earned a predominantly positive reception from critics. The film pairs "Degrassi‘s Stacey Farber and The Secret Life of The American Teenager‘s Daren Kagasoff as two adults feeling lost in life just a week before Hanukkah. Luckily, they both end up finding some solace and purpose in a Chicago bar called Rocky’s, as well as its staff, patrons, and Hanukkah celebrations. But even as the holiday brings the two closer, they‘re unsure of the road ahead as the futures they’d planned clash with the new ones they inspire each other to chase." But what did the critics say?

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Steven Ackerman

        Maddy Casale of Decider says, "Hanukkah on the Rocks might remind you of the 2022 Hallmark Hanukkah movie, Hanukkah on Rye, and not just because of their similar titles. Julie Sherman Wolfe actually wrote both films, which each showcase Jewish holiday foods and traditions in their own way. The warm neighborhood pub vibe may also remind you of the beloved sitcom Cheers, especially considering both titles feature a bar owner named Sam." Adding, "Although it has been trying to diversify its filmography slowly but surely over the past few years, Hallmark still doesn’t have many Hanukkah movies. With that in mind, I think that the mere existence of this movie is a win for representation, and the writing also shows that care, research, and personal experience went into the portrayal of this Hanukkah story. Especially coming to this movie as someone who was raised Christian, there are plenty of things that may have felt unfamiliar, but that didn’t mean that as a viewer, I cared about them any less. After all, at the heart of Hanukkah on the Rocks is a story about community, tradition, and family, things that anyone can relate to. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy watching the festivities because both the characters at Rocky’s and the movie itself welcome everyone in with open arms. That being said, there are some critiques and gripes that I think viewers of any religion or creed could likely agree upon. First of all, it’s a bit ridiculous to suggest that there would be only one box of a specific Hanukkah candle in a city as big and diverse as Chicago, but hey, that’s just Hallmark movies for you, so we can give it a pass. However, a major part of any Hallmark movie tends to be the romance, and the one here between Tory and Jay was just okay. They had some genuinely enjoyable moments of interaction and chemistry, but these were weighed down by some especially cheesy moments and the somewhat two-dimensional nature of the characters, themselves. You’re telling me that Tory has lived in Chicago her entire life and has zero friends besides her Bubby? I know she’s a workaholic but that seems impossible! But I guess if she didn’t have time for her sister and nephew, she really didn’t have time for any friends, which is a bummer. Really, I just wish the characters were a little more fleshed out so they could feel a bit more real and therefore easier to invest in and connect to. Ultimately, the ensemble nature of this movie as well as the focus on celebrating Jewish culture and traditions help to make it feel worth watching for viewers of all backgrounds. I’m glad to see Hallmark go for something outside of their usual Christmas story, and I hope that they will continue to do so in the years ahead!"