Every block has that one family… that one family that no one really gets, but that family that everyone knows and you wonder what they are thinking, because you just don’t get them. The Manetti-Hanahan family is that family.
But the thing about the Manetti-Hanahan family is that they don’t even get who they are. They are trying though, in their own way. They have their own way of communicating and making each other know that they are loved.
Only this Christmas, that has been changed. Mama Manetti-Hanahan is tired of the same ol’ same old. She wants a Christmas where there is no fighting, where there is no war with the neighbors, and where there is just joy.
She knows that the family isn’t going to sign willingly, but she also knows that she’s going to get them to do it. Especially her husband. There is nothing like a Mom who wants something and the want to please her.
The family signs the contract, even though there are hesitations. But as we watch the drama that they are trying to keep under wraps unfold, there is a beauty in understanding the way that the family communicates. When the electricity goes out and Pops Manetti-Hanahan and son have a contest to see who is going to get it up first – you can’t help but know things are going to go bad.
Because competitions never go well. When you’re competing against each other, it’s as if you are just aching for a fight. When you want to fight instead of being genuine and trying to do everything joyful for the family – it’s never going to work.
And then there is the fact that one of the daughters is a preachy vegan that shames the other sister for letting her kids eat meat and sugar. These two think that they are just joking with each other, but everything is being taken personally. This whole family has a toxic way of communicating.
That being said though, they are always there for each other. When Katie comes home because Kevin has dumped her – they are all willing to go to war. When Mama Manetti-Hanahan tells them that she’s been sick and doesn’t have her test results yet, but that’s why this is important to her – they all pull themselves together.
Look, I ain’t mad about that, because sometimes it takes the extremes to get us to see what we’re doing to ourselves and those around us. Actions have consequences and sometimes those consequences are peoples pain.
When Mama Manetti-Hanahan tells she is sick, no one asks how she is feeling. They all make it about themselves and that’s somewhat heartbreaking. Seeing the pain on the face is hard to see, and when she retreats to her room to hide, no one can blame her.
It’s when Papa Manetti-Hanahan heads to the room and tells her in his own way that he’s not gonna let anything happen to her. He does pull his kids together and they get the electricity back on and pose for the family Christmas pic she wants.
What I love is that the family is going to do everything to bring the family together. No matter what they are going through this family is pulling themselves together and bonding. I love the idea that it will be okay and that they will have each other. Forever.
And that is a beautiful thing.
Holidazed continues to do such a good job examining the nuances of family. All different kinds of family dynamics. It’s been a beautiful thing to watch all different family dynamics play out and to be able to find yourself being able to see yourself (or someone like you) on the screen.
Holidazed is streaming now on Hallmark+.
