Merry Ex-Mas (2016)

Film Overview
"Merry Ex-Mas", also known as "It Took Place One Christmas Eve" or "A Hubby For Christmas", is a 2016 vacation romantic funny directed by Kenny Young. The movie features Dean Cain (Les), Kristy Swanson (Cindy), Lochlyn Munro (Jason), Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (Jessica), and Ernie Hudson (Willie).

Plot Summary
Cindy (Kristy Swanson) and Les (Dean Cain) have been separated for several years. Still, they keep getting tossed back into each other's lives as they are required to co-parent their young child. Things take a chaotic turn as the 2 become shut in their previous household home during a Christmas snowstorm. Meanwhile, Jason, Les's hotshot lawyer brother, and Jessica, Les's misdirected however well-meaning company assistant, mistakenly complicate their lives with romantic entanglements that further stir the pot.

Divorce and Shared Co-Parenting
The movie checks out the ins and outs of Cindy and Les's shared parenting, focusing on their quest to raise their daughter in an unified environment despite their distinctions. The couple's daughter cupcakes keep them linked, as part of her yearly Christmas dream, suggesting how kids can unwittingly serve as emotional anchors in between separated parents.

Christmas Snowstorm and Forced Proximity
As Cindy and Les get stuck in their old house during a powerful Christmas snowstorm, they start reviving their past feelings for each other. The forced distance due to the weather situation functions as a catalyst for psychological confrontation, recalling old arguments but also stimulating past love and shared joys, all happening in the middle of the appeal and heat of the holiday.

Accidental Romantic Entanglements
Jason, Les's bro, seeking to secure and support Les, does his best to box out Cindy's potential suitors, triggering laughs when he, too, finds himself establishing sensations for her. On the other side, Jessica, Les's assistant, gets tangled up in the situation when her trick crush on Les begins influencing her professional choices.

Conclusion and New Beginnings
Despite the comedic elements of the film, there's also an emotional depth that deals with the intricacies of relationships, healing, and the obstacles of co-parenting. The film concludes with a lesson on understanding, forgiveness and the spirit of Christmas eventually bringing Les and Cindy better together. They recognize their sensations for each other have manifested in a new kind of love, different from but not lesser than what they used to have.

At the end of the film, Les and Cindy begin a journey of reconciling their previous concerns for a prospective clean slate as a household. "Merry Ex-Mas" is a heartwarming and encouraging portrayal of apart parents renegotiating their relationship with a backdrop of vacation cheer.

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