As the weather gets colder and the holiday season approaches, people all around the world are looking for ways to get into the Christmas spirit with their friends and family. There is no better way to do that than grabbing a bucket of popcorn and watching the new Christmas comedies that have been released this year.
Movies like “Red One,” “Our Little Secret,” and “Dear Santa” have become heartwarming and humorous picks at NVD. Some students felt that the movies brought them the holiday joy they were looking for, while others did not.
“Red One” starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans is an action-comedy that was released on Nov. 15, 2024. It is about the rescue of Santa Claus after he gets kidnapped by a winter witch on Christmas Day. Jack O’Malley, played by Evans, works for a top secret government operative called The E.L.F (this stands for: Enforcement, Logistics and Fortification). This operative works for “Red One” which is a secret code name for Claus. Callum Drift, played by Johnson, is a retired operative who teams up with O’Malley to save Christmas and get Claus back from the grasp of the witch. Students share that they are pleased with the movie and enjoyed the overall plot along with the experience.
Actor Dwayne Johnson on the red carpet for the movie “Red One”
Photo courtesy of Red Carpet Fashion Awards
“The storyline is engaging, with plenty of intense scenes and dramatic moments,” sophomore Zara Wiley said.
Actor Ian Harding and actress Lindsay Lohan both star in “Our Little Secret,” released on Nov. 27, 2024. This film is a rom-com where Harding and Lohan play two hateful exes who have to spend Christmas vacation together because their siblings are in a relationship. The title of the movie comes from the two deciding to keep their romantic history a secret even though they are living under the same roof. They attempt to keep Christmas drama free but end up taking a turn and rekindling their relationship towards the end of their getaway.
“I think the two protagonists had good chemistry and that it really did help the movie. The other cast also made the movie whole and can’t imagine the film without either of them,” freshman Sophia Beyder said.
“Dear Santa” is a sweet comedy that was released on Nov. 25, 2024 and stars famous actors Jack Black, Post Malone and Brianne Howey. The movie is about a young boy who just moved to a new town after his brother passed away and has trouble making friends. When Christmas rolls around the corner and it is time to write his letter to Santa, he makes a wish to fix his family tragedy but instead makes a huge mistake by addressing the letter to Satan instead of Santa.
A picture of Jack Black in costume for “Dear Santa”
Photo courtesy of Prima COOL
“I think that most Christmas movies are very predictable and this definitely was. I wish it had more of a twist instead of being like most other movies,” sophomore Emma Wagner said.
These Christmas movies did a really good job on bringing the holiday spirit to students and families of NVD by bringing a good laugh and an interesting plot.
“I felt like a kid again experiencing the magic of the holiday season,” Wagner said.