Netflix has helped to revitalize the rom-com, making many of them among the streamer’s most-watched. What’s funny is they’re not even trying to break the formula in most cases, just leaning into what we already know to expect, but with undeniably charming stars. Holidate, which stars the always-lovable Emma Roberts, looks to be no exception.
You can probably tell by the title what Holidate is going to be about. Roberts plays Sloane, a woman tired of being pressured into relationships by her mother, who just wants to see her married off to a successful man. Since this isn’t what Sloane wants, she finds herself a platonic guy friend, played by Point Break remake dude Luke Bracey, who doesn’t mind being her plus one to family get-togethers during the holidays. How long will that relationship stay in the friend zone? Well, like I said, Netflix ain’t trying to break any rules.
Behind the camera is John Whitesell, whose right at home directing goofy comedies like Big Momma’s House 2, Malibu’s Most Wanted, and See Spot Run. Make of that what you will. The cast also includes Andrew Bachelor, Jessica Capshaw, Manish Dayal, Alex Moffat, Jake Manley, Cynthy Wu, Frances Fisher, and Kristin Chenoweth.
Holidate hits Netflix on October 28th, and I’ll be there for Emma.
SYNOPSIS: Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) hate the holidays. They constantly find themselves single, sitting at the kids table, or stuck with awkward dates. But when these two strangers meet one particularly bad Christmas, they make a pact to be each other’s “holidate” for every festive occasion throughout the next year. With a mutual disdain for the holidays, and assuring themselves that they have no romantic interest in the other, they make the perfect team. However, as a year of absurd celebrations come to an end, Sloane and Jackson find that sharing everything they hate may just prove to be something they unexpectedly love.
