Your Christmas or Mine 2 Parent Guide

They’ve done it again: Hayley and James (Cora Kirk and Asa Butterfield) are in the middle of a family Yuletide mix-up. This year the Taylor and Hughes families have planned to spend the holiday together at an Austrian ski resort, but things have not run smoothly. James and his aristocratic family are in a flimsy shack surrounded by the Taylors’ luggage and Hayley’s noisy clan are with the Hughes family’s luggage in the opulent penthouse suite booked by Humphrey Hughes (Alex Jennings). A heavy snowfall is on its way, so the families are stuck where they are – at least for the night.

Sequels always make me nervous, because it’s so easy to kill the vibe of a good first film. I enjoyed the original Your Christmas or Mine and was afraid this production would be a significant downgrade. It isn’t: it’s only slightly less appealing. The first movie stands out for the originality of its plot – it’s a rare rom-com that can work by separating the romantic leads for almost the entire film. This sequel is less bold in that the young lovers are only apart overnight. For the rest of the vacation, they must juggle their eccentric families, try to find some privacy, and work to overcome misconceptions, misunderstandings, and communication errors. You know, the regular rom-com stuff.

As seasonal rom-coms go, Your Christmas or Mine 2 is one of the better ones. It’s got plenty of comedy, with appealing, goofy characters and ridiculous situations that usually work. The romance also has heart, and I find myself rooting for the young lovers. James is sincerely devoted and Hayley is appealingly honest. They also have enough chemistry to make the relationship believable, but not enough to make the show too hot for teen viewers.

As for content issues, the biggest issue here is alcohol. All of the men spend an evening at a local bar, where they have a beer-chugging contest and get very, very drunk. This over-consumption is treated as comedy and the only negative consequences is inebriation for all and vomiting on James’ part, which thankfully occurs off-screen. The movie also contains over 30 profanities, most of which are terms of deity. Amazon Prime has rated this film at 13+ and that fits.

Like all Christmas rom-coms, Your Christmas or Mine 2 isn’t going to win any film awards but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to watch. If you enjoy your laughs mixed with romance, well-intentioned characters, and strong messages about love, self-respect, and the value of families, this movie will be a Christmas treat for you. Get out some carbs and a soft blanket and snuggle down for some feel-good laughs.