We’re once again in the throes of new subpar Christmas movies being thrown at us. Unfortunately, Peacock’s new offering, Genie, starring Melissa McCarthy and Paapa Essiedu fits neatly alongside countless other throwaways of the genre.
‘Genie’ Premise
Adapted from the ‘90s made-for-TV British movie Bernard and the Genie by Richard Curtis (Love Actually), Genie follows the titular character, Bernard (Essiedu), as he tries to regain what he lost after he’s fired from his job and his wife and daughter move out. Bernard navigates this journey with the help of Flora (McCarthy), a genie who’s been boxed since Jesus Christ was alive.
Not All Bad
Genie does have a lot of positive things going for it. McCarthy, as always, is an absolute gem who can make even the Scroogiest Scrooges and the Grinchiest Grinches laugh. She and Essiedu have good chemistry, and it’s nice to watch a film where the main relationship developing around Christmastime is between new friends.
The movie is also set in New York City, which is one of the best settings for a Christmas film. While cinephiles likely won’t be on board, Genie is entertaining enough for anyone who wants to watch something other than Elf or A Christmas Story for the hundredth time.
Not All Good
There are several small details that make Genie less than what it could be, but the most irritating is the incongruous writing of Flora. As noted, the genie has been inside a box for thousands of years, and as such, several jokes hinge on Flora’s lack of knowledge of certain modernities, like what a movie is or even that Jesus is the son of God.
Melissa McCarthy in ‘Genie’
These instances are humorous for a moment, but their impact is lessened when Flora has the wherewithal to make other jokes that require modern knowledge, like the puns she made from potential restaurant names she suggested to Jesus. McCarthy’s delivery is good enough to evoke a laugh, but ultimately the film suffers from the lack of clarity.
For those who are looking for a good movie that also happens to be a Christmas movie, Genie is not it. (Viewers in that lane would be better off renting 2023’s The Holdovers or diving back into old favorites territory for an unseen classic.) It will, however, satisfy the Christmas movie obsessives who enjoy a heartwarming enough tale with some ridiculous antics and a little bit of magic.
Genie is streaming now on Peacock.