Writing is sloppy and story-lines feel forced. Georgia and Melvin actually display some sprinkle of chemistry only in the final 10 minutes. Awkward, almost like the editors realised post-production "oh wait, we need to actually give these supposed soul mates a real moment." Jamaican accents got really cringe. I'll give them a pass though because Melvin in one scene acknowledges the inauthentic exaggerations (great self-awareness from the crew). And they were somewhat necessary given the history of black-British culture.
Ultimately this movie has an elite cast who shine at every limited chance. Personally I enjoyed all of Aretha/Boopsy's scenes. I haven't looked into it yet, but I would not be surprised if all her lines were impromptu. Each of her interactions felt so genuine, especially the one making fun of Georgia with "buff" jokes after her break-up. Most of the lighthearted scenes in Boxing Day are well executed. You get to experience a few real laugh out loud moments. If they could re-do this movie, they should've just leaned all in on the rom-COMEDY aspect. Especially with the love triangle. Despite the repeated rhetoric from supporting cast on how Georgia/Melvin were perfect together, the movie vibe/ambience never resonated her threat (resulting in a forced kissing scene). Music was phenomenal, though admittedly Georgia probably got one too many solo concerts in there. One of the more wholesome scenes is Lisa getting a package to her room with snacks and an iPod playing Party Hard by Donae'o. A really wholesome "welcome to my city" moment.
Is this a 10/10 movie? Probably not. However, it still is a really fun movie. When I chose to watch it I was looking for something not too serious (the antithesis of Spiderman No Way Home and the Matrix Resurrections) but fun. And boy this movie delivered quality relatable people of colour banter we hardly see onscreen. Movie's best moments lied in the black family dynamic and nuances you never see on TV. Such as how the families will go from an utter jovial mood to intense bickering over the most trivial issues (and vice-versa). As a black man I can vouch this sums up most of my festive season experiences growing up. Struggling to give a rating, as I'm typing I keep flipping between a 6 and an 8 (might as well give a 7 right?).
Ultimately this movie has an elite cast who shine at every limited chance. Personally I enjoyed all of Aretha/Boopsy's scenes. I haven't looked into it yet, but I would not be surprised if all her lines were impromptu. Each of her interactions felt so genuine, especially the one making fun of Georgia with "buff" jokes after her break-up. Most of the lighthearted scenes in Boxing Day are well executed. You get to experience a few real laugh out loud moments. If they could re-do this movie, they should've just leaned all in on the rom-COMEDY aspect. Especially with the love triangle. Despite the repeated rhetoric from supporting cast on how Georgia/Melvin were perfect together, the movie vibe/ambience never resonated her threat (resulting in a forced kissing scene). Music was phenomenal, though admittedly Georgia probably got one too many solo concerts in there. One of the more wholesome scenes is Lisa getting a package to her room with snacks and an iPod playing Party Hard by Donae'o. A really wholesome "welcome to my city" moment.
Is this a 10/10 movie? Probably not. However, it still is a really fun movie. When I chose to watch it I was looking for something not too serious (the antithesis of Spiderman No Way Home and the Matrix Resurrections) but fun. And boy this movie delivered quality relatable people of colour banter we hardly see onscreen. Movie's best moments lied in the black family dynamic and nuances you never see on TV. Such as how the families will go from an utter jovial mood to intense bickering over the most trivial issues (and vice-versa). As a black man I can vouch this sums up most of my festive season experiences growing up. Struggling to give a rating, as I'm typing I keep flipping between a 6 and an 8 (might as well give a 7 right?).