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''Holidate'' is a 2020 American romantic comedy film directed by John Whitesell, from a screenplay by Tiffany Paulsen. It stars Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Jake Manley, Jessica Capshaw, Andrew Bachelor, Frances Fisher, Manish Dayal and Kristin Chenoweth. The film was released on Netflix on October 28, 2020.


Plot

Sloane Benson is a young woman who hates the holidays due to the judgement she receives from her family for being single. Having recently broken up with her boyfriend, her mother Elaine is constantly trying to set her up with a new man, much to Sloane's annoyance. At her family's Christmas dinner her younger brother, York gets engaged to his girlfriend of three months, Liz, and Sloane is now the only single person left in the family. Meanwhile, Jackson, an Australian golfer, is stuck spending the holidays with a woman he has no interest in. His date becomes angry with him for not getting her a Christmas present, and he leaves in frustration. After Christmas, Sloane and Jackson have a chance encounter when both are returning presents they received. Jackson offers to avoid bad holiday dates by dating only on holidays. Though initially reluctant, she decides to take Jackson up on his offer and the two end up spending New Year's Eve together, but have no further contact. However, on Valentine's Day, both have another chance encounter where Jackson pretends to be her boyfriend in front of her ex. They become friends over spending various holidays together. After both become closer when Jackson loses a finger, he fears he is not good enough for her and tries to set her up with a better date, which leads to a fight at her brother‘s wedding. While at a Halloween costume party together, Sloane becomes unwell after accidentally swallowing laxatives. Jackson takes care of her until they end up falling asleep and having sex the morning after. Sloane's sister arrives freaking out about kissing somebody else and Sloane uses it as an excuse to shove Jackson out, much to his dismay. At Thanksgiving, both have a fight after Jackson opens up to Sloane and tells her how he feels about them. In the store when Sloane says "
Ryan Gosling Ryan Thomas Gosling (born November 12, 1980) is a Canadian actor. Prominent in independent film, he has also worked in blockbuster films of varying genres, and has accrued a worldwide box office gross of over 1.9 billion USD. He has received ...
would never do his own shopping" there is a blurred customer in the background who looks like the actor. Both break off contact afterwards. In the days leading to Christmas, Sloane visits Jackson's place but she is still reluctant to speak to him. When shopping at the mall, they have another chance encounter. In front of hundreds of people, she confesses her love for Jackson and the two embrace. The end credits reveal that all of the couples were still together. With Sloane and Jackson travelling to Australia for the holidays, Aunt Susan being engaged to Farooq, Wally and Sloane’s mother dating, just like Neil and Carly (Jackson's date from the beginning of the film).


Cast

* Emma Roberts as Sloane Benson * Luke Bracey as Jackson * Andrew Bachelor as Neil * Jessica Capshaw as Abby * Manish Dayal as Faarooq *
Alex Moffat Alexander Everett Moffat (; born March 25, 1982) is an American actor and comedian. He was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live''. He started as a featured player in 2016 and became a main cast member in 2018. Moffat left ''SNL'' in 2022, aft ...
as Peter * Jake Manley as York * Cynthy Wu as Liz * Frances Fisher as Elaine * Kristin Chenoweth as Aunt Susan * Dan Lauria as Wally * Carl McDowell as Scruffy Santa * Nicola Peltz as Felicity * Julien Marlon as Luc * Mikaela Hoover as Annie *
Aimee Carrero Aimee Carrero (born July 15, 1988) is a Dominican-American actress. She is known for voicing Princess Elena on Disney Channel's ''Elena of Avalor'' and She-Ra, Adora/She-Ra in the Netflix series ''She-Ra and the Princesses of Power''. Her live ac ...
as Carly *
Meeghan Holaway Meeghan Holaway is an American actress/singer working in theatre, film and television. She originated the role of Florence Greenberg in the Broadway musical ''Baby It's You!''. Her first television appearance was on ''Everybody Loves Raymond''. S ...
as Carly's Mom * Savannah Reina as Daisy * Billy Slaughter as Barry *
Carlos Lacamara Carlos may refer to: Places ;Canada * Carlos, Alberta, a locality ;United States * Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County * Carlos, Minnesota, a small city * Carlos, West Virginia ;Elsewhere ...
as Carly's Dad


Production

In March 2019, it was announced Emma Roberts had joined the cast of the film, with John Whitesell directing from a screenplay by Tiffany Paulsen. McG and Mary Viola would serve as producers on the film under their Wonderland Sound and Vision banner, while Netflix would distribute. In May 2019, Luke Bracey, Jake Manley, Jessica Capshaw, Andrew Bachelor, Frances Fisher, Manish Dayal and Kristin Chenoweth joined the cast of the film. In June 2019,
Alex Moffat Alexander Everett Moffat (; born March 25, 1982) is an American actor and comedian. He was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live''. He started as a featured player in 2016 and became a main cast member in 2018. Moffat left ''SNL'' in 2022, aft ...
joined the cast of the film.


Filming

Principal photography began in May 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.


Music

The film's original score was composed by Dan the Automator.


Release

''Holidate'' was digitally released by Netflix on October 28, 2020. It was the top-streamed item in its debut weekend. On November 4, '' Variety'' reported the film was the 25th-most watched straight-to-streaming title of 2020 up to that point. In January 2021, Netflix reported 68 million households had watched the film.


Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The website's critics consensus reads, "''Holidate'' self-aware approach to rom-com formula is refreshing, but it's offset by a questionable premise and unnecessarily vulgar jokes." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".


See also

*
List of Christmas films Many Christmas stories have been adapted to feature films and TV specials, and have been broadcast and repeated many times on television; since the popularization of home video in the 1980s, their many editions are sold and re-sold every year d ...


References


External links

* * {{Netflix Christmas films 2020 films 2020 romantic comedy films 2020s Christmas comedy films American Christmas comedy films American romantic comedy films English-language Netflix original films Films directed by John Whitesell Films shot in Atlanta Wonderland Sound and Vision films Independence Day (United States) films Saint Patrick's Day films Thanksgiving in films Films about Easter American films about Halloween Valentine's Day in films 2020s English-language films 2020s American films