It is that time of year when many people curl up on the couch in comfy clothes with a warm beverage and a blanket to watch Christmas Movies. Yes, they are usually very predictable, and they don’t always have large budgets. While studios have moved away from big-budget, big-name rom-coms, the fan base is showing it still exists. If you are a fan of the genres, keep an eye out for 31 Candles to be showing at a theater near you.
Leo Kadner is approaching his 31st birthday, lives in New York, is close with his family, and makes Christmas Movies. He claims to be jew”ish” and content in situationships as opposed to relationships. At a family event, he crosses paths with the girl who got away from summer camp, Eva Shapiro. She is moving back to New York and, in addition to trying to get cast on Broadway, she is a Torah tutor, helping prepare teens for their bar/bat mitzvah. When Leo turned 13, other events in his family took over, and he never had a bar mitzvah. He decides he should have one and turns to Eva to tutor him.
There is enough unpredictability, mixed with the predictable, that puts this more in the rom-com than the holiday movie category, making it the perfect first production from Romantical, Jonah Feingold’s new production banner. Not only did he write, direct, and edit the film, but he also played the lead role, Leo. His performance is believable, and while not everyone will want to date Leo, they at least want to be his friend. Sara Coffey was cast as Eva Shapiro. I like that the choice was made to make the leading lady confident and comfortable with who she is. Yes, she wants to make it on Broadway and hasn’t yet, but that isn’t bringing her down. It’s a nice change for a role model.
Other cast members are recognizable and enhance the film’s quality. Jackie Sandler (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Happy Gilmore 2) is Susan, and Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Sleepless in Seattle) is Lila.
I will also add that there is something about New York City being a part of a film when it is shot by people who love the city. The decisions to include certain buildings, the angles to take the shot from, and how to light it create a subplot love story for the audience.
I will keep my eyes and ears open to see what Romantical has in store for us next.
Director: Jonah Feingold
Cast: Jonah Feingold, Sarah Coffey, Caroline Aaron, Djouliet Amara, Seth Barrish
MPAA Rating:
Selig Rating: 4 stars
Runtime: 1h 30m
Select Theatres: November 7, 2025
Genre(s): Comedy, Romance
Trailer: 31 Candles trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.