"Meet Me Next Christmas" Review: A Clumsy Rom-Com with Too Much Pentatonix and Not Enough Heart
Netflix’s Meet Me Next Christmas is a holiday rom-com that stumbles its way through a festive premise, caught between trying to be a heartfelt romance and a commercial vehicle for the a cappella group Pentatonix. The movie, starring Christina Milian and Devale Ellis, attempts to blend a holiday romance with an obsession over the group’s music, but the result is a clumsy, often silly mess that leaves you wishing the filmmakers had picked one idea and stuck with it.
Set in Chicago during the Christmas season, Meet Me Next Christmas opens with the city bathed in snow, the iconic L train rolling by with what seems to be Santa’s sleigh, and Christmas music playing in the background. But before we can settle into the holiday cheer, the story jumps to Layla (Christina Milian), a woman stranded at O’Hare Airport after her flight is canceled, missing her annual Pentatonix concert with her boyfriend, Tanner (Brendan Morgan).
While in the airport lounge, Layla meets a handsome stranger named James (Kofi Siriboe), and in a whirlwind moment, the two bond over the music of Pentatonix. Despite Layla being in a committed relationship, the instant chemistry with James is palpable. He proposes that if they’re both single the following Christmas, they should meet again at the Pentatonix concert in New York. Layla, despite her protestations that she is in a relationship, agrees.
The movie then jumps a year ahead, and Layla is dealing with an unexpected breakup when she finds Tanner cheating on her right before the concert. Without a ticket to the show and with the event sold out, Layla goes to great lengths to get into the concert, even hiring a concierge named Teddy (Devale Ellis), who helps her track down tickets. As the two work together, their relationship deepens, and Layla finds herself falling for Teddy instead.
The most entertaining part of Meet Me Next Christmas is undoubtedly Pentatonix themselves. The group, playing exaggerated versions of themselves, delivers the film’s best moments, particularly when they break into spontaneous harmonies and engage in comedic exchanges. Their interactions with their long-suffering manager, played by Nikki Duval, add a much-needed touch of humor, as she rolls her eyes at their over-the-top celebrity antics. However, their presence is disappointingly brief. What could have been a fun, goofy, Spice World-esque romp, where Pentatonix is at the center of the madness, is relegated to a side-note in the larger romance story.
Instead of leaning into the goofy charm of Pentatonix, the film focuses heavily on Layla’s quest to meet James and her budding romance with Teddy. This feels like a missed opportunity, especially given how well Pentatonix’s campy personas could have carried the film in a more playful direction.
The romance between Layla and Teddy, though central to the movie, is lacking in chemistry. Milian and Ellis have some decent moments together, but it never feels like their relationship fully develops in a meaningful way. The storyline feels forced, and the couple's slow-burning connection pales in comparison to the instant, electric spark Layla shares with James in the airport. Unfortunately, James—despite having more on-screen presence in the first act—disappears for most of the movie, and by the time Layla finally meets him at the concert, she’s already realized her true feelings for Teddy.
This forced love triangle, though based on good intentions, feels more contrived than heartfelt. Layla’s journey from yearning for a stranger at a concert to realizing her love for Teddy is predictable, but not in an emotionally satisfying way. The script spends too much time on Layla’s mission to get concert tickets and not enough on developing a deeper connection between the leads.
As a Christmas movie, Meet Me Next Christmas does deliver some festive visuals, from the snow-covered streets of Chicago to the iconic scenes of holiday lights and decorations. However, the movie never quite captures the warmth and charm that makes holiday rom-coms so beloved. Instead, it leans heavily on the holiday concert aspect, which, while fun for Pentatonix fans, feels more like a promotional tool than a heartfelt part of the story.
The film also lacks the emotional core typically seen in a Christmas movie. There’s a lot of talk about love, destiny, and holiday magic, but it’s all surface-level. The story touches on the idea of second chances, but the characters’ emotional journeys are shallow and underdeveloped. Layla’s longing for James is superficial, and her eventual connection with Teddy feels more like a plot device than a genuine emotional payoff.
Pentatonix—the group’s appearances are genuinely fun and bring a touch of humor to an otherwise formulaic story. The supporting performances—Nikki Duval stands out as the group’s long-suffering manager, delivering the film’s funniest moments with her eye-rolling reaction to the Pentatonix antics.
Christina Milian's energy—though the romance isn’t perfect, Milian’s vibrant performance holds the movie together.
The film drags during the middle act when Layla is trying to get concert tickets, and the romance feels rushed in comparison to the drawn-out ticket chase. The romance between Layla and Teddy is weak, especially when compared to her instant connection with James. The movie could have been much more fun and quirky if it leaned into the ridiculousness of the Pentatonix concept, but instead, it plays things too straight.
Meet Me Next Christmas is a clumsy mix of rom-com clichés and holiday music promotion, trying too hard to balance both genres without ever fully committing to either. While Pentatonix adds some much-needed levity and charm, the film ultimately feels like it could have been more fun, more heartwarming, and certainly more festive. As it stands, it's a holiday movie that doesn’t quite hit the right notes. Fans of Pentatonix will find some moments to enjoy, but for those looking for a satisfying Christmas romance, Meet Me Next Christmas misses the mark.
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