A Festive Guide to This Year’s Netflix Holiday Rom-Coms

As a seasoned movie enthusiast with a heart for romantic comedies, I must say that this holiday season has been a veritable feast of love and laughter! Each film offers something unique and delightful, but if I were to pick one standout, it would undoubtedly be “Meet Me Next Christmas.

Netflix is introducing four fresh holiday rom-coms, expanding their extensive library of original Christmas films. This year’s selection promises to delight fans who are still captivated by the pop culture trend of the early 2000s. Among these seasonal films, you’ll spot a couple of familiar faces like Lindsay Lohan and Lacey Chabert from “Mean Girls,” along with Chad Michael Murray from “One Tree Hill” channeling his inner “Magic Mike.” To make things even more nostalgic, these charming Christmas movies are filled with classic holiday tropes – we’ll discuss those in detail shortly.

With numerous holiday romance movies on Netflix for 2024 and limited time before Christmas, it can be challenging to select those worthy of your watchlist. Fear not! We’ve prepared a guide that ranks our 2024 holiday rom-coms from least appealing to most enjoyable, helping you navigate the familiar tropes these movies often present when you decide to stream them.

Consider us as your personal assistant, ready to guide you towards the ideal Netflix holiday movie that’s more nice than naughty, although this year’s selection might have a hint of mischief due to its increased steaminess compared to previous years. This transformation is largely thanks to Murray and Dustin Milligan from Schitt’s Creek, who are adding a fresh, romantic spin to the classic tale of Frosty the Snowman. So, let’s embrace the holiday spirit!

Hot Frosty

For fans of: Jack Frost, A Very Nutty Christmas, Elf, The Knight Before Christmas

In a new twist, we follow Kathy, a diner owner recently bereaved, portrayed by Lacey Chabert. This holiday season, she assists an unusual character – Luke, a snowman with six-pack abs who magically comes to life. His purpose? To inspire not just Kathy but the quirky townsfolk around her with lessons on spreading joy.

Holiday movie tropes:

*Lacey Chabert: Step aside, Vanessa Hudgens, here comes the Mean Girl aiming for your Netflix holiday throne. Since 2012, Chabert has solidified herself as one of the reigning queens of Christmas with over 30 Hallmark holiday films under her belt. Her upcoming Netflix Original movie “Hot Frosty” marks her first foray into the streaming service’s holiday offerings—but it certainly won’t be her last.

Kathy’s husband, who was her handyman, passed away from cancer a year ago and she hasn’t been able to move forward since then. She can’t seem to find the motivation to repair their dilapidated home or create new dishes for her restaurant. That is until she encounters an attractive man who believes he might be a snowman. A bit unexpected, wouldn’t you say?

*Experiencing the enchantment of Christmas:

During his break from decorating the auditorium for the local middle school’s winter ball, Luke learns an entire choreographed dance. However, he starts to sweat profusely while dancing, which is unusual for him since he used to be composed entirely of snow. This might not seem like a big issue for professional dancers, but it certainly poses a problem for Luke in this case.

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In summary: The movie titled “Hot Frosty” isn’t quite as fiery in the romance and humor categories as its title suggests. Some viewers feel that adding a touch more “peach fuzz” to the snowman could have made things warmer, but it’s up to you to decide. Milligan plays a delightful fish-out-of-water character, particularly when he draws upon his inner Buddy the Elf for some laugh-worthy scenes, such as his reaction to Kathy removing the head from a snowman cookie. However, if you’re seeking a heartwarming holiday film featuring Chabert, you may find more enjoyment in “Matchmaker Santa” instead.

Our Little Secret

If you’re a fan of heartwarming holiday comedies, you might enjoy films such as “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, “Anyone But You”, “Four Christmases”, and “The Happiest Season”.

What’s it about? Two longtime friends-turned-exes, played by Lindsay Lohan and Pretty Little Liars’ Ian Harding, show up to the holiday festivities only to discover that their new partners are siblings. The two decide it’s best that they keep their past relationship a secret from everyone. Hilarious holiday high jinks ensue.

Holiday movie tropes:

*Avery (Lohan) experienced the loss of her mother during her transition into adulthood, which Logan (Harding) believes has driven Avery to evade her past and, more precisely, him. He frequently references Avery’s deceased mom throughout the movie as a means of offering psychological insights and critiquing her choices. The most awkward instance of this is during what could be the most uncomfortable farewell speech on record. We advise you to brace yourself for it.

A Christmas gathering at Cameron’s seemingly ideal family home reveals a less-than-perfect facade. Avery’s boyfriend, played by Jon Rudnitsky in the movie “Set It Up”, introduces her to his family, but it soon becomes evident that they are far from normal. The annual oil painted family portraits on the wall would certainly make one question their normality.

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*Grandma Logan’s Struggle: In the climax of the movie, Grandma Melinda Tanner (Logan’s grandma) appears to be having difficulty with her memory, resulting in an awkward and poorly timed disclosure. What makes this moment particularly awkward is the film’s choice to exploit her dementia for comedic effect.

*Holiday Gift Shenanigans:* The anonymity of giving gifts during the holidays can lead to some amusing situations, as demonstrated by “The Office” in their season 2 episode “Christmas Party.” Similarly, the film “Our Little Secret” manages to add a bit more humor to the chaotic and unintentionally hilarious scenario of a secret present swap gone awry.

Overall assessment: Although “Our Little Secret” features some hilarious scenes, such as a misread church reading that highlights Lindsay Lohan’s comedic prowess, the movie tends to prioritize comedy over its romantic plotline. As a result, the progression of the friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-back-to-friends romance feels somewhat ordinary, even for a holiday film.

The Merry Gentlemen

For fans of: The Full Monty, A Christmas Love Story, The Best Man Holiday, A Christmas Melody

As a movie buff putting it in my own words: “I’m embarking on a journey to save my family’s struggling music venue. Since I used to be a dancer, I decide to put together an all-male holiday revue. The local handyman, who happens to live around here, is leading this show.

Holiday movie tropes:

*Let Go Over Christmas: Although Ashley is only 30, she was considered too old for the Jingle Belles, a dance troupe similar to the Rockettes that performs in New York City during the holiday season. Fortunately for Sycamore Creek, Ashley’s sudden dismissal brings her back to her small hometown. Here, she finds her parents, played by Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Michael Gross (Family Ties), in dire need of assistance.

*Small town bias: Small town guy Luke (Murray) is not so sure about Ashley, who has spent most of her adult life living in the Big Apple. For those looking for a fun drinking game: take a shot of hot chocolate, spiked with booze or mini-marshmallows, every time he refers to her as a “city girl.”

*Unintentional closeness: Ashley and Luke were merely colleagues until they found themselves locked in a tender dance, an incident that would undoubtedly necessitate HR’s attention. This heated interchange also included a classic holiday romance element, the passion-filled kiss that was unfortunately cut short.

In this film, the characters Murray, Marc Anthony Samuel from General Hospital, Hector David Jr. known for Power Rangers, dancer Colt Prattes, and Maxwell Caulfield famed for Grease 2, perform a variety of dance routines inspired by striptease and breakdance battles set to modern versions of classic tunes like “Carol of the Bells”. Expect to be impressed by their agility and physiques as they display their dance skills throughout the movie.

Final assessment: The film “The Merry Gentlemen” stands out from the others in this collection due to its slightly risqué content, characterized by frequent shirtless pelvic thrusting scenes. However, it’s not just about muscles; it also offers a generous dose of emotion, making it an exhilarating and heartwarming Christmas spectacle for those seeking a touch of holiday spice.

Meet Me Next Christmas

For fans of: Serendipity, Christmas With You, Love Hard, Something From Tiffany’s

In the story, Layla (played by Christina Milian) has an encounter with what she thinks is her ideal man (Kofi Siriboe) in an airport lounge on Christmas Eve. A year later, when they’re no longer together, Layla decides to follow through on their plan to meet at a Pentatonix concert in New York City. With the assistance of Teddy (Devale Ellis), a helpful personal concierge who loves Pentatonix, she embarks on a whirlwind holiday adventure to secure last-minute tickets and prove to herself that destiny is real.

Holiday movie tropes:

*Chance Encounter: Layla finds herself crossing paths with James, a kind-hearted uncle fond of the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” on Christmas Eve in an airport lounge. However, it could also be the man who adds Sriracha to her quiche (no hidden meaning here!) who might deserve more of Layla’s focus.

Layla fails to realize that her former boyfriend, who carelessly fed her peanuts despite her allergy and possibly ended up killing her pet fish, is not a good choice, until she discovers him cheating with another woman in a home he owns. Better late than never, one might say. Unfortunately, this won’t be the last time she finds herself attracted to the wrong man.

In the movie “Meet Me Next Christmas,” the acapella group Pentatonix – consisting of Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Matt Sallee, and Kevin Olusola – play significant roles. They serve as a Greek chorus in this romantic comedy, offering their insights on Layla’s love story. Additionally, they enjoy taking gentle jabs at self-centered pop stars during the musical performances. Their most impressive contribution is an original Christmas song created specifically for the film’s title.

*Spontaneous holiday event: This involves a lip-sync competition with a Christmas theme, where the winner gets two tickets to see Pentatonix live. Quite handy! Although it might seem a bit too obvious for some, it offers the chance for viewers to meet Jordy, Teddy’s cousin and the film’s standout character. Jordy, portrayed by Kalen Allen, has been snubbed in the “Snow Ball” and is determined to help Layla and Teddy win at any cost. However, Jordy faces a tough challenge. As he makes abundantly clear during a side-splitting training montage, this competition isn’t like the Housewives of Canarsie. Instead, it features understudies from Dear Evan Hansen and runners-up from RuPaul’s Drag Race. By the end, you’ll be hoping that Jordy gets his own holiday movie.

In summary: Conclusion: Among this year’s holiday offerings, Meet Me Next Christmas stands out as the shining ornament at the top of the tree. The captivating chemistry between Milian and Ellis will leave you rooting for their fairytale ending. Additionally, you may find yourself playing Pentatonix songs repeatedly this Christmas and beyond.

2024-11-27 18:07

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