With its self-deprecating humor, ‘A Very Jonas Christmas Movie’ is good company

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I don’t know any of the Jonas Brothers’ songs, but I do remember their names – Joe, Kevin, and Nick. I really enjoyed the sitcom they starred in, “Jonas” (later “Jonas L.A.”), back in 2009. That good memory made me look forward to their new Christmas movie, “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie,” which is now streaming on Disney+ – and I’m happy to say I’m enjoying it! It’s funny, takes place in different countries, has a cozy winter vibe, and features the brothers having fun together.

The story follows the Jonas Brothers as they try to get home for Christmas after a six-month tour, and it’s reminiscent of the movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” but with a magical twist. While they’re fantastic performers on stage, their relationships with each other as brothers are more complicated. What seems like a normal sibling dynamic to some might not be to others.

Here they delineate their characters.

Joe (to Nick): You’re the uptight responsible one.

Kevin (to Joe): You’re the relatable tramp. I’m the relatable —

Nick: — human cardboard.

Joe: — forgettable Curly.

Nick: — the world’s most unlikely rock star.

Joe: Not Nick or Joe.

Kevin: I was going to say “handsome, relatable everyman,” but fine.

With the tour finished, the down-to-earth brother wants to celebrate, hoping for a memorable night. The more reserved brother quickly points out they’re just three tired guys in their thirties, questioning how exciting things could actually be. While his brothers video chat with their families, Joe ends up at a British pub, sitting next to a stranger with a red leather jacket and a beard – it’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson playing a very thinly disguised Santa Claus. Moved by Joe’s story about being estranged from his siblings – “We’re planning to avoid each other this Christmas” – Santa uses his magic to try and reunite them. His first act? Sending a lightning bolt to disable the plane they were supposed to take home. (Luckily, it seems no one was on board.)

Nick told Joe they need to handle the situation themselves, just before Joe called their manager, Randall Park, for help.

“That would be perfect,” Joe responded, “but we’ve been in the public eye since childhood, so we just have to deal with it.”

Things get even stranger, leading to a romantic encounter reminiscent of “Before Sunrise” between Joe and his childhood friend Lucy (Chloe Bennet), who he meets on a train unexpectedly headed to Amsterdam instead of Paris. Meanwhile, Nick is forced to awkwardly perform with his rival, Ethan (Andrew Barth Feldman), whose father he once played in a made-up stage version of “Home Alone.” The cast also includes Laverne Cox as their agent, Billie Lourd as a travel agent, Will Ferrell playing himself as a huge Jonas Brothers fan, and Andrea Martin as a rideshare driver.

The songs sound a bit artificial – the auto-tune isn’t necessary, especially after seeing their fantastic Tiny Desk performance. However, the musical arrangements are enjoyable. Like bands such as The Beatles and The Monkees, these brothers are naturally charismatic performers, and I hope they get more opportunities to showcase that talent. The plot is flimsy, but if you don’t think too hard about it, you’ll have a good time.

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2025-11-14 23:01