Nothing says Christmas more than a festive romcom – or Chromcoms as they’re apparently now known.
Modern classics like Love Actually and The Holiday give us a cosy glow and make us feel like reaching for the mistletoe.
But what about the latest festive romances? Here we separate the crackers from the turkeys.
This is Christmas
Starring Kaya Scodelario and Alfred Enoch (Sky)
Commuters who never speak on the same train every day from Langton to London are the subject of this film.
The main stars are advertising agency head Adam (Enoch), and Emma (Scodelario), a chef on the cusp of moving to Chicago with her boyfriend.
But like all of those we meet, they are hiding things (mainly from themselves).
Then Adam has the rather bizarre idea of throwing the commuters a Christmas party. As friendships grow, so does romance between Adam and Emma.
The film is kept on its toes by moving sub plots for the other passengers, including greats like Timothy Spall and Joanna Scanlan.
A clever, funny, moving and, of course, romantic film, this gets a first class ticket from me. Rating 10/10
Hotel for the Holidays
Starring Madelaine Petsch and Mena Massoud (Prime Video)
Georgia (Petsch) is the manager of a swanky hotel in New York, which attracts only the best clientele.
So focused on her job – and climbing higher in her career – Georgia has no idea that chef Luke (Massoud) is madly in love with her.
But all it takes is for a recently abdicated European prince, a failing pop star and a heartbroken dog lover to come to stay for her to realise what is truly important in life.
And after a tug of love between the prince, who could help her achieve her business dreams, and the chef who could be a recipe for happiness, who will Georgia finally check out with?
With acting as wooden as my tree, it is only worth a watch if you have already cracked open the Baileys. Rating: 6/10
Something From Tiffany's
Starring Zoey Deutch and Kendrick Sampson (Prime Video)
Tiffany’s is known for its timeless jewellery. This movie is far from timeless, though, more knock off from the market.
The best thing about it is the setting in magical New York.
Sampson plays writer Ethan, who, along with his daughter, painstakingly picks out “the ring” to propose to his girlfriend with.
But fate intervenes when he collides with hapless tattoo artist Gary (Ray Nicholson) in the store, as he tries to find a last-minute gift for his girl, Rachel (Deutch).
Their little teal bags accidentally get switched and as Ethan tries track down his ring, he and Rachel end up realising they should have been with each other all along.
Despite some fairly decent acting, the storyline lacks warmth and humour. Rating: 6/10
The Noel Diary
Starring Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss ( Netflix )
Estranged parents, adopted child in search of her mother, dead brothers, loveless relationships…
The Noel Diary didn’t give me high hopes of much Christmas cheer. However, it turned out to be enough of a feel-good film to give me more of a glow than after a sherry or two on Christmas Day.
Justin Hartley (This Is Us) plays talented and wealthy, but lonely crime novelist Jake Turner.
When his estranged mother dies, he returns to this childhood home to settle things and it’s there he meets Rachel (Doss) who is searching for her biological mother.
Rachel believes the woman had once worked for Jake’s parents. Once they find an old diary, it unlocks secrets of the past for both of them.
As they embark on a journey to track her down, the pair go on their own emotional journeys too. A happy mixture of schmaltz and cheese. Rating: 8/10
Your Christmas or Mine?
Starring Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk, Alex Jennings, Angela Griffin and Daniel Mays (Prime Video)
If films were stars, this one would be going on top of my tree.
A stellar cast delivers a funny, cheesy, romantic comedy.
James (Butterfield) and Hayley (Kirk) are young lovers going to their respective houses for Christmas.
But as a surprise they both switch trains and turn up at each other’s homes – alone. Hayley finds herself in a dark Gloucestershire mansion, virtually empty apart from James’ posh, grumpy dad, the charming housemaid and Peanut the dog.
James arrives at a packed semi in Macclesfield, filled with love, laughter and Hayley’s dad (Mays).
As the couple discover more about each other than they expected, you can’t help but fall in love with this charming film.
Throw in an ice cream van selling turkeys, a bra-stealing Peanut and a gun-crazy farmer, it has everything for Christmas. Rating: 10/10
Falling For Christmas
Starring Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet and George Young ( Netflix )
With her life seemingly mapped out for her, spoiled hotel heiress Sierra (Lohan) seems to have everything she could need, including a super-rich – and super-annoying – boyfriend, Tag (Young).
He looks set to become her husband when he proposes to her upon a snowy mountaintop.
But seconds later, Sierra slips backwards on her skis and tumbles off a steep ledge.
In reality, she’d be dead. But all that the fall leaves her with is a brief bout of amnesia (which is exactly what I thought I might want to try to forget this film).
However, Sierra is discovered by sexy widower and father of one Jake (Overstreet from Glee) and nursed back to health at his humble – and failing – mountain lodge.
Cue Sierra, or Sarah as she names herself, discovering what happiness really is, Jake finding happiness again, and the failing lodge being rescued. Throw in a cute racoon, stunning scenery and a whole heap of cheese and this film should be a festive flop.
But somehow it found a way to thaw the iciest of hearts and make itself a snowy success. Rating: 8/10
Christmas With You
Starring Freddie Prinze Jr and Aimee Garcia (Netflix)
This film is shocking on two parts. First, when did Freddie Prinze Jr get old? Secondly, everything about this film.
I really wanted to like it, having had a major crush on Freddie back in the day.
But from start to finish, it left me feeling as frosty as the snowman.
It follows pop star Angelina (Garcia), who feeling a career burn out escapes to grant a young fan’s wish in a small town in New York.
The fan’s dad is Miguel (Prinze), who’s still mourning the loss of his wife. Music is Miguel’s passion too – expect it died with his wife.
But with the help of Aimee, his love for music (and something else) is rekindled. But these two just don’t gel for me. The whole film doesn’t. It seems more slapstick than panto.
Ho, ho, ho? No, no, no. Rating: 5/10
