Film Pick of the Week: A Merry Little Ex-Mas - review by Yvette Huddleston
A Merry Little Ex-Mas Netflix, review by Yvette Huddleston
The first of the many festive movies made by Netflix which will be dropping on the streamer over the next few weeks, this is the kind of undemanding seasonal viewing that offers up some lightweight Christmas-themed viewing. Just don’t expect any surprises – these films have a formula that is pretty strictly adhered to.
The premise here is that longtime married couple Kate (Alicia Silverstone) and Everett (Oliver Hudson) have decided to go their separate ways. It is all very amicable and grown up – they keep referring to it as ‘conscious uncoupling’ (a dated joke, but you get the idea) – and their plan is to have one last Christmas together as a family, for the sake of their college-age children Sienna (Emily Hall) and Gabriel (Wilder Hudson). They live in the picturesque small town of Winterlight, Everett’s hometown where he is the local doctor. Kate, a trained architect, followed him there after they met at college and put her career plans permanently on hold, taking time out to bring up the children, then pivoting into self-employment as a handywoman.
Kate and Everett are a popular couple and when the townsfolk hear the news of their separation and impending divorce – gossip travels fast – they are saddened, despite assurances from the couple themselves that they are absolutely fine about it. Kate is determined to make their last Christmas together a memorable one, she has a series of activities planned, the routine of several years together. Then she discovers that Everett has neglected to tell her he has a new girlfriend who he is intending to bring along to the family Christmas celebrations. Awkwardness is surely destined to be on the menu. Said girlfriend is sophisticated English businesswoman Tess (Jameela Jamil) who is both much younger and much more glamorous than Kate.
Kate nevertheless sticks to her plans, with the help of her best friend April (Melissa Joan Hart) who encourages her to find her own love interest. That proves to be remarkably easy – when Kate goes to buy her Christmas tree the young man who sells it to her, Chet (Pierson Fodé), is clearly interested in her and suggests they go on a date. Anyway, Kate is looking to the future – she has had a big city job offer and she intends to sell the house. There are no prizes for guessing how all this plays out, but as cosy seasonal entertainment it fits the bill.