Holidate (2020)

Really good watch, would watch again, and can recommend. An odd, jaded, but good approach to the social pressures of being single, but dateable. I guess other people see it as wasted resource, I wouldn't know. Realistically, this is as much a breakup recovery movie as it is a romantic comedy. The cast does a great job of subtly expressing things without it being obvious. Ultimately it's a cute and charming little movie from a jaded and socially abnormal stand point. The biggest problem is that they spend a lot of time saying "this works", "this is normal", with the impending implication that they'll get together, and being that it is a romantic comedy, it should be obvious what the conclusion is. If you're a fan of Emma Roberts, then you can definitely see her grow in this, proving her range.

Not good, not bad. Just meh. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey make for a charming duo, Roberts in particular stands out. The premise they star in is an interesting one, I don't really have any issues with 'Holidate' - it's fine. It just lacks the necessary cohesion and entertainment, there are a few amusing moments but not nearly enough. The overly sappy ending is out of place, also.

I found Holidate to be a fun, entertaining Christmas movie. And really, that is all I ask for a new holiday movie. I probably could have focused and punched holes in it here and there, but I try to be a viewer first and a critic third. I liked that the story paid attention to all of the characters, it seemed. Aunt Susan and Sloane’s sister and a few others have plot developments as part of the overall fun and they are given a measure of closure at the end. Hey, I don’t see Holidate gaining entry into my cycle of Christmas movies I watch every year or two, but it is a pleasant diversion and I wouldn’t go out of my way to not watch it.