Meet Me Next Christmas Parent Guide

While on her way to see her boyfriend for Christmas, Layla’s (Christina Milian) flight is delayed, causing her to while away some hours in the airport lounge, where she meets the handsome James (Kofi Siriboe). Although the two have instant chemistry, Layla has no intentions of breaking up with her boyfriend, so James suggests that if they’re both single next Christmas, they’ll meet up at a Pentatonix concert, Layla’s favorite musical group.

A year later, Layla finds herself single after finding out her boyfriend had been cheating on her, but with only a few days until the concert, Pentatonix tickets are hard to come by. Desperate for a shot at love, she hires a personal concierge, Teddy (Devale Ellis) to help her find a ticket by any means necessary. But as the two get more and more embroiled in their quest, Layla starts to wonder if maybe the universe is leading her in a different direction.

Christmas is famous for its Hallmark-style romance flicks. And they’re popular for a reason: there’s something comforting about the familiar storylines and cliches, and it’s always nice to have something simple to put on in the background that doesn’t require anyone to focus too hard. I understand the appeal, even if I personally find this genre to be goofy and saccharine.

The plot set up of Meet Me Next Christmas is cute, though the story falls off the rails fairly quickly. It’s obvious the writers just needed to fill the time in between the set up and obvious ending, so they threw everything at the wall to see what might stick. I found some of the adventures to be fun and charming, while others were clichéd and annoying. Your mileage may vary, depending on your personal opinions on this genre. The entire production also feels like a feature-length commercial for Pentatonix, is very grating.

Where the film shines is in the chemistry between the two leads. Their budding relationship is realistic, healthy, and romantic, with two very attractive and talented actors to sell the story. Even if the second act made me roll my eyes, I couldn’t help but root for them.

Another thing this film has going for it is its PG rating, which can be hard to find in a media world where more romantic films are going in a Restricted direction. Audiences looking for a clean, sweet holiday love story that requires little thought could enjoy Meet Me Next Christmas, even if it won’t become an annual classic.