‘Heartfelt’ holiday movie with ties to Edmonton coming to Metro Cinema

A heartfelt holiday comedy with a production team and cast with ties to Edmonton is coming to the Metro Cinema inside the Garneau Theatre next weekend.

“How to Ruin the Holidays” stars Amber Nash (voice of Pam Poovey in “Archer”) and Colin Mochrie (“Whose Line Is It Anyway”), along with newcomer Luke Davis.

Nash plays “Michelle” – a struggling comedian who returns home for the holidays to help her family.

“I think the really fun thing about the script is that it’s a comedy,” she told CityNews. “But it’s really got really heartfelt moments in it and the team is from Edmonton mostly. I mean Kevin (Gillese) wrote and produced it and Arlen (Konopaki) directed it and so they are long-time Edmonton boys.”

Despite being from a much warmer area, Nash says she loves spending time in Edmonton – even in the winter months.

“I’m from Atlanta, but I really love how cold it is in Edmonton,” she said. “I really get excited about it. It’s like a fantasy land to me. I love the people in Edmonton. The Fringe Festival every summer is so much fun, we’re there every year for it.”

And where does Nash like to eat when she’s in Edmonton?

“The Next Act poutine is just incredible,” she said.

Colin Mochrie, who plays the father or “Dad” in the film, says it’s a different role than he usually plays.

“It’s great for me because this is my transition from juvenile leads into father roles, so it’s been really good for me,” Mochrie said. “It’s a funny script and as Amber said it also has a lot of heart, it’s a little different from most Christmas fare.”

Mochrie tells CityNews he lived in Edmonton and went to school there in Grade 7.

“All I remember is walking to school at 33 degrees below with a wind thinking ‘anywhere else in the country school would be done,’” he recounted. “It was one of those things that was a mile-and-a-half walk to school. It was like one of those stories your parents tell you, but so that stuck in my mind.

“But also as Amber said, the Fringe Festival is amazing – one of the top in the world for sure and always fun – great people. It has a great improv scene so I always enjoy going back to Edmonton, a lot of good friends there.”

‘Homegrown, heartfelt’

Metro Cinema executive director Dan Smith says he’s excited to have the film shown there.

“We’ve had one screening already which was really exciting and we’re expecting a good turnout and a lot of enthusiasm for the next one,” Smith said. “It’s really nice to have these homegrown, heartfelt, real films that people are excited about. It’s good to see people coming out to theatres for stuff like that again.”

Smith says there is something special about watching a movie in a theatre without the distractions of every day life around the home. He says it also gives Edmontonians a chance to engage with the film in a different way and chat with people afterwards.

“I think nothing really compares to big screen, big sound for a cinema experience. We definitely believe that here and I think it’s also nice to have an experience where you’re immersed in it a little bit. You’re not distracted by the laundry you put in as you watch a show on your couch. It’s an immersive experience,” Smith said.

He described the film as “heartfelt” with “depth.”

“It’s really awesome we get to play an independent film written and produced, directed by some folks that have been big in the Edmonton arts scene for a long time,” Smith said.

Gillese, the producer and writer of the film, was born and raised in Edmonton along with director Konopaki.

Referring to Gillese and Konopaki, Smith says they have been a part of the Edmonton improv and theatre scene for a long time.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have them perform at our theatre during Fringe and they told us about this film ages ago and we’ve been excited to bring it in ever since. And of course Colin Mochrie is amazing, Amber Nash is amazing. It’s really cool to have them in the film as well obviously and it’s just a pretty exciting project,” Smith said.

‘Luke is definitely our secret weapon’

Luke Davis, who self identifies as being “special needs,” plays “Mark” in the film and is based on Gillese’s younger brother.

“Luke is definitely our special weapon because otherwise I feel it would be a regular holiday movie that’s funny and heartfelt, but with Luke it just changes the story,” Nash said. “He’s so good and he’s gotten so many acting opportunities since we made the film, and I hope that just continues. He’s really making a name for himself in Atlanta.”

In an Instagram video, Gillese says his younger brother Mark has a development disability and says he’s passionate about working with people with cognitive impairments, adding he left his position as the artistic director at “Dad’s Garage Theatre” in Atlanta to pursue his passion of working with people with special needs.

It’s something the film’s director Konopaki is also dedicated to.

“Working with actors with disabilities is something I’m passionate about and know the entire production team is super passionate about and we are so lucky to have Luke,” Konopaki said in his own Instagram post.

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A post shared by Kevin John Gillese (@kgillese)

Mochrie hopes viewers discover Davis and praised his acting talents.

“Here’s one thing I hope,” Mochrie said. “I hope they discover Luke, who is our secret weapon in this movie, who is a special needs actor, who is so special and so charming, and I hope it helps people view special needs in a different way.”

The film previewed earlier this month and hits the Metro Cinema again Nov. 25. It’s also been shown in Toronto, Los Angeles and Atlanta. The film will be available on Prime Video in December.