Tag: 2024

Meet Me Next Christmas (2024)
‘Meet Me Next Christmas’ (2024)

PG | November 6, 2024 | 105 mins

On a quest to reconnect with the man of her dreams, Layla races across New York City to find a ticket to a sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert.

Screenplay

Watch

TRADITIONAL

MODERN

Cast: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis [+]
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Writers: Camilla Rubis, Molly Haldeman
Producers: Mark Roberts, Ashley Shields-Muir, Max Velez
Cinematographer: Andy Strahorn
Editors: Michael Jablow
Music: Dara Taylor
Distribution: Netflix

► The Rom Com Catalog Review

5.7 IMDB

64% TMDB

69% ROTTEN TOMATOES

– METACRITIC
- Cast
- Details
- Themes
- Quotes
- Trivia
- Awards & Nominations
NameCharacterChristina MilianLaylaDevale EllisTeddyKofi SiriboeJamesKirstin MaldonadoKristinMitch GrassiMitchScott HoyingScottMatt SalleeMattKevin OlusolaKevinNikki DuvallBecca
Release Date
November 6, 2024
Runtime
105 minutes
Production Companies
Roberts Media
MPAA Rating
PG
Language
English
Country
United States
Filming Dates
Unknown

Filming Locations
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
222 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6
The first class airport lounge where Layla meets both Teddy and James.
Bisha Hotel
80 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 2G3
The hotel where Pentatonix is staying.
Lillian Massey Building
157 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Chanel store where Layla and Teedy try to buy the Sugar Plum purse.
The Opera House
735 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1, Canada
Where Teddy and Layla share their first kiss.
The Comrade
758 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H4
A bar where Teddy and Layla meet a ticket seller.
David Pecaut Square
215 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3G2
Plaza where Teddy and Layla continue to look for tickets.
Queen’s Park
111 Wellesley St W, Toronto, ON M7A 1A2
Teddy and Layla’s rickshaw ride through Central Park was filmed here.
Royal Alexandra Theatre
260 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1H9
The venue where Pentatonix is performing at the end of the movie.
Forced Proximity Holidays Musical Elements One Day Romance Quirky Sidekicks Starting Over Wrong Girl/Guy First
Layla: You put sriracha on my quiche!
- Layla mentions getting *NSYNC tickets from a guy in an abandoned Quiznos. Christina Milian opened for *NSYNC for their PopOdyssey tour.
- Director Rusty Cundieff appears as the Christmas mime.
AwardsYearRecipientCategoryResultGuild of Music Supervisors Awards2025Sami Posner, Joel C. HighBest Music Supervision for a Non-Theatrically Released FilmNomineeSociety of Composers and Lyricists Awards2025Dara TaylorOutstanding Original Score for an Independent FilmNominee
Budget
$
0
Box Office
$
0

Videos

Meet Me Next Christmas

5 Videos

2:16

2:54

7:59

6:08

5:17
- I Was Skeptical About Netflix’s Meet Me Next Christmas, But It Turned Out To Be A Perfect Holiday Flick [CinemaBlend]
Song
Artist
Length
Lyrics
Leave It Up to Fate
Dara Taylor
3:02
Lyrics
A Recipe for Romance
Dara Taylor
1:28
Lyrics
The Universe Has Spoken
Dara Taylor
2:30
Lyrics
The Miming Mishap
Dara Taylor
1:25
Lyrics
Christmas in the City
Dara Taylor
1:27
Lyrics
Double Dealing
Dara Taylor
1:52
Lyrics
The Journey Continues
Dara Taylor
0:49
Lyrics
The Penthouse
Dara Taylor
2:36
Lyrics
High Stakes Negotiation
Dara Taylor
2:47
Lyrics
O Christmas Tree
Dara Taylor
1:36
Lyrics
Change of Headspace
Dara Taylor
1:07
Lyrics
Back to Brooklyn
Dara Taylor
0:39
Lyrics
Destiny
Dara Taylor
0:51
Lyrics
Sass and Sparkle
Dara Taylor
1:02
Lyrics
Like This Like This!
Dara Taylor
2:01
Lyrics
Your Person
Dara Taylor
1:57
Lyrics
What Just Happened?
Dara Taylor
1:29
Lyrics
Get Her to the Show!
Dara Taylor
1:59
Lyrics
Head Over Heels
Dara Taylor
1:23
Lyrics
My Whole Universe
Dara Taylor
4:12
Lyrics
- I Was Skeptical About Netflix’s Meet Me Next Christmas, But It Turned Out To Be A Perfect Holiday Flick [CinemaBlend]
Song
Artist
Length
Lyrics
Leave It Up to Fate
Dara Taylor
3:02
Lyrics
A Recipe for Romance
Dara Taylor
1:28
Lyrics
The Universe Has Spoken
Dara Taylor
2:30
Lyrics
The Miming Mishap
Dara Taylor
1:25
Lyrics
Christmas in the City
Dara Taylor
1:27
Lyrics
Double Dealing
Dara Taylor
1:52
Lyrics
The Journey Continues
Dara Taylor
0:49
Lyrics
The Penthouse
Dara Taylor
2:36
Lyrics
High Stakes Negotiation
Dara Taylor
2:47
Lyrics
O Christmas Tree
Dara Taylor
1:36
Lyrics
Change of Headspace
Dara Taylor
1:07
Lyrics
Back to Brooklyn
Dara Taylor
0:39
Lyrics
Destiny
Dara Taylor
0:51
Lyrics
Sass and Sparkle
Dara Taylor
1:02
Lyrics
Like This Like This!
Dara Taylor
2:01
Lyrics
Your Person
Dara Taylor
1:57
Lyrics
What Just Happened?
Dara Taylor
1:29
Lyrics
Get Her to the Show!
Dara Taylor
1:59
Lyrics
Head Over Heels
Dara Taylor
1:23
Lyrics
My Whole Universe
Dara Taylor
4:12
Lyrics
11/02/2025
‘Sweethearts’ (2024) Review

Best friends Jamie and Ben decide to break up with their respective significant others, Simon and Claire, while at home for Thanksgiving, so they can enjoy the full college experience without being tied down. Upon returning to their hometown, they run into many obstacles in their quest to end their respective relationships.

Sweethearts is yet another movie in the vein of Superbad, Booksmart, and I Love You, Beth Cooper, where things spiral out of control in the span of twenty-four hours. Yet, Jamie and Ben’s night of shenanigans is decidedly more tame, even if they, like the friends in those other films, must confront the fact that their co-dependent friendship may end as adulthood looms.

Ben is a people-pleasing free spirit, while Jamie is uptight and still healing from high school-related wounds. Yet, Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga work well together, and their chemistry is strong enough to believe that they’ve been best friends for years.

As a subplot, Jamie and Ben’s other best friend, Palmer (Caleb Hearon), has returned from Paris openly gay and ready to tell everyone in their small town. To be honest, I was more entertained and invested in Palmer’s story than Jamie and Ben’s. He inadvertently ends up with Coach Reese, whom Palmer is stunned to find out is gay, and Reese’s boyfriend, Ethan.

Palmer begins to learn that one does not have to live in a big city in order to have a satisfying life as a gay man. Palmer’s story certainly felt more important and poignant than Jamie and Ben’s simple desire to end their relationships. And honestly, Palmer, Coach Reese, and Ethan’s night was a lot more fun and felt less contrived. If there’s one reason to watch this movie, it’s for this particular storyline.

Overall, Sweethearts is decent, if a bit uneven. Some of the jokes are pretty sharp and genuinely funny, while others fall completely flat. Do we really need to see a flaccid penis? I guess that depends on the context, but during these moments, I felt Sweethearts desperately wanted to belong to the genre of edgier rom-coms by adding unnecessary shock value. It just didn’t work.

The movie also falls prey to the one-dimensional boyfriend/girlfriend trope that plagues so many rom-coms. Simon is a stereotypical horny jock devoid of personality. Claire is clingy and shallow, as all annoying girlfriends in these movies tend to be. Neither character has any depth, so honestly, we don’t care whether Jamie or Ben ever finds them, let alone dumps them.

As Sweethearts is being marketed as a rom-com, it’s easy to predict where their friendship is headed… or is it? This movie clearly tries to circumvent the typical rom-com. It asks, “What if Harry and Sally just decided to be friends?” but I am not sure it offers a very satisfying answer.

Watched: 01/10/2025
Notable Song: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

Rating:

01/10/2025
‘The Merry Gentlemen’ (2024) Review

After Broadway dancer Ashley is aged out of her job in New York, she decides to head home for Christmas to recoup. There, she learns that her parents’ venue, The Rhythm Room, is on the brink of foreclosure due to $30,000 in back payments. Ashley decides to stage an all-male revue to win back some customers and pay off her parents’ debt.

Hot off the heels of Hot Frosty comes The Merry Gentlemen, another holiday rom-com offering from Netflix. And while Hot Frosty was a pleasant surprise, The Merry Gentlemen was sadly a disappointment. The premise is a reliable one, if not exactly original. The business is struggling and needs a miracle to stay afloat. Put on a show, charge a lot of money, and save the day! That’s The Merry Gentlemen in a nutshell, except the show is an all-male revue where hunky guys bump and grind while stripping off their clothes – well, a shirt, anyway.

Britt Robertson is as adorable as Ashley, but the character is sorely underdeveloped. All we really know is that she loves to dance, and being a Jingle Belle was all she had ever wanted to do with her life.

Chad Michael Murray’s Luke isn’t much better. He’s a handyman and divorcee whose ex-wife left him to go live in a big city. I suppose that’s to create some emotional stakes in the relationship, as Ashley lives in a big city, and will history repeat itself? Take a guess. Murray’s performance is low-energy, and he comes across as completely uninterested in what he’s doing. Together, Ashley and Luke make for a rather bland couple, lacking the heat needed to keep the romance interesting.

The Merry Gentlemen runs 87 minutes and definitely feels rushed. There is little time for any character development or for the romance to blossom. More time is spent on the revue performances, and honestly, if you’ve watched these guys dance and strip off their shirts once, you really don’t need to see much more of it – yes, I am sure there may be some people out there who disagree with me there! But time was wasted on the awkward stripping, where those minutes could have been used to give the movie some more tangible plot.

In any case, I wasn’t a big fan. I didn’t feel as though much had happened, and I didn’t buy into the insta-romance between Ashley and Luke. When the chemistry is good, I can believe a character would give up their dreams to stay with their supposed soulmate. But when there’s little sizzle, the decisions of our leads make no sense to me. The Merry Gentlemen just came across as uninspired, with stale dialogue and little charm. If you want to be mildly titillated, by all means, give the movie a watch. But there are plenty of quality holiday rom-coms to watch this year instead.

Watched: 12/17/2024
Notable Song: The Magic of the Season by David Isaac Feldstein

Rating:

12/18/2024
‘Hot Frosty’ (2024) Review

Kathy is a young widow who runs a diner in the small town of Hope Springs. While she takes pride in her work, she hasn’t done much to care for herself or the house she once shared with her husband since his passing. After her friend Mel gives her a red scarf and encourages her to find love again, Kathy puts the scarf on the snow sculpture of a muscular man. Unbeknownst to Kathy, the sculpture comes to life later that night and takes the name of Jack. Despite the fact that Jack claims to be a snowman, Kathy finds herself falling for him.

I can’t lie; I assumed the movie would be terrible as soon as I saw the title. Netflix is very hit-or-miss with their rom-coms, especially their holiday rom-coms, and hello… the title was Hot Frosty. The premise was as ridiculous as the title. But I knew I was going to watch it anyway. And now that I’ve done that, I’ll admit it: Hot Frosty was not a great movie, but it wasn’t terrible, either!

I think what works in the movie’s favor is that the entire cast seems to understand what kind of movie they’re making. Nobody is phoning in their performance, but it’s clear they’re having fun with it. That certainly makes it more enjoyable for me.

While she’s probably best known for her role in Mean Girls (2004), Lacey Chabert has also appeared in over thirty Hallmark movies, so Hot Frosty probably wasn’t much of a stretch for her. I understand she was playing the “straight man” to Dustin Milligan’s Jack, but Chabert was the weak link in the cast for me. She is perfectly likable as Kathy, but I can’t help but think that with another actress at the helm, Kathy may have been a far more interesting character. It’s possible the character was just underwritten, but Kathy as a whole was underwhelming.

Like Buddy in Elf, Jack is a naive but sweet man who comes across as quite childlike before the “real world” prompts him to grow and mature – while never losing that optimistic innocence. Will Ferrell pulled it off without it being creepy – and Milligan manages to do the same. If you’ve ever watched Schitt’s Creek, you already know Milligan has what it takes to be both humorous and charming, and he is certainly both in this movie.

For whatever reason, all of the women in town seem to want Jack. He’s naive, but sweet and helpful. And he’s a total hottie, completely oblivious to all of the objectification. Not that it matters, of course, because Jack only has eyes for Kathy. While I wasn’t overly impressed with Kathy as a character, I do think Chabert and Milligan had nice chemistry. I found Kathy and Jack’s blossoming romance to be adorable, complete with a cutesy Christmas montage of baking cookies and snowball fights. It’s earnest in its sweetness, which can be hard to find in these ooey-gooey rom-coms.

Craig Robinson and Joe Lo Truglio, as the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff of Hope Springs, add some comedic street cred to the film. Sheriff Hunter seems to be the de facto villain of the movie, though the extent of his villainy is that he is perhaps a little too aggressive in his search for the man (Jack) who was seen naked outside of a clothing store the night Jack came to life.

There’s really no major conflict found in Hot Frosty. While Jack did become a man, he’s still a snowman – I think? He’s never cold, and when he’s in a warm place for too long, he starts to sweat a lot – like he’s going to melt. If you know the story of Frosty the Snowman, you know where this is going.

Look, Hot Frosty isn’t going to become a Christmas classic, but it’s certainly one of Netflix’s better Christmas offerings. Carried by a talented cast, it’s entertaining, sweet, and invokes some genuine laughs. Don’t judge a movie by its title (or premise) as I did. Give it a try and enjoy the saccharine silliness.

Watched: 12/09/2024
Notable Song: feelslikeimfallinginlove by Coldplay feat. Zerb

Rating:

12/17/2024
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ (2024) Review

Cole Davis is attempting to get America to the moon before the Soviets, but a lack of funding and public interest in NASA threatens to derail the entire project. Enter Kelly Jones, a strong-willed woman with a knack for marketing. Government operative Moe Berkus offers Kelly the high-stakes job. If she manages to pull off the impossible—getting a man to the moon—she can have all of her past mistakes – and crimes – completely erased from her history.

While there is a spark between Kelly and Cole, there is also animosity. Cole isn’t a fan of the NASA branding Kelly brings to the program, and Kelly struggles to get Cole on board with the marketing in order to bring in the proper funds. The two clash until a mutual understanding begins to form, and Cole can see that Kelly cares about the mission as much as he does.

It’s a shame that Fly Me to the Moon was released in July of this year and didn’t prompt more discussion. While it may have been labeled as a rom-com, it’s also an intriguing look into the space program and the lengths it took to get America to the moon. Granted, this is a Hollywood movie, so I’m certain there were a lot of liberties taken. But Fly Me to the Moon is as much about how the country came together for one monumental moment as it is about the romance between Kelly and Cole.

While this is the third movie starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum – the other two being Don Jon and Hail, Caesar! – it is the first one in which they act together on screen. Their chemistry is on point and a bit zany, harkening back to the days of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. That’s hard to do these days, and I hope they end up doing another film together sometime in the future.

Woody Harrelson is a delight in just about everything I’ve seen him in, and his performance as Moe Berkus, a secret government operative for President-elect Richard Nixon, gives Fly Me to the Moon an extra oomph of conflict and comedy. Jim Rash supplies the more outlandish comedic relief as the Tab-obsessed director of the faux moon landing. Ray Romano provides the heart of the film as Henry Smalls, a NASA employee who has been pushing toward the moon even longer than Cole.

This is a movie where the film isn’t dependent solely on its two main leads but instead showcases the talent of its entire cast, giving even the most minor roles some depth. I have to give props to director Greg Berlanti and writer Rose Gilroy for creating two fully developed, fascinating characters in Kelly and Cole. It’s a long movie, but I didn’t really mind it so much with Tatum and Johannson at the helm.

Fly Me to the Moon wholly embraces the period in which it is set, which definitely adds to its charm. It’s colorful and entertaining, and its romance is nestled perfectly against the backdrop of one of the most critical times in American history. This movie is definitely worth watching for all fans of the genre.

Watched: 11/02/2024
Notable Song: Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) by Bobby Womack

Rating:

12/09/2024
‘A Family Affair’ (2024) Review

Zara (Joey King) is the executive assistant to Chris Cole, a demanding actor and the world’s biggest action star. While her dream is to become a producer, Zara instead runs mundane errands and helps Chris break up with his many girlfriends. Frustrated and feeling underappreciated, Zara quits. When Chris realizes how much he depends on Zara, he goes to her home to ask her to return to work. It’s there that he meets Brooke, Zara’s mother. Sparks fly, and Brooke and Chris begin an affair that threatens to jeopardize their relationship with Zara.

Brooke (Nicole Kidman) is a successful author suffering from writer’s block as she navigates the challenges of her intertwining personal and family lives. Despite the film’s obvious flaws, Kidman gives a nuanced portrayal of a woman struggling to find herself outside of being a widow and mother. She plays well off of Joey King, who is not terribly easy to love as Zara.

It’s easy to sympathize with Zara over having to work with a challenging, out-of-touch Chris. However, Zara still comes across as a privileged nepo baby who can’t seem to see her mother as a woman who is entitled to a love life. However, the mother-daughter dynamic feels genuine, as does Brooke’s relationship with her wise mother-in-law, Leila, played by Kathy Bates. When the movie focuses on the complexities of these family relationships and lets the romantic angle take a backseat, it works really well.

Speaking of romance, Zac Efron as Chris Cole provides a pleasing, if underutilized, presence as Brooke’s romantic interest, complicating the already delicate family situation. Efron and Kidman have nice chemistry, but their relationship’s development is stilted at times, and the film’s narrative suffers as a result. We suspend our disbelief for romantic comedies, but it’s still somewhat disappointing when a promising premise shifts into predictability, relying on familiar genre tropes rather than attempting something new.

There are some issues with the pacing as well, and I felt like some scenes went on far too long while others didn’t delve quite as deeply into the characters’ motivations as they could have. There is a small side plot about Zara’s best friend, who is going through a breakup, but the storyline feels contrived and serves only to show how self-absorbed Zara is. It wasn’t necessary, as this was already seen in Zara’s interactions with everyone else around her.

Ultimately, A Family Affair offers an enjoyable watch, primarily due to its talented cast and what they bring to the otherwise uneven material. However, it struggles to offer much beyond the familiar rom-dramedy formula. For those in the mood for a light, feel-good film with some solid performances, it delivers, but A Family Affair is largely forgettable.

Watched: 11/01/2024
Notable Song: A Woman’s World (Remix) by Estelle

Rating:

11/20/2024
‘Role Play’ (2024) Review

Emma (Kaley Cuoco) is leading a double life. She’s a loving wife and mother… and an assassin. Her constant “work trips” are starting to strain her marriage to David (David Oyelowo), and she decides she’s done with the secret assassin life for good. Emma and David agree to some role play to spice up their marriage – they’ll meet up at a hotel as two completely different people. Unfortunately, at the bar, another assassin named Bob recognizes Emma, who has a bounty on her head. The consequences turn deadly when Emma has to silence him to protect her secret.

Role Play is a movie we’ve all seen before. A spouse or significant other lives a double life as a spy or assassin, and what happens when both lives unexpectedly merge. I’ve definitely seen this movie before in Killers, or even Mr. and Mrs. Smith (where both spouses are out killing people). Not much distinguishes Role Play from the plethora of like-minded movies that have come before it.

Cuoco is a likable actress whom I have enjoyed in other projects (Meet Cute), but she is not terribly believable as an assassin. However, she gels nicely with Oyelowo for the more emotional scenes. And it’s Oyelowo who is the bright spot in Role Play. He’s a charismatic actor who gives a nuanced performance as the “in the dark” spouse suddenly thrust into a life-or-death situation. I paid a lot more attention whenever he was on the screen.

The supporting cast is a talented bunch – Bill Nighy and Connie Nielsen – but Nighy was not on screen as much as I would have liked, and Nielsen, while a fantastic actress, felt like a stock character taken out of Villain 101.

I guess my real issue with Role-Play is Emma herself. Little complexity is given to her character. She comes across as cold and unremorseful for what she’s done. She’s a killer who gives us little to no reason to root for her. We want to see David survive, of course, but I was really hoping he’d boot her to the curb when all was said and done.

Role Play has its moments, namely a bar scene where Bill Nighy’s Bob shows up to throw a wrench into Emma’s life, and, as I mentioned above, David Oyelowo is compelling when he’s on screen. But ultimately, Role Play lacks the laughs and dynamic action sequences that make these kinds of movies so much fun. Not to mention Emma is not really a heroine we can get behind. I’m glad I finally got around to watching it, but it’s not likely to be one I’ll revisit.

Watched: 11/01/2024
Notable Song: Nothing Burns Like The Cold by Snoh Aalegra

Rating:

11/09/2024
‘Meet Me Next Christmas’ (2024) Review

When her flight home for Christmas is canceled, Layla (Christina Milian) meets two men in the guest lounge at the airport. Teddy (Devale Ellis), whom she speaks briefly to at the buffet, and James (Kofi Siriboe), a man who seems almost perfect for her – except she’s not single and has no plans to be anytime soon. Feeling a connection, James tells Layla to meet him at the Pentatonix concert on the next Christmas Eve, should she find herself single by then.

A year later, Layla catches her longtime boyfriend with another woman and decides to try to grab a ticket to the Pentatonix concert so she can meet up with James. Unfortunately, the concert is sold out, and tickets are impossible to find. Her best friend, Roxy, suggests that Layla use a concierge service known for getting their clients difficult finds, and it’s there that Layla runs into Teddy again – except they don’t exactly recognize one another from the year before. Teddy, who is on the verge of being fired, is determined to find Layla’s concert ticket, and they grow closer as they experience various shenanigans in their quest.

Meet Me Next Christmas is one of many holiday offerings by Netflix this year. Given their track record of not-so-great rom-coms, I wasn’t expecting much from this movie, but I got a lot of contrived plots and a lot of cheese. I did get a contrived plot and some cheese, but surprisingly, I wasn’t overwhelmed by them to the point where I couldn’t enjoy this movie.

The movie takes inspiration from Serendipity, in which two people let fate decide whether they belong together. However, the outcome is very apparent from the first scene. Milian and Ellis have lovely chemistry, which makes the plot more palatable. While I may not have been a fan of her previous Netflix offerings, Milian is a reliable, likable lead for this kind of movie. It’s her leading men who seem to be interchangeable and somewhat forgettable.

The script, written by Camilla Rubis and Molly Haldeman, is passable and hits all of the typical holiday rom-com notes. It even has some funny moments, although the unfunny moments – like a shallow, wealthy couple willing to part with their Pentatonix tickets – outweigh them. And that’s another thing… why was the movie so focused on Pentatonix? The a cappella group is featured front and center, occasionally bursting out in spontaneous, harmonized responses, and follows Teddy and Layla’s journey on their manager’s phone as they debate whether Layla should be with Teddy or James. They do poke fun at themselves, which was amusing to see, but sometimes Meet Me Next Christmas felt like a 105-minute Pentatonix ad.

Tymika Tafari and Kalen Allen provide most of the laughs as Roxy, Layla’s best friend, and Jordy, Teddy’s cousin. Jordy somehow wrangles Teddy and Layla into a Christmas-themed lip sync battle in order to, you guessed it, win two tickets to Pentatonix. It’s really kind of ridiculous how we get from A to B in this movie, but if you love Pentatonix and, say, Jingle All the Way, you’ll probably really like it anyway.

Out of all of Milian’s Netflix rom-coms, Meet Me Next Christmas is the most enjoyable, and while this movie is not destined to become a Christmas classic, it’s worth a watch if you want a spirited holiday romance (and you really, really like Pentatonix).

Watched: 11/06/2024
Notable Song: Meet Me Next Christmas by Pentatonix

Rating:

11/06/2024
Merry Gentlemen, The (2024)
‘The Merry Gentlemen’ (2024)

PG | November 20, 2024 | 88 mins

A little sizzle could save the season.

To save her parents’ small-town nightclub, a Broadway dancer stages an all-male, Christmas-themed revue and meets a guy with all the right moves.

Screenplay

Watch

TRADITIONAL

MODERN

Cast: Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray [+]
Director: Peter Sullivan
Writers: Marla Sokoloff, Jeffrey Schenck
Producers: Jeffrey Schenck, Barry Barnholt, Brian Nolan, Peter Sullivan
Cinematographer: Lars Lindstrom
Editors: Randy Carter
Music: Brooke deRosa
Distribution: Netflix

► The Rom Com Catalog Review

4.8 IMDB

58% TMDB

39% ROTTEN TOMATOES

34% METACRITIC
- Cast
- Details
- Themes
- Quotes
- Trivia
- Awards & Nominations
Name
Character
Britt Robertson
Ashley
Chad Michael Murray
Luke
Marla Sokoloff
Marie
Michael Gross
Stan
Beth Broderick
Lily
Maxwell Caulfield
Danny
Maria Canals-Barrera
Denise
Meredith Thomas
Jodie
Release Date
November 20, 2024
Runtime
88 minutes
Production Companies
Hybrid, Gentleman Media Group
MPAA Rating
PG
Language
English
Country
United States
Filming Dates
April 2024 – June 8, 2024

Filming Locations
Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch Backlot
19802 Placerita Canyon Rd., Newhall, California
Studio where the majority of The Merry Gentlemen was filmed.
Elk’s Lodge 2790
14440 Friar St, Van Nuys, California
Interior of the Rhythm Room.
Holidays
Small Town
Workplace
- In the same universe as another Netflix Christmas movie, The Princess Switch (2018). When Ashley comes back to the Rhythm Room and looks at the memorabilia on the wall, there’s an article that shows the “Belgravia Royals”.
- The movie Ashley is watching at the 5-minute mark is another popular Netflix Christmas movie, A Christmas Prince (2017).
- Marla Sokoloff, who plays Ashley’s sister Marie, was also one of the writers.
- A series of bloopers and outtakes is shown during the first part of the end credits.
No known awards or nominations.

Budget
$
0
Box Office
$
0

Videos

The Merry Gentlemen

4 Videos

1:42

3:55

2:15

5:08
No physical media available.
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11/04/2024
‘Girl Haunts Boy’ (2024) Review

In the 1920s, a curious young woman named Bea (Peyton List) is visiting a museum with her family when she steals one half of a ring from a display. Shortly after, she is hit by a car and killed. Fast forward to the present day, when a 17-year-old boy named Cole (Michael Cimino) moves into a new home with his mother, both grieving the loss of his father.

Cole soon finds the ring Bea stole nearly a century earlier. When he puts it on, Bea appears in her ghostly form. The two bond and form an unlikely friendship, which is tested when Bea has a chance to move on to the afterlife.

Girl Haunts Boy is a lovely little romantic dramedy that is surprisingly emotional and perfect for this time of year. It has its humorous moments, especially as Bea finally escapes the confines of her home to experience what life is like in 2024, but ultimately, the movie is a tender story about two lost people healing from their grief together.

Bea is both charming and free-spirited, but I’m not sure her character was developed as fully as it could have been, considering she lived in the 1920s. So, it’s Cole who anchors the film – we see him as the new kid at school, hiding his intelligence to fit in and awkwardly navigating a potential friendship with a “psychic” schoolmate. He and his mother share some sweet scenes about Cole’s father’s passing, but we never learn much about Bea’s family beyond the fact that her parents were musicians. That seems designed to further bond Bea and Cole, as Cole plays guitar and used to play with his father.

The strength of Girl Haunts Boy is in the blossoming friendship between Bea and Cole. The cursed ring that Bea stole so many years ago is never fully explained, except that if the ring is returned to its other half, Bea can break the curse and “move on”.

Unfortunately, Cole has come to depend on Bea and can’t quite bring himself to let her go. If you think too deeply about the circumstances surrounding the cursed ring – and the ghostly rules of Bea’s existence – you’ll find that not a lot of it makes sense without a deeper explanation, which we never get. However! I found I didn’t mind much because I felt the story was more about Cole finding a way out of the grief that was holding him hostage than about the circumstances that kept Bea from moving on to the afterlife.

List and Cimino share a lovely chemistry on screen, but the romantic aspect of their relationship is lacking. Most of their interactions are rather platonic, so when there is suddenly a spark of romance, it comes across as hurried and contrived. Had there been some more believable build-up to their ghostly romance, I think I would have enjoyed it more, but as it was, I would have much rather Bea and Cole remained friends.

I still think Girl Haunts Boy is worth watching, especially if you prefer your spooky movies with a lighter touch, like, say, Hocus Pocus. It’s a heartwarming film with cozy, lived-in sets and charming performances from its leads. This movie was built for the fall season, and it’s perfect for a chilly day when you just want to stay wrapped up in a blanket and watch some feel-good films.

Watched: 10/14/2024
Notable Song: Still Haunted By You by Michael Cimino

Rating:

10/29/2024
‘Your Monster’ (2024) Review

Cancer-stricken Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera) is recovering from surgery when Jacob, her boyfriend of five years, breaks up with her. Jacob is a playwright and director who had promised Laura the lead in his new feminist musical, but after their relationship ends, he avoids all contact with her.

While Laura recovers in her childhood home, she encounters a monster in her closet (Tommy Dewey), who has apparently been living there her entire life. With her mother constantly traveling, Monster – as Laura calls him – has grown adept at living alone, and he orders her out of the house in two weeks. Despite a rough start to their living situation, the two begin bonding over movies and plays, leading to an unlikely friendship. When she lands an understudy role in Jacob’s musical, Monster teaches Laura to speak up for herself, leading to unfortunate consequences for all involved.

With horror and rom-coms being my two favorite movie genres, it was a no-brainer that I would see Your Monster as soon as possible. I’m a big fan of Melissa Barrera’s work, and I thoroughly enjoyed Tommy Dewey’s performance as the comically dark, sharply-tongued Michael O’Donoghue on Saturday Night (2024).

Dewey relishes this particularly juicy role as Monster, delivering ferociousness and snark while covered in prosthetics. And yet, there’s also a vulnerability to the character that Dewey so effortlessly expresses in his eyes that most of the time, you almost forget he’s a beast. And you certainly root for him to win Laura over.

Barrera once again gets to show off her strong musical background, but she’s a surprisingly strong comedic actress as well. Laura comes across as a woman who’s clearly on the verge of a major mental breakdown, and Monster seems to be the only “person” in her life not afraid to call her out on her destructive personality traits.

Barrera is so affable and radiant on screen, and it’s clear to me that while her role in the Scream franchise may be dead, she still has a very promising career in the genre, should she want it. The bonus to two strong performances is that Barrera and Dewey also share some great chemistry, which is why this otherwise ridiculous premise works so well. He’s a monster! She’s a human! How will they make this work?

The supporting cast takes a backseat to Laura and Monster, but Edmund Donovan, as Jacob, is one of the most hateable ex-boyfriends in rom-com history. Smug, pretentious, and completely lacking in empathy toward Laura’s plight, it’s hard to feel any sympathy when Laura’s ultimate revenge plot jeopardizes his precious opening night.

Meghann Fahy is Jackie, the TV actress who unknowingly “stole” Laura’s role in the musical – I appreciated that, as it was clear she and Jacob were perhaps hooking up, director and writer Caroline Lindy didn’t turn Jackie into a one-dimensional, bitchy rival to Laura. Every character in the film felt as though they had depth; they were people you probably knew in your own life. There was nothing too over the top that took you out of the reality of the movie – other than, you know, the monster living in Laura’s closet!

I will say, Your Monster has the rom (who doesn’t love it when the romantic lead is caught off guard by a beautiful woman walking down the stairs?), the com (just wait until you see where Monster likes to sleep), and a good dose of what the f*ck horror. The ending was both captivating and unexpected, but I have to admit I absolutely loved the direction it took. I am positive some may find it contrived or even predictable, but I didn’t really see it coming. No spoilers, of course, but I found myself asking “Wait, what?” more than once when it ended.

As a bonus, I found quite a few parallels to Lisa Frankenstein, and if you’re into an entertaining horror rom-com double feature, watch that movie, followed by Your Monster. I can’t think of a better way to spend Halloween for the spooky rom-com lovers.

Watched: 10/27/2024
Notable Song: My Stranger by Melissa Barrera

Rating:

10/28/2024
‘Saturday Night’ (2024) Review: Random Reviews

Saturday Night Synopsis: Tensions run high as producer Lorne Michaels and a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers prepare for the first broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 11, 1975.

10/13/2024
‘Hit Man’ (2024) Review

Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of New Orleans who also assists in undercover sting operations for the NOPD. When Jasper, a cop who impersonates fake hitmen to elicit confessions and payments from suspects, gets suspended, Gary is reluctantly thrown into the role.

As it turns out, Gary is a natural. He researches each suspect and creates a persona that appeals to them, making it easier to solicit them. When he meets Madison, an unhappy woman who wants her abusive husband killed, Gary, posing as the charismatic Ron, finds himself attracted to her.

I have been a fan of Glen Powell’s ever since Set It Up (2018), and I love all of the films he has appeared in recently. Hit Man is no exception. It’s a sharply written dark comedy that poses some pretty profound questions about one’s “true self” and whether it even exists.

Powell’s talent is on full display as Gary/Ron, and it’s clear he’s going to have some longevity in his career, especially since he doesn’t seem to be typecast or nailed down to one particular genre. He also shares some sizzling chemistry with Adria Arjona, who plays Madison. Her role is not as flashy as Powell’s, but she holds her own as a wife looking to become her true self after a disastrous marriage. Is she a blossoming flower or a femme fatale?

I absolutely adored Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, and I see some shades of the creative partnership he shared with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in the screenplay he wrote with Powell. The premise is a bit wild, but the characters are engaging enough to make even the most implausible aspects of the movie… well… plausible. There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface here, and I think Linklater and Powell cleverly disguised the movie’s message of morality and the constructs of one’s self in the wrappings of a sexy, dark rom-com.

Hit Man has plenty of laughs and more than a couple of WTF!? moments. I think the ending may polarize some people, but I found it a fitting way to wrap up the story. If nothing else, it will definitely spark some discussion.

Fun fact: Hit Man is based on the true story of Gary Johnson’s life. Obviously, a lot of liberties are taken, but it’s still worth looking into after you’ve watched the movie.

Watched: 06/15/2024
Notable Song: Such a Night by Dr. John

Rating:

07/15/2024
‘The Fall Guy’ (2024) Review

After suffering an injury on set, stuntman Colt Seavers steps away from show business and leaves Hollywood behind, along with his lady love, Jody. 18 months later, Colt is back on the set of a big-budget blockbuster, this time with Jody at the helm as director. While he tries to navigate their broken relationship, Colt is saddled with the unfortunate task of tracking down the movie’s star before the entire film is derailed.

It’s not difficult to get me into the theater whenever Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt headline a movie, but when that movie happens to be a romantic comedy? You know I’ll be there opening weekend for sure. Even better? The Fall Guy embodies the kind of cinema I crave—a refreshing departure from the inundation of superhero flicks, sequels, and reboots.

The Fall Guy has everything a summer movie ought to have: an all-star cast featuring not only Blunt and Gosling, but also talents like Hannah Waddingham, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (at times channeling his inner Matthew McConaughey), a witty script, adept direction, a killer soundtrack, and a perfect blend of comedy, romance, and action. The Fall Guy certainly appeals to fans across the cinematic spectrum. What more could you ask for in a summer blockbuster?

Ryan Gosling shines as the movie’s charismatic linchpin. His playful rapport with Emily Blunt infuses the film with warmth, though Gosling’s charm extends to just about everyone he meets onscreen. Most notably, I adored his scenes with Winston Duke’s Dan, Colt’s stunt coordinator, and Jean Claude, the Kelpie attack dog – yes, a dog – who only responds to French commands. Blunt brings a sweet vulnerability to Jody, a novice director thrust into the limelight. Yet, when circumstances demand it, she reveals a captivating strength, elevating her character into a heroine worth rooting for. Her strong chemistry with Gosling gives the movie its emotional stakes. Without it, the movie loses most of its heart.

While The Fall Guy may be a love story between Colt and Jody, underneath the romance, it pays homage to Hollywood’s unsung heroes—the stunt doubles and their crews. Director David Leitch, himself a former stuntman, showcases breathtaking action sequences and practical effects, eschewing CGI extravagance. This commitment to authenticity underscores Leitch’s reverence for a profession often overlooked in Hollywood.

In the end, not every film needs to be profound; sometimes, it’s enough to offer two hours of pure, unadulterated entertainment. The Fall Guy achieves just that—a cinematic delight that leaves audiences smiling as they exit the theater.

Watched: 05/05/2024
Notable Song: I Was Made for Loving You by Yungblud

Rating:

05/05/2024
‘Lisa Frankenstein’ (2024) Review

After witnessing her mother’s horrific murder, Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) is adjusting to life in a new town when her father remarries. Lisa’s stepmother, Janet, is tightly wound, while her stepsister, Taffy, is perky, popular, and ecstatic over having a new sister. Taffy attempts to get Lisa to socialize more, but Lisa would much rather hang out in the local cemetery, where she has taken it upon herself to care for the headstone of a young Victorian man.

After being assaulted at a party, Lisa wanders back to the cemetery, where she tells the man’s headstone that she wishes she were with him. A strange storm sweeps through the town that night, bringing back to life the dead Victorian, whose name is never revealed but is known as “The Creature” in the credits.

Lisa finds something of a confidante in The Creature (Cole Sprouse) and begins to help him replace missing body parts by unsavory means. The Creature appears more human with each new part and a zap from Taffy’s temperamental tanning bed. But while The Creature is slowly regaining his humanity, Lisa seems to be falling apart, spiraling into madness. They are both misfits, outsiders who want to be loved. It just so happens that their journey to that love is covered in a lot of blood and body parts.

Diablo Cody has done a fantastic job crafting a modernized, playful take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and perfectly captures the 80s, creating an atmosphere of nostalgia with crimpers, aerosol hairspray, Jellies, the hot glow of neon pink, and a kickass 80s soundtrack.

Lisa Frankenstein is very Burton-esque, with its whimsical, gothic animated opening sequence, Janet’s unique pink house that sticks out like a sore thumb on an otherwise dull suburban street, and the creepy, overgrown cemetery complete with a wrought-iron fence. It’s not shy about emulating the 80s movies that inspired it. I got so many Heathers vibes from this film, and Kathryn Newton’s big-eyed, gothic Lisa would have fit in perfectly with the female horror heroines/anti-heroines of that era.

While there is plenty of bloody camp to enjoy, the bright spots of Lisa Frankenstein are the moments between Lisa and The Creature. Kathryn Newton is fantastic as Lisa. She is your average teenager, living with an unconcerned father (Joe Chrest, essentially playing his role as Ted in Stranger Things) and an emotionally abusive stepmother (the wonderfully bitchy Carla Gugino). She’s had to bury the trauma of witnessing her mother’s murder, and the inability to deal with the mental health issues it caused has certainly contributed to her interest in the macabre and, soon, her emotional unraveling. Lisa’s transformation from awkward and sweet to confident and callous is mesmerizing, thanks to Newton’s increasingly unhinged performance.

Cole Sprouse’s performance is 99% physical, as The Creature is nonverbal, though Lisa seems to understand his croaks and groans well enough that communication is not that difficult. Sprouse has fun with it, because what else can you do? I’ve never been a big fan of his acting, but I will admit he showcases some comedic chops here. Newton and Sprouse play well off of one another, and their chemistry is strong enough that, despite all their bad behavior, you kind of want them to get away with it!

I also really enjoyed Lisa’s relationship with her pretty, popular stepsister, Taffy, played by a charming Liza Soberano. Taffy could have easily been the stereotypical mean girl, a popular cheerleader designed to make Lisa’s life even more miserable. But Taffy is the exact opposite and perhaps the only truly sympathetic character in the movie. She is supportive of Lisa and perhaps just as misunderstood as Lisa, just in a different way. I appreciated Diablo Cody subverting the mean-girl trope so often found in these movies, and Newton and Soberano were just as captivating together on screen as Newton and Sprouse.

Lisa Frankenstein is a quirky horror-rom-com and probably not for everyone. It has some pacing issues, and I think the movie occasionally plays it safe. Maybe it would have been better with an R-rating? Let the blood rain! Still, it’s a clever, campy take on burgeoning womanhood and the difficulty of growing up and finding love, and I think this is a movie I’ll find myself watching a lot in the fall, when the spooky vibes begin to creep in.

Watched: 02/10/2024
Notable Song: Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon

Rating:

02/17/2024
‘Upgraded’ (2024) Review

Upgraded Synopsis: When Ana is upgraded to first class on a work trip, she meets handsome Will, who mistakes her for her boss. The white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance, and opportunity, until her fib threatens to surface.

Ana is a struggling art intern desperately trying to impress her intimidating boss, Claire Dupont. When Ana mistakenly gets upgraded to first class during a trip to London, she meets Will, who mistakes her for her boss. As Ana’s little white lies escalate, they jeopardize her job and her budding romance with Will.

As Ana, Camila Mendes does a fine job carrying the movie. She’s likable as a lowly intern who knows her art but gets overlooked by her more sophisticated colleagues. She has excellent chemistry with the cast, notably Marisa Tomei as Claire, and Lena Olin as Catherine, Will’s famous, eccentric mother. It’s essential to like Ana because otherwise, I’m not entirely sure we – or anyone in the movie – would have been so willing to forgive her for all of her lies, and Camila succeeds in having us sympathize with her plight, even if we would agree that what she did was wrong.

Archie Renaux is charming as Will, though I felt he was underutilized, especially as Upgraded is being marketed as a romantic comedy. Is there romance? Yes. Would Upgraded have lost anything in its narrative had there been no romance? No. Upgraded is more about Ana’s journey from a broke intern to the toast of the art world. Her romance with Will is more of a subplot, which is a shame. The two are charming on-screen together, and ultimately, it feels as though Will is the only person who tries to hold Ana accountable for her behavior.

Another bright spot in the film is Marisa Tomei’s Claire. She’s Miranda Priestly-lite but draws plenty of laughs as Ana’s overbearing boss. Early in the movie, there is a brief mention of Claire’s upbringing, but sadly, it is never mentioned again. This is a shame because it would have nicely tied together Claire and Ana’s stories and perhaps made for some genuine understanding between the two.

I left this movie feeling some shades of Never Been Kissed. A young woman overlooked at work becomes someone else to experience a different kind of life while wanting to prove herself in her career field. Eventually, she must atone for her lies and earn forgiveness from those she hurt around her. The romance in Never Been Kissed is secondary to the plot, but at least Will isn’t Ana’s teacher crushing on her when he thinks she’s seventeen. In any case, both movies succeed because of their affable leads and a witty script that keeps the plot interesting.

Upgraded is a movie that captures the essence of career aspirations, but I’m disappointed in how it dealt with Ana’s behavior. There are some consequences, yes, but they are short-lived, and ultimately, Ana receives everything she’s ever wanted. If you’re going to view this as a rom-com, then fine, I get it… there’s almost always going to be a happy ending. But I think it would have meant more to have Ana work harder to achieve her aspirations than to reward her effectiveness in deceit.

Upgraded is worth watching for fans of the genre, but if you go into it expecting a full-blown romantic comedy, you’ll likely be disappointed. Lower your expectations, and I think you’ll enjoy it well enough.

Watched: 02/07/2024
Notable Song: Circle the Drain by Soccer Mommy

Rating:

02/16/2024