Happy Holidays from the Hopeful Romantics Society! In our first ever Love Letter, our highly-qualified team of rom-com enthusiasts would like to recommend twelve movies, in no particular order, that will keep you busy for the rest of the holiday season. From the critically acclaimed to the downright silly, each movie on this list brings something new to the table that will brighten up the end of the longest year ever.
Four Christmases
Netflix Canada, Criterion-on-Demand
A jewel of the Vince Vaughn romantic comedy era, this movie offers a pragmatic view of the holidays, recognizing that somehow, sometimes, not even four tries at a perfect Christmas means success… but at least you might have whoever you’re braving it with. At times tragically hilarious, this movie is recommended for the jaded sort - perhaps, the aging crowds of children of divorce - with a soft spot for the “us vs. the world” brand of relationship.
- Alexa
The Holiday
Netflix Canada
A star-filled cast (including Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) is stretched across different continents and fall in love. Jack Black is written truly charmingly, maybe even more likeable than Jude Law at his peak. Perfect for suckers (read: this writer), this movie has all the perfect lines, a soundtrack randomly crafted to perfection by Hans Zimmer, and sweet B-stories. A sickeningly quintessential romcom, The Holiday makes you wish for more whirlwind in your life. Overall, a personal favourite of Alexa, one of our presidents.
- Alexa
Let It Snow
Netflix Canada
Let It Snow is a fast-paced ensemble about a group of high school seniors in small-town Illinois on an unusually snowy Christmas Eve (have they heard of climate change??) that’s charming enough to be based on a John Green novel, because it is. It’s also filled with your favourite tropes like friends to lovers and enemies to lovers, with a fun soundtrack, and (perhaps too much) dorky dancing!
- Kate
Happiest Season
Hulu, Prime Video
In Happiest Season, Harper brings her girlfriend Abby home for Christmas for the first time. The catch is, she hasn't come out to her parents and sisters yet. To make matters worse, her picture-perfect family is much more overbearing than loving. Through this chaos, the movie manages to draw to a heartwarming conclusion that brings *almost* everyone closer together. Most importantly, it’s got Aubrey Plaza as Riley, Harper’s charming and endlessly kind ex-girlfriend, who helps Abby through the tumultuous holidays with Harper’s family.
- Kate
When Harry Met Sally
Criterion-on-Demand
When Harry Met Sally explores whether people who are attracted to one another can ever truly be friends. It’s a question as old as time… but you’ll have to watch this New Year’s classic to find out whether Harry and Sally can beat the odds! In addition to the charismatic leads, impeccable comedy, and wonderfully awkward moments, it has you covered for your NYC wish fulfillment, with huge (presumably rent-controlled) apartments, and outings to famous corners of the city like Central Park, Washington Square Park, and of course, Katz's Delicatessen.
- Kate
New Year’s Eve
Criterion-on-Demand
Following the success of Valentine’s Day the year before, New Year’s Eve attempts to capture the magic of the last day of the year; that foolish but wonderful hope that a stranger you find could be the one you spend the rest of the year with. With the pandemic in full swing, it’s not quite the reality for the end of 2020. But, for two hours, step into a sickly sweet (past) year, with basically everyone in Hollywood (Zac Efron, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Heigl, Bon Jovi, Halle Berry...) who all happen to know each other.
- Alexa
Last Holiday
Netflix Canada, Prime Video, Criterion-on-Demand
What would you do if you had three weeks left to live? Take yourself on a Pretty Woman-style shopping montage and blow all your savings on French cuisine, of course. An all-year round movie set during the holidays, Queen Latifa slays as a woman who boldly lives out the possibilities she has been dreaming of. It's a movie for the existentialist that lives within all of us, with a sprinkle of romance. Funny, touching, and fantastic.
- Janelle
The Holiday Calendar
Netflix Canada This movie features a magic calendar that doesn’t have any chocolates 😔 but predicts the future and brings you to the person you are most compatible with - basically horoscopes with a holiday twist!! It features the beloved classic trope of choosing between two guys, yet stars an independent career-oriented woman chasing her passions 👏👏👏. A koaliteeee cheesy holiday film.
- Janelle
A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish
Netflix Canada, Prime Video This is probably one of the cheesiest movies on this list… and that’s saying something. A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish is a story you’ve seen many times before, only with more singing, dancing, cotton candy-coloured hair, and some of your favourite Disney stars like Laura Marano and Gregg Sulkin. Highlights include levitation during musical numbers, unconvincing disguises, and a really cute dog!
- Kate
Love Actually
Crave, Prime Video We couldn’t write this list of Christmas movies without including this classic - there is nothing like considering the meaning of love at Christmas! The movie follows a series of interconnected love stories featuring an ensemble cast of well-known British actors. It has the famous “pretend it’s carol singers” scene with Keira Knightly, Hugh Grant as the prime minister of Britain in a cute romance, Liam Neeson helping his stepson with love, and so much more. There are many heartwarming moments, making this movie perfect for the holiday season!
- Emma
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Netflix Canada
In this movie, Renee Zellweger stars as Bridget Jones (the messy and endearing heroine) while Colin Firth plays a charming Mr. Darcy. Featuring ugly Christmas sweaters, numerous misunderstandings and mishaps (including blue soup), and a romance about loving someone for “just who they are”, this rom-com is sure to be a favourite!
- Emma
Last Christmas
Crave
Fueled with an all-star cast, Last Christmas appears to be the perfect match to your romantic yearnings. Centred around an aspiring but aimless actress/singer and the ethereal man who waltzes into her life, this movie woos the viewer with charming characters and snowy London. With Henry Golding and Emilia Clarke, and Emma Thompson producing and writing, where could you go wrong? Does it hit the mark? The verdict is very split across our team, so we extend the question to you. It will not be what you expect and (some argue) not what you want, but we all think it’s worth experiencing for a few hours with some friends.
- Alexa
Honourable Mention
Dash and Lily
Netflix Canada Whoops, this series isn’t a movie, but it will still have you binging it in one sitting. A cynical teenager and a quirky adolescent dare each other to say “yes” to new experiences without ever meeting by writing in a BOOK of dares. Dash and Lilly throw it back with nothing but pen, paper, and sultry voice overs 😏😏. It’s everything you love about cheesy Christmas rom-coms packed into 20-minute episodes. If you need more incentive to watch, one of our execs, Janelle, has seen this three times in the past 48 hours, and is currently on round 4.
- Janelle
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