| For their 2024 Christmas rom-com slate, Netflix is releasing four movies, one each Wednesday in the month of November. With Meet Me Next Christmas, we are off to a rockin’ good start (please pardon the pun). The romantic comedy features not one but two meet cutes, an act two which has multiple laugh out loud funny scenes, an ending with all the sweet romance you could hope for, and last but not least, it is filled with fantastic music. | | 2024
Directed by: Rusty Cundieff
Screenplay by: Molly Haldeman, Camilla Rubis
Starring: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, and Kalen Allen
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It starts on Christmas Eve, Layla (Christina Milian) is stuck in the Chicago airport, trying to fly to New York City to meet up with her long-term serious boyfriend and attend the Pentatonix show, her favourite concert. Instead, she meets two guys, and bonus points go to everyone who correctly identifies which one she ends up with based solely on the opening scene. Non-spoiler hint: it’s definitely not the long-term serious boyfriend who has multiple red flags which Layla is oblivious to up until she finally catches him cheating on her one year minus a day later.
Like all good romantic comedies, the first act is just setting up the characters for the future plot entanglements. We have two potential suitors, but the movie doesn’t tip their hand at the beginning. Layla may have a stronger connection with one, but the audience is likely to have a stronger connection with the other one. There are a few funny scenes with how obnoxiously bad the boyfriend is and Layla doesn’t notice any of it until the break-up.
Now we get onto the plot. It’s one year later, Layla desperately needs a ticket to Pentatonix to fulfill her destiny after one of her meet cutes last Christmas, so she hires a concierge (Teddy) to get her an impossible to find ticket to the sold out show. Very different from a task rabbit, these guys are supposed to solve problems for you, make things happen, whatever their clients want. I have no idea if this actually exists, but I’ll assume in NYC it does.
The movie stumbles a lot at the beginning of act two. It’s a weird set-up between Layla and Teddy, the plot is definitely forced in this part of the script. A lot of the early places that they go in an effort to get tickets is weirder than it is funny. A metaphorical angel appears right when you need him too. Kalen Allen as Teddy’s cousin Jordy is hysterical representing their last best option to get tickets. That whole storyline is funny, sexy, romantic, and did I mention funny? Jordy has multiple good lines with perfect delivery, his whole existence comedy gold.
You have probably noticed that I have made an effort to try and avoid discussing the romantic suitors. While it does eventually become very obvious once the movie settles down, it’s not obvious in the opening scene contrary to most rom-coms, and I really appreciate that about this one. The Pentatonix a cappella members are also following Layla’s romantic pursuits and provide their own commentary on her love life every few scenes. It’s another fun addition to give this typical romantic comedy a different flavour.
For fans of romantic comedies, Meet Me Next Christmas should be an easy choice. It’s funny, it’s romantic, she picks the right guy, the Pentatonix music is great, and the city Christmas lights in the background of most scenes add in the festive nature of the movie making it an enjoyable watch.
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