Holidate (2020)

Holidate takes a well-worn rom-com setup and gives it a fizzy, self-aware jolt: it knows the rules of holiday romance, winks at them, and then leans in anyway because it’s having too much fun not to. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey click with the easy, teasing chemistry of two people who swear they’re keeping it casual while their expressions keep betraying them, and the script keeps the pace snappy as the year ricochets from one festive pressure-cooker to the next. The vibe is glossy, a little naughty, and pleasantly mean in the way good comedies are when they’re telling the truth about family expectations and the humiliation of being single on command. It’s not for viewers who want a squeaky-clean, Hallmark-style sweetness, but if you like your romance with bite, energy, and a surprisingly warm payoff, this one’s an easy date.

Holidate is clearly aiming for a breezy, modern riff on the fake-dating rom-com, with Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey trying to sell a “no feelings, just holidays” setup that inevitably gets complicated. The problem is it leans hard on crude jokes, loud family chaos, and very familiar genre beats, so if you’re hoping for sharp writing or genuinely surprising turns, it can feel clumsy and paint-by-numbers. That said, the leads have enough easy chemistry and the holiday-to-holiday structure keeps it moving, making it decent background comfort viewing. Skip it if raunchy humor and formula romance make you roll your eyes; try it if you just want something festive, mildly spicy, and uncomplicated.