2021, Hernan Jimenz (Elsewhere) -- Netflix
That said, the connection between this movie and Love Actually is cute. It took the movie getting to the scene where the two mains discuss their favourite Xmas movies, to get to cute wink wink nod nod of the movie title. Yes, her favourite Xmas movie is Die Hard; his is Love Actually.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
Elena Natalie (Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries) is a writer for an online mag currently serializing her disastrous dating app adventures. But among the many schlubs, pervs and duds, you still get the idea she may be too picky. But, seriously, why not? She's early 30s, an "LA 6" (I studiously disagree) and shouldn't have to settle. And then she swipes on Josh, hot out-doorsey Josh, who lives in Lake Placid, NY. Why was she swiping on people on the other side of the country? The movie doesn't explain, doesn't care. So, after they hit it off, txt-ing and talking late into many nights, but keeping it all proper and above the bathtub bubbles, Natalie decides the best thing to do is hop on a plane and surprise Josh for Xmas.
#facepalm
As Kent said, romcom "movie logic". Of note, Dick Boss thinks its a GREAT idea, as the couple of weeks of her NOT having disastrous date has done damage to her column (blog byline? article section? what do they call "columns" in the new online blogging world?) and apparently only he sees exactly how terrible an idea this is. But perfect for him.
She arrives in mini-skirt, in upstate New York, in late December. Is she dressed appropriately? No she is not. Is she dressed appropriately for a romcom? Yes she is. She immediately ubers to Josh's place, meets his parents and then ... meets Josh -- the real Josh. Outdoorsey hunk is shorter, average-dorkey Asian guy in glasses. He catfished her.
But you knew all that, as that is the trailer. What the trailer also tells us is that Josh used Tag's face and considerable Photoshop skills to insert Natalie's life. It's the usual excuses; nobody swiped on me as me, so I added him and suddenly tons of shallow people were choosing him. Also, he kind of used Tag's personality, because while Josh is the son of a sporting goods store owner, and versed in the culture, he is more into making scented candles than climbing mountains. Meanwhile Tag is so very alpha carnivore hunter climber adrenaline soaked.
Natalie decides the best thing to do next is to actually try and connect with Tag, and Josh for some unknown masochistic reason (making amends?) assists her with it. She really seems to be about bad decisions, but that is romcom for ya. Also obvious to all but them is the fact she is altering her own personality to seem more appealing to Josh. Which is analogous to what Josh did to her, but ... more acceptable?
Meanwhile, Josh and Natalie are still pretending to be a couple in front of his family because Josh's brother is a dick, and Natalie seems kind of protective of Josh. Of course, it goes too far. And people get hurt, and people make confessions and people have ultimate realizations.
But like all good romcoms, there are plenty of sweet moments. While out caroling, Josh and Natalie show-up perfect, hunky (incredibly boring) brother Owen (Harry Shum Jr, Crazy Rich Asians) and his Kardashian-lite wife, by singing an updated version of "Baby It's Cold Outside", which is big grins all around charmingly done. And the interactions around Josh's scented candles, one in particular that scent-memories his grandfather is genuinely nice. I honestly didn't think Jimmy O Yang had it in him, as he plays up the Hong Kong kid in the US so strongly in other roles. And Dobrev does a fantastic job of being both vacant (perhaps what she believes she has to be, being from LA) but perceptive, attentive and empathetic.
In the end, this is an enjoyable little movie that is less about Xmas, and more just set during Xmas. The leads are charming, the situations chuckle worthy but not exactly memorable. But I got out of it what I wanted.
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