In the small town of Laurel, Illinois a series of young adults face the trials and tribulations of daily life, including love, loss and school. For the first time in a long time it’s snowing on Christmas Eve, and that means a lot to the residents of the podunk town (even if they don’t know it yet). In Let It Snow everyone has something in common--something that brings them all together--the local diner, the Waffle Town, but more importantly, each person has something that makes them special and separates them from the rest of the world in the best ways possible. This is the story of their struggles and their attempts to overcome them.
An ensemble cast can sometimes feel cumbersome and crowded, making it difficult for viewers to follow every storyline, understand every character and truly appreciate the work that has gone into the film (from writers to directors and everyone in between). Let It Snow manages to find a balance between not enough backstory and too much information that viewers feel overwhelmed. While each character’s story is of great importance, viewers aren’t inundated with information surrounding their lives and their wellbeing, allowing them to remain level headed and absorb everything throughout the course of the film. By the end of the film it feels like each plot point is explained thoroughly and viewers are able to genuinely appreciate everything that occurs in Let It Snow.
While there are a series of smaller stories taking place throughout the film, there is one overarching story that is meant to encompass everything within Let It Snow. As the various characters deal with heartbreak and other issues that come with the holiday season, Keon (Jacob Batalon) is poised to throw a rager of a party for everyone in town to enjoy (even though it feels much more like the purpose of the party is for those around him to like him). As the half a dozen stories unfold, this all-encompassing story of Keon’s success feels almost pointless. While Batalon is talented (and his abilities are well received), very little about his intentions with his party feels relatable, making it difficult to see the point of including him in the script at all.
Even with the “grand-scheme” look at things, Let It Snow is far from a dud. It provides moderate emotion that viewers are able to relate to on one level or another and a slew of young actors who, if nothing else, have the chance to show off their chutzpah to the world. Actors like Liv Hewson (Dorrie), Shamiek Moore (Stuart) and Mitchell Hope (Tobin) are provided an opportunity to, while surrounded by numerous others, showcase their talents and engage viewers almost independently from their co-stars. As the stars of the show shine brightly through this Christmas-esque film, viewers are able to interpret different scenarios in ways that benefit them, allowing Let It Snow the ability to be appreciated by many. Along with the young talents, it is the slew of writers that make this semi-emotional joy ride entertaining.
Directed by Luke Snellin. Written by Laura Solon, Victoria Strouse, Kay Cannon, John Green, etc. Starring Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Odeya Rush, Liv Hewson, Mitchell Hope, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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