Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) hate being single on holidays where they face constant judgment from their meddling families. So, when these two strangers meet, they pledge to be each other’s “holidate” for every festive occasion in the year ahead.
Chuck says:
File this under “Guilty Pleasure,” this crass comedy is an R-rated Hallmark Movie that tempers its sentiment with a ribald sense of humor, unabashedly rending the rom-com formula while simultaneously embracing it.
Briskly paced, the film rapidly tears through a year’s worth of holidays that find the star-crossed lovers, Sloane and Jackson, loving to hate each other before ultimately giving in to the predictable genre formula. Appealing, both together and apart, the chemistry between Roberts and Bracey allowing us to overlook the film’s predictable nature.
A strong supporting cast, including Kristen Chenowith as Sloane’s flirty aunt and Frances Fisher as her disapproving mother, help punch up scenes throughout, while more of the jokes hit than miss, though more times than not, they are of the raunchy variety. The film is, at times, indefensible, but I cannot lie – I laughed more than a I thought I would and damn if I didn’t want to see Sloane and Jackson find their happily-ever-after, even as they fought it all the way.
3 Stars
Pam says:
We’ve seen it all before. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy. They pretend they’re not attracted to one another and then POOF! they fall in love, hit some obstacles, and…well you know the rest. Yes, “Holidate” is a completely unsurprising and predictable film, but here’s where the writer, director and actors have fun with it–they know it is just that. They even poke fun of it in the film.
Struggling to get through the first 20-30 minutes which are filled with silly antics, over-the-top performances, and characters who are more like caricatures, suddenly you find yourself laughing aloud and hoping (ok, knowing) the main characters, jaded Sloane (Emma Roberts) and hunky Jackson (Luke Bracey) are going to get together and live happily ever after. This raunchy, crazy rom-com somehow makes you laugh and even root for the young couple because they have chemistry.
If you were hoping for an equivalent of “When Harry Met Sally” you’re going to be horribly disappointed, but if you want a silly rom-com to enjoy as a guilty pleasure, check out “Holidate” now streaming on Netflix.
2 Stars
