T'is the season to be jolly and sure what makes for more joyous viewing than a good old seasonal chick flick? Now now lads, I can hear that "Die Hard is set at Christmas" argument a'comin but it ain't gonna work this time! So, ladies (and gents who don't mind a good oul RomComDramedy), throw yourself down on that sofa and watch your way through our Top Five Christmas Chick Flicks. Yippee-ki-yay!
5. The Family Stone
If there's one thing every good chick flick needs, regardless of the season, it's a heartthrob. Enter Dermot Mulroney as Everett Stone, the eldest of the Stone children who's bringing his uptight girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) home for Christmas. The Stones are a liberal bunch and they just can't wait to tear this mysterious young wan apart. Anyway Meredith calls in her sister (Claire Danes) for support but gets more than she bargained for when everyone, including her boyfriend, seems to like her sibling! There's more drama brewing as Kelly (Diane Keaton), the family's matriarch, is keeping a secret that could turn their world upside down. Tears, tantrums and laughter galore: isn't that what a family Christmas is all about?
4. Serendipity
Ok so TECHNICALLY this isn’t a Christmas movie but it still qualifies because all the action kicks off during the festive season. It’s almost Christmas in New York city and Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) are out shopping for gloves for their other halves. Romance blossoms while they’re doing the Christmas shopping (and there we were thinking it’d be enough to split any couple up) and Jon wants to explore things further but Sara’s not so sure they’re meant to be. ANGST. They decided to test fate by splitting up and seeing if destiny will bring them back together. It’d be enough to warm the cockles of Jack Frost's heart on a cold winter’s eve!
3. While You Were Sleeping
Who wouldn’t want to stop Peter Gallagher from falling in front of a train on Christmas Day? Sandra Bullock did just that in While You Were Sleeping, probably one of the best RomComs of all time. A, errrr, simple misunderstanding, if you could call it that, lands Lucy Moderatz (Bullock) in an odd situation. Mistaken for the fiance of the man whose life she saved, she ends up spending Christmas and New Years with his family and starts to fall for his brother, Jack (Bill Pullman). Will this false fiance make it up the aisle or will she be a Runaway Bride? Get the girls round, crack out the cocoa and make a night of it.
2. The Holiday
When you think Christmas do you think cosy cottage or California sunshine? With The Holiday you get a bit of both! LA movie trailer editor Amanda (Cameron Diaz) has just broken up with her boyfriend (Ed Burns) while English journalist Iris (Kate Winslet), is left broken-hearted when the man she loves decides to marry someone else. Swearing off the lads altogether, the two swap cities and meet book editor Graham (Jude Law) and music composer Miles (Jack Black) respectively. Cue festive frolicking in the snow and/or sand. Perfect for a night in on the sofa!
1. Love Actually
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Hugh Grant and yer wan Tiffany off Eastenders. This ensemble RomComDramedy has become something of a seasonal staple and is on the tellybox at least three or four times in the run up to Christmas. Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Rowan Atkinson and Bill Nighy. We could go on. Love Actually’s got it all; the romance, the tears, the laughter and The Bay City Rollers, not to mention Hugh dancing around Downing Street. Did you watch it last Christmas? Of course you did you saucy minx!
