Ben Stiller takes on a new kind of role in Nutcrackers—one requiring heart, humor, and humanity rather than his usual neurotic city dweller. Director David Gordon Green, known for insightful indies and contemporary retellings of horror classics, takes us to rural Ohio. There, Stiller’s real estate executive Michael reluctantly cares for his late sister’s four boys on their quirky farm after tragedy strikes.

Michael seems ill-suited for farm life with the boisterous brothers playing by their own rules since mom passed. Their bond remains, yet grief goes unspoken. As an outsider, Michael troubles finding the balance between laughter and loss exploring this family. Through it all, the young actors shine in their first feature, portraying siblings simply as siblings—loving, lively, and learning together through it all.

Green acknowledges classics like The Bad News Bears, giving a new generation adventures free from cynicism. In Nutcrackers, he rediscovers...