It’s 2020 and a woman doesn’t need a man to keep her company; they do, however, need a man to curb the constant nagging of their loved ones. This is where the term “Holidate” comes in. When Sloane (Emma Roberts) has had enough of hearing her family babble on about her being single for the rest of her life, with the support of her eccentric aunt, Susan (Kristin Chenoweth), she decides that the best solution is to find a man with whom to celebrate holidays (literally every holiday) and nothing more. Enter Jackson (Luke Bracey). By chance, Jackson happens to be in a similar situation with his friends and family, and, as a way out, he recruits Sloane. The two hit it off immediately; there is no sex, no strings attached and no chance of things going awry. Love, however, can be a fickle b***h and is sure to find a way to make things complicated.
Nearly every single Hallmark Channel holiday film revolves around a woman falling for a man, some cockamamie mishap taking place, but then the two ultimately end up with one another. At first glance Holidate looks eerily similar to these cookie-cutter films, meaning that it will crash and burn like the thousands of its kind. However, it quickly becomes clear that while many of the aspects of the film will remain the same, the cast and crew involved will do all they can to break the mold and create a unique holiday adventure.
Writer Tiffany Paulsen actually makes it a point to poke fun at the typical romantic comedy, providing viewers a glimmer of hope that Holidate would avoid the cliché approach chick flicks typically take. Sadly, even while there is a definite twist on the classic rom-com, Holidate manages to end up right back where every film of the genre has gone before. Now, the journey is a great part of the enjoyment, but ultimately the denouement has to be somewhat unique and enjoyable; Holidate does seem to somewhat alter the typical rom-com by being progressive in its approach. However, as the film comes to a close, even with the journey being entertaining, viewers feel like they’ve somewhat been duped into a chick flick like every other.
What Paulsen, and director John Whitesell, are able to do, however, is create a dynamic between Sloane and Jackson that, while it mimics previous rom-coms, is unlike anything viewers have seen before. There’s a point in the film (which describing in detail would ruin the story) where what has been expected for some time pans out, but with an unexpected twist. While a specific explanation of this particular moment in the film would help with understanding, the fact that this twist exists at all allows viewers to appreciate the story of Jackson and Sloane in a way they didn’t expect.
There are certain faults that lend themselves to failure--particularly in the eyes of male viewers--but are overshadowed by the unique and engaging twists present throughout Holidate. Roberts and Bracey are young, vibrant, and perfect for one another in terms of acting chemistry. They bring to life a story of woman-meets-man, woman-is-mad-at-man, and man-redeems-himself while delivering it in a fun, insightful, and beautifully unique fashion. No, the chick flick will not typically be a genre that men will go out of their way to view, but I can assure you that Holidate is a chick flick that everyone can get behind.
Directed by John Whitesell. Written by Tiffany Paulsen. Starring Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth, Frances Fisher, Andrew Bachelor, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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