In 31 Candles, filmmaker and star Jonah Feingold (known for EXmas) delivers a charmingly self-aware romantic comedy inspired by his own life. The premise is irresistible: a Jewish New York director who makes Christmas movies decides—at 31—to finally have the Bar Mitzvah he never did, hoping it will help him mature and win over his childhood summer camp crush. What unfolds is a witty, heartfelt exploration of delayed adulthood, identity, and the messy in-between space of modern romance.
Feingold plays Leo as both confident and comically stunted, a man fluent in rom-com tropes yet utterly unprepared for real emotional growth. The screenplay cleverly mines humor from Leo’s professional irony—directing Christmas films while avoiding his own Jewish rite of passage—without ever turning faith into a punchline. Instead, the Bar Mitzvah becomes a surprisingly moving metaphor for accountability and self-definition. The film’s New York backdrop feels lived-in and specific, grounding the heightened romantic chaos in something authentic.
The supporting cast elevates the story at every turn. Jackie Sandler (Big Daddy, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) brings warmth and comic timing to her role, while Dale Moss (The Bachelorette) adds surprising depth in a part that gently pokes fun at modern dating culture. Stand-up comic Jared Freid provides sharp observational humor, and Catherine Cohen (Only Murders in the Building) delivers scene-stealing moments with her signature theatrical flair.
Veteran performers lend the film its emotional backbone. Lori Tan Chinn (A Man on the Inside) and Caroline Aaron (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) bring layered, lived-in energy to the family dynamics, balancing comedy with genuine poignancy. Meanwhile, Larry Owens (Abbott Elementary) injects vibrant charisma, embodying the film’s celebration of chosen family and community. 
31 Candles succeeds because it understands that growing up rarely happens on schedule. Beneath its laugh-out-loud situationships and ex-driven chaos lies a sincere meditation on tradition, self-forgiveness, and second chances. Feingold crafts a rom-com that feels both culturally specific and universally relatable—proof that sometimes the most meaningful coming-of-age story is the one you write for yourself, even if it takes a lot of effort to get there.
By the time the candles are blown out, 31 Candles proves that it’s never too late for a rite of passage — or a rewrite of your own love story. Turns out, 13 wasn’t the right time for Leo’s Bar Mitzvah… but 31 just might be perfect.
31 Candles is available On Demand March 3, 2026.
MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Jonah Feingold
Writer: Jonah Feingold
Cast: Jonah Feingold; Sarah Coffey; Caroline Aaronn
Genre: Comedy | Romance
Tagline: First Crush. Second Chance.
Memorable Movie Quote: "
Distributor: Level 33 Entertainment
Official Site:
Release Date: March 3, 2026
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Leo Kadner, a 30-year-old New Yorker, has a Bar Mitzvah after reconnecting with his childhood crush Eva Shapiro. To complete his Mitzvah project, Leo must deal with situationships, exes, and family while on a deadline.
