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Oh, dear, it's that time of year! As our collective calendars fill up with more To-Do's than any one person can handle, it's important to remind ourselves that we can manage all the hustle and bustle that takes over everyday life from Thanksgiving preparations through Christmas and Hanukkah, and as we welcome in the New Year. Just breathe and watch rom-coms!
Fortunately, Netflix has queued up two new romantic comedies that offer the perfect amount of charm, mistletoe, and meet-cutes to make the holiday season feel a little less like a sprint to the finish line and more like a storybook.
Released on November 12, this adorably delightful film instantly became a massive hit for the streamer, securing the No. 2 spot on the Top 10 Movies list with 12.8 million views in its first week.
Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson portray Kate and Everett, who do not like to say they've divorced, but have consciously uncoupled. Still, they're determined to make this a wonderful holiday season for their two children, who are coming home for the festivities.
What could possibly go wrong? New flames and old feelings come into play, complicating their plans. They both do their best to make one last perfect Christmas before Kate sells the family home and ventures off to pursue a career she left behind years ago to be a wife and mother.
Each meticulously planned event is hilariously derailed when Everett unexpectedly introduces his younger, gorgeous, and successful new girlfriend, Tess (Jameela Jamil).
Kate also has an admirer in Chet (Pierson Fodé), a young, handsome man who helps her pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Melissa Joan Hart stars as Kate's best friend, April, who witnesses all the chaos.
Steve Carr directed this hopeful comedy from writer Holly Hester. If I had to glean a theme, I'd say this movie is about second chances in all things, especially love. It's never too late to find your way back to the person you're meant to be with.
This inspirational rom-com was just released on November 19, so there are no viewing numbers to report, but it's a safe bet that this film will also land on the streamer's Top 10 Movies list.
If this one doesn't make you want to pack your bags and fly to Paris, I don't know what will! Minka Kelly stars as Sydney Price, an American businesswoman who is climbing the corporate ladder. She finally gets the opportunity to prove herself when her boss sends her to France to lead a major acquisition for Chateau Cassell, a beloved champagne house nestled in the heart of the Champagne region.
To make this sojourn even more magical, she's tasked with going to meet with the owner of the champagne empire in person to close the deal during the magic of Christmas time.
She makes her sister one promise before she goes; she will take one night off to have some fun in the City of Lights. This might be one of the cutest meet-cutes of them all! She meets the charming Henri Cassell (Tom Wozniczka), a stranger who shows her the magic of the city during the holidays, and they share a night neither will ever forget.
Their whirlwind romance hits a snag when she discovers that this handsome Parisian is the founder's son of the very company she's traveled so far to acquire. She realizes she's got some competition in the bid for the family business when Hugo Cassell (Thibault de Montalemert) sets up a friendly competition for the potential buyers at the family vineyard.
Will Sydney and Henri's new romance survive this unexpected detour? Of course it will! This is a romantic comedy, not a mystery! These two lovebirds have too much passion to keep bottled up.
This adorable escape comes from writer, director, and producer Mark Steven Johnson. Sean Amsing, Flula Borg, Astrid Whettnall, Xavier Samuel, Mitchell Mullen, and Maeve Courtier-Lilley round out this fabulous cast.
I'd say the main message this movie delivers is that it's never too late to find the life you're meant to live and the person you're meant to love.
Let's be honest; the holidays are the happiest time of the year for some but not for everyone. When life feels a little too chaotic, the classic holiday rom-com is the perfect escape into a world of dreamy meet-cutes and happy endings!