Friday Night In #2: A Holiday Rom-Com with an Edge + a Safe-for-the-Fam Christmas Movie
It’s been a week, y’all. I shared with you about my grandfather’s passing in Monday’s newsletter. (Thank you for the kind comments and notes many of you sent me.) Well, later that day the teen came home sick with a high fever. Then overnight, the husband got sick and feverish, too. Both got diagnosed with flu, and though, so far, I’ve managed not to get symptoms (*crosses fingers* *burns sage candle* *takes elderberry* *washes hands 1k times*), this means I can’t fly to the funeral and risk getting everyone else sick. I’m heartbroken that I won’t be able to be there with my family. So. Yeah. A week.
Which brings me to my Friday Night In recommendations. When people dismiss certain genre books, movies, and TV shows as silly or fluff or unimportant in some way, I’m reminded of times like these. When you’ve had a loss or the week from hell or you’re sick or taking care of someone who’s sick or even just had a really terrible day, those things some call “fluff” are exactly what you most need to get you through.
This week I needed light, silly things to watch to keep me going and I have two that did the job.
If you’re in need of some laughter or comfort, maybe give these a look.
A Sweet Holiday Rom-Com with a Non-Hallmark-Friendly Edge
Holidate Rating: TV-MA / Netflix
The setup of this one was fun. Sloane (Emma Roberts) has one of those families who is always riding her about being single, but she had a bad break-up a while ago and she’s just not interested in dating anyone. However, showing up to holiday events with no date is a drag. When her aunt (Kristen Chenowith), who always has a different date at every event, suggests that she get a “holidate”, someone who you just bring to holiday events, Sloane is intrigued.
Jackson, on the other hand, gets invited to family Christmas by a woman he’s only been on three dates yet. When he shows up, she’s acting like they’re a couple and the family is trying to include him in everything like he’s already part of the family. He freaks out and bails.
So when Sloane and Jackson have a chance meeting in the mall after Christmas and share their war stories, they decide to be each other’s “holidate”. Just friends who only meet up on holidays and go to events together.
We then follow Sloane and Jackson through a year of major and minor holidays and the antics that ensue.
The comedy in this one can be over the top, which doesn’t always work for me, but somehow these characters pull it off and make it funny without being ridiculous. The cast is fantastic and the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trajectory is very satisfying. I also love that it had an edge to it. I enjoy a Hallmark movie as much as the next person, but it’s also nice to watch a Christmas rom-com that has some teeth.
A Goofy Christmas Movie That You Can Watch with Your Whole Family
The Family SwitchRating: PG / Netflix
This movie is what happens when you have a fantastic cast with a could ’ve-been-better script. I am not saying this is an amazing movie. But what I am saying is that it was silly and had its moments and if you’re looking for something light and goofy to watch with the family, this might fit the bill.
The Family Switch takes the age-old tradition of the Freaky Friday body swap and applies it to the whole family—including the baby and dog. (In fact, Pickles the dog acting like the baby probably stole the movie for me.)
One night when the planets literally align while the family is at an observatory and arguing, something cosmic happens when they say something to the effect of “I wish you knew what it was like to be me.” The next morning when they wake up, mom and the teen daughter have switched bodies, dad has switched with the teen son, and Pickles the dog and baby have switched.
Of course, they all have THE BIGGEST DAY OF THEIR LIVES coming up that day. Mom has a big work presentation. Dad has a big band event for his Dad or Alive band (this made me laugh since my husband is in a cover band.) The son has a Yale interview and the daughter has a soccer scout coming to see her play. So now each family member has to try to pull off the impossible. In the meantime, they are also trying to figure out how to switch back.
Like I said, this is silly, goofy fun and it has a sugary sweet ending, but sometimes that’s just the flavor you’re looking for this time of year.
And if you have kids, the dog acting like a baby and the body humor scenes (burping/ farting gags) will probably get them giggling.
Overall, this isn’t going on my rewatch list, but I also didn’t feel like I wasted my time giving it a watch.
That’s all I have for you today! I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Have you watched either of these? What kind of vibe do you look for most in a holiday movie—sweet, silly, action-packed, funny?
