If you don’t believe in Christmas miracles, Netflix’s 2024 early Christmas film Meet Me Next Christmas might change your mind, just a little bit. Meet Me Next Christmas is exactly what it sounds like: a young woman meets a delightful man at the airport because all flights are delayed and they’re stuck in the lounge. They end up talking for hours, and before he has to leave, he tells her that he hopes to see her again on Christmas Eve at the Pentatonix concert the next year if, by some “miracle,” she’s single then. What do you know? Layla does end up single, but the concert’s sold out, so the film follows her journey to finding that one ticket that’ll bring her close to her destiny. I’m not giving away any more because that’ll be the whole movie. For the first 15 minutes of the film, I’d say take a shot every time someone says miracle and you’ll be wasted by the time you get into the actual story, which would be quite fun, I guess. Jokes aside, I think Meet Me Next Christmas is the perfect start to the holiday season, even if it feels a little bit early, because I know you’re ready.
In a way, Meet Me Next Christmas feels less formulaic than it should, in the best way. The film isn’t doing anything new, but it somehow manages to bring a smile to your face and demands more attention than your typically nonsensical Christmas granola. The film is simple yet tasteful in the most Christmas spirit way. Don’t worry though; there’s no lack of Christmas romance here, and by the end of the film, you’ll be dying for the two leads to get together. Also, there are two potential love interests and we always love to see a girl having to choose who the true love of he life is. There isn’t much to ask for with such a movie, and still, it delivers far better than a lot of the films we’ve been getting lately. But I guess that’s what happens when Netflix produces quantity over quality just so that we keep coming back to it in the hope of something wonderful.
I think what makes Meet Me Next Christmas truly worth your time though is how seriously it’s performed. I’m guessing it must’ve been fun to film, especially the one dance sequence somewhere in the third act. But having said that, the actors are delightfully charming and keep you hooked from start to finish, and to me, that’s all you really need to make a Christmas movie special. Christina Milian is adorably sincere as Layla, and it really makes a difference to your viewing experience. I mean, I’m definitely not as positive as Layla, but if Christina is then that’s her job half done. But, even so, she’s like a toasted marshmallow surprise in your hot chocolate. On the other hand, there’s Devale Ellis as the concierge Teddy, who is a delight. There’s nothing to complain about here, really. Oh, but to the question that’s looming over your head, yes, there’s chemistry; it would be an incomplete Christmas romance without chemistry. My favorite supporting character has to be Jordy, who keeps the Christmas spirit alive.
Also, is it just me, and did y’all know that Pentatonix was still relevant? I mean, no shade; it’s only been years since I heard about them because they were all the rage back when I was a teenager (yeah, quite a bit ago). But, leaving that aside, it’s a shame not all the music in the film is theirs, because it’s honestly so fun to watch Acapella, even if in a movie. They all show off their acting chops and have some interesting things to say in the film, almost looking like they’re an extension of us as an audience. It’s not unusual, but it’s still fun.
The film is perfectly well placed and visually living in the Christmas spirit. There’s one scene involving creme brulees that comes out of nowhere but still somehow feels relevant because it’s straight out of a Christmas fantasy. Overall, the film creates an atmosphere that sets the stage for everything that’s going to come at us during the holiday season. It’s like the perfect starting point, because it’s just a bit early, and it’ll set you up until the big hitters come your way.
I don’t think Meet Me Next Christmas is necessarily tropey, but it’s definitely got a lot of your typical Christmas movie vibes. It’s definitely not boring, and if for nothing else, just watch it for that dance sequence; it’s actually pretty fun. Also, I quite appreciate that it’s a Black-led film that just plays out like a Christmas movie. What I mean by this is it doesn’t feel the need to pigeonhole itself, it can embrace the festive spirit while still being unique. Maybe if it was a white cast, it would’ve fallen flat with its story, but there’s a flair to this film without it attempting to be cultural.
At the end of the day, it’s the perfect time to get your holiday cheer on, so what better than a Netflix film to begin the festivities? You don’t really have to pay attention to anything, so you could be hanging up your Christmas lights and playing this in the background, and you’d get to enjoy some good music and fun dialogue, and that’d be that. But if you and your besties are struggling to figure out what new Christmas movie to watch right now, then this one can definitely do the trick for you too. What can I say? I’m just a romantic looking to believe in holiday season miracles. I’d give Meet Me Next Christmas 3 out of 5 stars, and I can’t wait to see what’s next on the Netflix Christmas holiday roster.
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