All is Bright: A Bittersweet Winter Drama

You know that feeling when the snow’s falling, but it’s more of a dreary slush than a magical winter wonderland? That’s kinda what I felt watching “All is Bright.” This film, directed by Phil Morrison, gives us Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti as our unlikely duo trying to sell Christmas trees in New York City. Let’s be honest, when you’ve got a couple of Pauls at the helm, you know you’re in for some quirky moments.

So, Giamatti’s character, Dennis, is fresh outta prison and desperate to make some quick cash to buy his daughter the Christmas piano of her dreams. Ever tried to buy a piano on a Christmas tree budget? It’s like when I tried to buy my first moped back in the day with money I’d hoped to save from delivering newspapers—it didn’t quite add up.

The film’s as much about redemption as it is about the hustle. But, it sort of meanders, man. I kept expecting Giamatti to burst into some holiday jive—maybe a jazzy “Jingle Bells”—but instead, the pace drags like Swedish winter evenings.

There’s a certain charm in the drudgery, the quiet moments where Rudd’s character, Rene, manages to mingle hope with the mundane. He’s like that one optimistic buddy who insists it’s a “nice day” during a typical November slask in Stockholm. Still, it’s hard not to root for these guys, even if they’re trudging through the snowy muck of Manhattan streets.

Anyways, the film’s a bit of a throwback to those indie flicks that were in vogue in the 2000s—gritty and real. It ain’t perfect, and maybe not for everyone, but it’s honest. And sometimes, that’s enough to warrant a watch. Pass the glögg and pepparkakor, right?

Check the trailer below