As a gamer who has spent countless hours navigating virtual worlds and solving intricate puzzles, I approached “Meet Me Next Christmas” with a healthy dose of skepticism. The premise seemed far-fetched even for holiday movie standards, with its central focus on the Pentatonix being the hottest ticket in New York City during the Christmas season. As someone who grew up listening to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on repeat, this idea just didn’t sit right with me.
2024’s Netflix Christmas offerings are shaping up to be exceptional, boasting big names like Lindsey Lohan and Chad Michael Murray from “One Tree Hill.” The yuletide season began early on Netflix this year with the Christina Milian-starring film “Meet Me Next Christmas” leading the charge in November.
Despite being a fan of Milian’s films, I initially had reservations about her new holiday movie. Fortunately, I chose to watch it, and I’m glad I did as it turned out to be enjoyable.
Meet Me Next Christmas Sounded Farfetched Even for Holiday Movie Standards
In the simplest of terms, Meet Me Next Christmas is about a woman who spends thirty-two hours running around New York City in the hopes of acquiring a ticket to a sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert. She’s doing so to reconnect with a man she met at the airport the year before. She enlists the help of Teddy (Devale Ellis), a private concierge who, unbeknownst to her at the time, is at risk of losing his job to aid in her search, and because this is a Christmas rom-com, the two start falling for each other.
Initially, the idea in “Meet Me Next Christmas” seemed plausible, but it was hard for me to imagine the entire plot revolving around a sold-out Pentatonix concert. To be honest, the a cappella group doesn’t strike me as a big enough act to be the most sought-after show in New York City, especially when compared to long-running Christmas shows like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. Perhaps my perspective is skewed due to age, but I also don’t associate Pentatonix with the holiday season – that role feels more fitting for Mariah Carey.
As someone who enjoys watching holiday movies produced for television, I’ve grown accustomed to the fact that the stories may not always be logical, but the inclusion of Pentatonix in a recent movie was particularly bothersome to me. Initially, it seemed more plausible if they had invented a fictional group for Layla’s character to encounter instead of focusing on an actual a cappella group. But upon watching the film and observing how the writers integrated the Pentatonix members into the narrative, I now understand why they chose that approach.
But It Actually Worked And Made The Holiday Film Even Better
Despite my initial doubts, I decided to watch “Meet Me Next Christmas,” and although it may not become the top Christmas film of 2024 in my book, it was an enjoyable ride enhanced by the addition of the popular a cappella ensemble.
It was unexpected to discover that Pentatonix were not just a static entity, but had distinct personalities with their own narratives. Not only did they participate in Layla’s quest for tickets via social media, but they even became her advocates. If the scriptwriters had chosen a more famous musical act or production, such as Carey or the Rockettes, I doubt their empathy for Layla would have felt authentic.
Indeed, what made “Meet Me Next Christmas” stand out as a film I’d revisit annually was the exceptional rapport between Milian and Ellis’s characters, Layla and Teddy. From their very first encounter, their dialogue sparked with an undeniable chemistry that was impossible to ignore. Moreover, the intrigue of another suitor for Layla served to heighten the intensity of their blossoming romance, making it all the more captivating.
Just like in typical holiday romantic comedies, the movie concludes with a dramatic romantic gesture that appears to go awry when Layla is denied backstage entry, where she believes Teddy is waiting. Fortunately, everything falls into place, and they both manage to dance slowly on stage with Pentatonix as the credits start appearing.
“This movie where we meet again next Christmas might not currently be Netflix’s top Christmas flick, but it’s an ideal choice for getting into the festive mood. Start streaming it with your Netflix account right away!
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2024-11-15 03:07