A Merry Little Ex-Mas and Champagne Problems: Are Netflix Films...Good Now?

Are Netflix raising their game on Christmas movies? Or just softening us up for My Secret Santa? Your host, Helen O'Hara, assesses the contenders with guest Olly Richards. First up is Alicia Silverstone in A Merry Little Ex-Mas, trying to bring that Clueless magic to a tale of a divorced couple trying to negotiate their first Christmas apart. Then we look at Champagne Problems, wherein Minka Kelly flies to Paris to buy some sparkling wine and instead ends up in a fizzy rom-com. And yes, these are Christmas movies, we're still judging on a curve. But are there signs of actual quality here? The answer may surprise you! For more from Olly, you can find him on Bluesky (etc) @OllyRichards, and his new book, Tim Burton: The Complete Unofficial Guide (part of the Iconic Directors series) is out now. For more from Helen, you can find here on Bluesky @HelenLOHara, or at helenohara.com. Her latest books, A Quentin Tarantino Dictionary and 50 Film Ideas You Really Need To Know, are available ...