SB: Jonah, each year, I am always searching for a heartfelt holiday movie that I can watch with friends or family, but I can’t find anything that looks good.
JN: I know, right? It is the same thing every year. I need a fresh new holiday movie to love and watch year after year. Have you checked Netflix? Or what’s in the theatres?
SB: Actually, I did find a few… Some on my list are Meet Me Next Christmas on Netflix and Red One in theatres.
JN: Wow, those movies sound really good. One of my favorites that I watched was on Netflix, Our Little Secret. It was a super good movie that could totally become a classic. Another one that I watched on Netflix was Hot Frosty.
SB: Tell me more about Our Little Secret.

Our Little Secret
Our Little Secret is a movie about long lost ex lovers finding each other during the holiday season. The two main characters,Avery and Logan. They are dating each other’s siblings, and – by chance -they end up at the same holiday celebration. A central conflict that came up in the story was the tension between the two characters. When they first see each other for the first time you can see that they are thinking if they should tell anyone or act normal like nothing is wrong. They also had to make a decision to tell their family or not which kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. One part of this movie that I personally did not like was how it did not have the family and togetherness aspect of a holiday movie that I was hoping for. The family at times was turned against each other, and they were keeping secrets which is not the typical togetherness you would hope for in a holiday movie. On the other hand this movie has a lot of humor and awkward moments. In the movie during very intense moments, the main character would crack a joke and lighten up the mood. The two main characters: Logan and Avery, were played by Ian Harding and Lindsay Lohan. I think that both of these actors played their roles very well, and yet – at times – I want them to be a little more dramatic and more into their character. At times in the movie where the characters were in a position to be loud and dramatic they seemed to shy away from it. I feel as if this movie could have emotional resonance with people because they can connect with the movie. The reason that I say this is because the holidays could be awkward for people and this was definitely shown in the movie. The resolution of this movie definitely ties everything together and will leave you satisfied and positive heading into the holiday season.

SB: Wow, Jonah, that sounds really cute! What was your favorite part of the movie?
JN: One of my favorite parts of the movie was when the main character blamed the dog for eating the cookies. This part was one of the funniest of the film and made me laugh. I heard you talk about a movie you like this holiday season. What’s that one movie with the Pentatonix called?
SB: Ohhh, Meet Me Next Christmas!

Meet Me Next Christmas
Released in Nov. 2024, Meet Me Next Christmas features Christina Milian and Devale Ellis. Meet Me Next Christmas is a charming story revolving around the “perfect” meet-cute. Layla, played by Milian, is living anyone’s worst nightmare when her flight back home gets delayed. In the airport lounge, she meets James, played by Siriboe. Layla and James instantly hit it off, but they have to part ways to get to their loved ones, just in time for Christmas. They agreed to meet next Christmas at the Pentatonix show that occurs each holiday season if both were single and looking for partners. The following year, when Layla’s relationship is turned upside down, she quickly searches for a Pentatonix ticket as she feels James is “her person.” Her search for this ticket is wildly complex, and she meets so many people along the way. I thought this movie was perfect to get me in the holiday mood. If you’re not a romance fan, I may skip this one, but if you love a good holiday romance, this one’s for you!

JN: Wait, that does sound cute. I don’t know if I want to go full romance… Did you find anything with more action?
SB: Jonah, I have just the thing! I just saw Red One in theatres with my family, and I thought it was a good combination of heartfelt holiday and action.

Red One
Red One is currently only in theatres but is truly a must-see! Starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, two of the funniest actors who could have been cast, the film perfectly portrays fun, energy, and holiday spirit all at once. The movie’s name originates from Santa being the “red one,” referring to Santa’s red suit. The movie follows Santa and his helpers through the North Pole operation he has built for centuries. Red One perfectly combines action, humor, and festive attitudes through their characters. I really can’t spoil it too much, but Jonah, let me tell you, I thought it was pretty cute and entertaining. I’ve never seen a holiday with so much action, so this watch was fascinating! Contrary to popular opinions that have surfaced, Red One should be on your list of holiday movies this year! Although the movie has nearly only received negative reviews, many boxes of what I think a good holiday movie should include were checked! Some negative reviews that the movie received were that it was too long and there were terrible CGI effects. That said, I loved the action, which all came down to a central conflict that the characters were working together to solve, leading to family and togetherness. Jack, played by Chris Evans, takes his son on his journey (accidentally) and brings the two of them together just in time for the holiday season. The movie has many other excellent characteristics, but one of my favorites is the uplifting ending. Red One is a great movie to see with family or friends!

JN: Wow, that sounds good, and I will add it to my list. It has everything it needs to be a great holiday movie.
SB: Jonah, I still need one more movie I can watch for the holiday season. But I need something a little less action-packed. Red One was great, but I needed help relaxing. What was that one movie you were talking about? Hot…? What was it again?
JN: I think you mean Hot Frosty.
SB: Seriously, how much more intriguing could it get? Jonah, please tell me more!

Hot Frosty
Hot Frosty is a new hot Christmas movie trending on Netflix. The two main characters are Lacey Chabert who plays Kathy Barret and Dustin Milligan who plays Jack snowman. I think that both of these actors step into their role like no one else would. These two had instant chemistry on the screen and looked like they were feeding off each other. When looking at the plot of the movie, it seems a little far fetched even for a holiday movie. The movie’s main plot is a small town girl who ends up bringing a snowman to life and becoming a love interest. When starting this movie it was very slow and did not really add any value to the movie. The pace of this movie definitely felt off to me and seemed that the ending was rushed. As the movie progressed there were different parts in it that just seemed as if I was in a bad dream, and I couldn’t wake up from it. Although the movie was not something that I would like if you are into very cheesy love movies this would be for you. Looking at the main problem in the movie it would definitely be something that could hook a watcher in. I just don’t think that the movie is relatable enough and enjoyable. The movie was very predictable as you went through it almost seemed as if you could guess what was happening next. Yet there were some good lighthearted moments and good humor throughout the movie.

SB: I have to admit, I do love a cheesy movie. I’ll have to check that one out for sure. Jonah, we’ve covered some ground on new holiday movies.

Happy Holidays,
Scarlett Buick and Jonah Nakisher