A Review of Netflix’s Holiday Comedies
Dash & Lily:
A heartwarming and fulfilling romantic comedy, this miniseries set in the holiday season is a nostalgic dive into the lives of two teens – Dash and Lily. Dash is poignant and reserved with a certain loathing for Christmas and Santa; Lily is carefree and dreamy with an ever-growing adoration for the holiday. This rom-com pushes the boundary of cliché to deliver something mystifying and unconventional. The duo remains unknown to each other for most of the show, and they are only linked by a small red notebook in which they exchange opinions on philosophies, fears, aspirations, and anecdotes that have shaped their current selves.
The idea of an intrinsic connection being formed between two strangers - not by face value, but by virtue of their minds, thoughts, and hearts - might be the most attractive thing about the show. All in all, the series pulls you into a realistic Christmas week in New York, the actors fall seamlessly into the roles, the music and visuals complement the Christmas spirit without overdoing it (if you know what I mean), and at the end of this show, you will probably be left in a daze with a smile across your face. Austin Abrams and lily
Let it Snow:
From its name itself, it’s safe to assume that it's either a sequel to Elsa’s Frozen or a Christmas movie. Well, if you guessed the second one – you’re right (or you may have read the book). Let it Snow (the movie) has been adapted from John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle’s popular novel by the same name. The film revolves around the lives of an ambitious and promising teen with family struggles, a forlorn music artist, a love-lost boy, and a couple of baristas who are all hoping to celebrate Christmas. The occasional appearance of a strange foil-wearing woman in an even stranger car adds to the quaint atmosphere of the film.
Last Christmas:
This 2019 film is a transcendent tale about Kate who is struggling to fit back into the world after a heart transplant, and Tom – an almost saint-like boy who put his phone away in a cupboard once and never looked back. If you have seen Crazy Rich Asians or Game of Thrones, you are already familiar with the ‘Last Christmas’ cast. Henry Golding (Nick from Crazy Rich Asians) plays Tom, Amelia Clarke (Daenerys from Game of Thrones) plays Kate, and Michelle Yeoh (the mother from Crazy Rich Asians) plays Santa.
The story is set in a troubled family which has fled from Croatia because of the KGB and settled in New York. The setting also includes a shelter for homeless people and a store that supplies Christmas goodies all year round. The plot progresses slowly as Kate auditions to sing in plays and Tom shares his philosophy towards life. The movie starts to seem simple and even a little predictable until the last 20 minutes when a nerve-wracking twist kicks in. Be warned because the twist might make you want to bawl your eyes out. Even after the film has ended, you will likely find yourself humming the title track:
Last Christmas I gave you my heart,
but the very next day you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I gave it to someone special