'Leah's Perfect Gift' Misses the Mark

         On December 8, 2024, Hallmark Channel released 'Leah's Perfect Gift', which has proven to be one of the least successful holiday films of the season. In the film, "A Jewish Leah accompanies her boyfriend to Connecticut to experience a traditional Christmas with his family." The ensemble cast includes Emily Arlook, Evan Roderick, and Barbara Niven. But what did the critics say?

Credit: @2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister Foster

        Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies writes, "Leah’s Perfect Gift is a Hallmark movie about a Jewish woman obsessed with Xmas and longing to celebrate a traditional Xmas. Movies and Chinese food aren’t enough? I mean, this year we have Chanukah starting on December 25 because that’s when 25 Kislev starts this year. Talk to any religious or observant Jew and they’ll tell you that the premise of Leah’s Perfect Gift is offensive and sickening. Is this what the Hallmark Channel thinks of the Jewish community? That we’d rather celebrate a Christian holiday than our own?!? It is bad enough that I only learned on motzi Shabbos that the film is based on a book! Hallmark, we need to have a talk. Some of you are probably going to say, well, what about interfaith families? No offense to those couples and their families but we’re talking about a film where a Jewish woman is more obsessed with Xmas than the Christians in the film. I don’t think I need to remind anyone about the origins of Xmas and why it’s so offensive that a Jewish woman wants to celebrate Xmas more than the Jewish holidays. If you’re wondering, the same would apply if it were about a Jewish man, rather than woman. The mere idea is just so offensive. It’s as if Hallmark thought, the Jews are already feeling bad enough this year, how can we make it worse?!? That being said, Hanukkah on the Rocks (why not Chanukah, like the Hebrew pronunciation) is premiering on Shabbos. I’ll be watching it really soon. Let’s hope it’s better." Adding, "The amount of Chanukah featured in this movie is very slim, maybe five minutes at the most. Jonathan (Barry Levy) and Suzanne Goldberg (Robyn Ross) host Chanukah at their home. In what is no doubt a stereotype, Suzanne insists that their guests do not leave without food. Chinese food and the movies? We might be getting some Chinese food–if anything, it’s maybe the same amount as all of Chanukah in the movie–but not any movies. Oh yeah, the Jewish family is from New York City–the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. You start wondering how it is possible that Leah became more obsessed with Xmas than Jewish holidays. Here’s the part that I don’t get, especially because you’d think people would at least read about Chanukah in the newspaper. Barbara Westwood knows absolutely nothing about Chanukah and seems shocked about Jews eating Chinese food on December 25. I’m sorry but WHAT?!? You’d have to be living in a cave if you’ve never heard of Chanukah, let alone Jewish minhag of eating Chinese food and going to the movies on December 24-25. Chinese restaurants are among the few restaurants that are open so it developed into a Jewish minhag to eat Chinese food. This year though, the first night of Chanukah coincides with December 25 so there will be plenty of Chanukah parties with a mix of latkes and Chinese food. One such party is currently on my calendar."