Netflix’s whimsical holiday romance combines tradition with a musical twist

Meet me next Christmas
is a cheesy Christmas movie that follows the typical tropes, but the musical elements and central characters make it fun. Heading into the Christmas season, Netflix is ​​readying a slew of new Christmas romantic comedies ready for the holidays. Meet me next Christmas It has some small changes to the standard entries that make it stand out. However, it’s not an instant classic and will likely be a film audiences will only watch once.

When Layla breaks up with her boyfriend just before Christmas, she has to race against the clock to connect with the man of her dreams. With the help of a concierge, she goes in search of tickets for Pentatonix’s Christmas show, which is completely sold out, but it’s not a simple task. Despite all the obstacles, Layla prays for a Christmas miracle.

Meet Me Next Christmas is Netflix’s answer to landmark holiday movies

Meet me next Christmas falls into several of the most common and popular tropes associated with Hallmark Christmas movies, despite the film coming from Netflix. The plot is thin, the characters are exaggerated stereotypes, and the film continually revolves around the central characters to create a magical love story. But it doesn’t take itself too seriously and leans into a silly nature that makes it seem emblematic of a typical Christmas romantic comedy.

Christina Milian’s Layla is a confident go-getter who has a perfect life – a good career, a boyfriend, and a Christmas tradition where she always watches Pentatonix’s New York Christmas show. However, suddenly things start to fall apart and Layla is forced to fight and find ways to make this Christmas count. Despite a recent heartbreak, Layla immediately searches for the person she was meant to be with, a chance encounter from a year ago with the person who could be her soulmate.

But in typical Christmas romantic comedy fashion, their efforts are constantly derailed by crazy, unpredictable events. There are dances, musical numbers, and twists of fate that everyone except the main characters see coming from a mile away. But it’s light, fun and easy to watch. While it’s certainly not groundbreaking in any way, the film is a feel-good moment that gets us into the Christmas spirit.

Pentatonix could have been a bigger part of the story

The group performs at Meet Me Next Christmas and also sings

While most holiday movies that revolve around a big event don’t present the event in grand style, Meet me next Christmas clearly made an effort to include Pentatonix, the a cappella group that specializes in Christmas music. The band appears throughout the film, adding a distinct additional storyline and emphasizing their superstar celebrity status, which highlights their willingness to be playful and be the butt of the joke.

However, his role in the film is very limited. They could have had more impact on the story, played more music, or simply been included in a slightly more meaningful way, but the fact that they were poorly presented and used comedically feels like a missed opportunity. If they had been given a bigger role or their role had been reduced even more – they could have simply played music on the show – it would have been better. As it stands, it feels like they’re a forgotten extra character.

Despite this, the moments in which Pentatonix appears are funny and add another dimension to the story, albeit superficial. But in a film clearly designed to cater to the holiday market and simply present a simple love story, Meet me next Christmas meets the brief. Nothing stands out to make it special or notable, but it fits in with the rest of the list as just another quick and simple Christmas movie.

Meet me next Christmas will be available to stream on Netflix from November 6th. The film is 105 minutes long and is not rated.