This was the type of movie trailer that pulled me in on the strength of the cast, even as the film itself looked aggressively average. My interest was further piqued when I learned that Emma Thompson wasn’t just featured in the movie but also co-wrote the screenplay. Still, those things weren’t enough to get me into the theater. I finally checked it out on Amazon Prime, because what else are we all doing right now, and I’m still trying to decide what I think of it. (Note: this review hints toward a spoiler without technically revealing what that spoiler is.)
Kate has been drifting. Ever since her recovery from a serious illness that resulted in a heart transplant, she’s been struggling to get anything out of life. Ostensibly an inspiring actress, she works at a year-round Christmas shop while auditioning for gigs she doesn’t book, and she couch-surfs with one friend after another until each kicks her out, even though her parents would happily welcome her back home until she’s on her feet again. Nothing matters to her until she meets an odd young man named Tom, who encourages her to embrace life while she has the chance.
In addition to what I said in my intro, this was also the type of movie trailer that had people guessing at the ending from day 1, and the film doesn’t surprise on that point. On the whole, the movie doesn’t offer much in the way of surprises, telegraphing most of its major moments. It can be cheesy in its predictability as well as predictable in its cheesiness, and throughout, there’s just this slight undercurrent of, “It’s a Christmas movie! We can coast, right?”
But for all of its very genuine flaws, I didn’t find myself going as far as disliking the movie. It’s a little weird, because this is a film where the bare bones of it (the plot and how it’s executed) don’t really work for me, but most of the details surrounding it do. I like the film’s heart and themes, the easy diversity of the cast, and the magic with which it captures London at Christmas. The George Michael songs in the soundtrack (beyond just the one signposted in the title of the movie) are as obvious as everything else going on here, but they do the job they set out to do.
Finally, there’s the cast, all of whom do their utmost to sell the lackluster material. Emilia Clarke, the Mother of Dragons herself, is effective in the role of Kate, the directionless young woman who received a new heart but fears she might have lost her own in the process. She makes Kate’s self-destructive and selfish behaviors feel internally consistent, and the transformation she undergoes throughout the film doesn’t feel overly saccharine in her hands. Meanwhile, Henry Golding is utterly winning as Tom. As hokey as the role is (this dude is a Manic Pixie Dream Boy if there ever was one,) Golding strikes just the right notes with it and keeps you from rolling your eyes at the proceedings – at one point while watching him onscreen, I actually said aloud, “How is he so charming?” It’s a mystery, people. Emma Thompson brings both fun and heart as Kate’s mother, and the always-great Michelle Yeoh is a delight as Kate’s boss.
Warnings
Drinking, language, mild sexual content, and thematic elements.
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