Never has there been a rom-com in recent days where I have actually laughed out loud. In fact, there hasn’t really been a rom-com since Notting Hill that I’ve enjoyed so much that I didn’t look at my phone and start scrolling.
Netflix’s The Holidate, starring Emma Roberts and Australian actor Luke Bracey, was such a rom-com which was refreshingly fun.
Debuting at number three on Australian’s Netflix charts within 24 hours of launching, the film follows Sloane (Roberts) and Jackson (Bracey) who hate the holidays. We’re not just talking Christmas either. It’s Easter, 4th of July, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and even Mother’s day.
With a mutual disdain for every single one of them, and assuring themselves that they have no romantic interest in the other, Jackson and Sloane become each other’s perfect plus-one which leads to some hilarious and provocative hijinks.
The film itself is full of glorious cliches, and even though (spoiler alert) the ending is highly predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it.
There was some serious F-bomb’s thrown around (several in fact), severed appendages, impromptu marriage proposals, a mall Santa and the glorious Kristen Chenoweth as Sloane’s outrageous aunt Susan.
Bracey was the perfect leading man with Hemsworth good looks, ripped abs and a bad-boy-turned-nice storyline. Bracey even managed to sneak an Australian pastime into the movie — self-deprecation — when Sloane tells him her ex-boyfriend’s name, “Luke”, he quips: “Sounds like a douchebag.” Lol.
Roberts, who is the niece of rom-com Queen, Julia, held her own as the antithesis of a leading lady. She was bold, brazen, angry and even wore whatever the hell she wanted when she wanted. She was the perfect hot mess.
While of course, the ending had to be exactly what you think it’s going to be (wink, wink), the film didn’t follow the usual hoopla when it comes to small-town girl, living in a lonely world. Frankly, it was much more relatable, believable and a little bit confronting.
The storyline about pining over an ex who dumped you for someone else, then running into them in the shops while wearing PJs and buying the entire chocolate aisle… well, that was a little too close to home.
I’m not saying this movie is a cinematic masterpiece because it certainly has its flaws, but just like Emily in Paris, if you can get past almost everything you hate, you are bound to enjoy it.
In any case, if you’re incredibly single and you hate the thought of having to front up to another Christmas alone, you’ve got a perfect idea now.
Call up a mate and get them to be your holidate.
The Holidate is streaming on Netflix now.