(via Shutterstock)
If you have only ever paid passing attention to this blog, and seriously, why would you not dive into its wonderfully eclectic depths (a conversation for another time perhaps?), you will realise that I LOVE Christmas.
LOVE. IT.
The apartments gets decorated within an inch of its life. Festive treats are bought and consumed and friends gathered together for bonhomie of a type unique to the holiday season. And yes, Christmas-themed books are read, TV shows watched, music listened to, and you can likely see where this is going, movies watched.
Including these four fine efforts from Netflix, which honestly could turn out to be average at best (but equally may not be; I always see my glass of eggnog as half-full, not empty), but which will also do a rather lovely job of helping me, and hopefully you, into an escapist wonderland where love wins, hope is restored, happiness reigns and all the food, drink and billionaire-level festive interior decorating is yours.
It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year and here’s why that might be the case …
(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
This holiday, payback never looked so festive.” Sophia (Olivia Holt), a sharp-witted retail worker, and Nick (Connor Swindells), a down-on-his-luck repairman, are small-time thieves both with eyes on the same Christmas Eve score: robbing London’s most notorious department store. Forced into an uneasy alliance, as secrets surface & feelings for each other deepen, Sophia & Nick put their relationship and the heist in jeopardy. Jingle Bell Heist is directed by American producer / filmmaker Michael Fimognari, director of the films To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, To All the Boys: Always & Forever, and series The Midnight Club & The Fall of the House of Usher previously. The screenplay is by Abby McDonald and Amy Reed; and story by Abby McDonald. Produced by Matt Kaplan; co-produced by Shannon Gibson. (courtesy First Showing)
Jingle Bell Heist premieres on Netflix on 26 November.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
“Peace on earth. Goodwill to some.” 😂 This holiday season, sometimes the messiest Christmas is the most memorable. Recently divorced Kate (Alicia Silverstone) is determined to pull off one last perfect family holiday before selling her beloved home. But when her ex-husband Everett (Oliver Hudson) shows up with his younger, picture-perfect new girlfriend, Kate’s holiday dream spirals into chaos. A Merry Little Ex-Mas is directed by American filmmaker Steve Carr, director of the films Next Friday, Dr. Dolittle 2, Daddy Day Care, Rebound, Are We Done Yet?, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Held Up, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life previously. The screenplay is written by Holly Hester. Produced by Paula Hart, Melissa Joan Hart. Executive produced by Alicia Silverstone, Galen Fletcher. (courtesy First Showing)
A Merry Little Ex-Mas premieres on Netflix on 12 November.
(courtesy IMDb)
SNAPSHOT
Sydney Price (Minka Kelly) is a determined emerging executive who finally gets a chance to lead a major acquisition for Chateau Cassell, a beloved champagne house nestled in the heart of the Champagne region. When she hears she has been summoned to France around Christmas as part of the negotiations, she arrives in the city of lights with a hopeful heart & ready to close the deal. Taking one night off to soak in the magic of Paris over the holidays, she has an unexpectedly charming run-in with Henri Cassell (Tom Wozniczka), a stranger who turns one simple evening into something special. Her plans for a whirlwind romance are quickly upended when she discovers that this charming Parisian is the founder’s son of the very company she is hoping to acquire. Yet, even amidst gentle competition set by Hugo Cassell (Thibault de Montalemert) for all the potential buyers at the family vineyard, Sydney and Henri find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other, realizing that their burgeoning feelings might be hard to keep bottled up.Champagne Problems is written and directed by the American writer / filmmaker Mark Steven Johnson, director of the movies Simon Birch, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, When In Rome, Killing Season, Finding Steve McQueen, Love Guaranteed, and Love in the Villa previously. It’s produced by Stephanie Slack, Margret H. Huddleston, Mark Steven Johnson. (courtesy First Showing)
Champagne Problems premieres on Netflix on 19 November.
(courtesy IMDb)
SNAPSHOT
A vivacious single mom in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man in order to get hired as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort. But when she starts to fall in love with the hotel manager, complications develop that could ruin everything. (courtesy What’s on Netflix)
My Secret Santa premieres on Netflix on 3 December.