And who is Melvin actually in love with: Lisa or Georgia?
We’ll have to wait until 3 December to find that out, though judging by this trailer the movie itself fulfils my strict but simple rules for a fantastic festive film. To stop me going all bah humbug on exhausted moviemakers, they need to provide at least two of the following: sparkle, romance, ghosts, songs, nice jumpers, snow and muppets.
Festive British romcom Boxing Day looks to be amply supplied with romance, songs, sparkle, and I’ll include the metaphorical ghosts of Christmases Past too, as Little Mix‘s Leigh-Anne Pinnock — playing famous pop singer Georgia — comes between her ex-boyfriend Melvin and his American love Lisa (Aja Naomi King) one family festive season in London.

From director Aml Ameen (he also co-wrote, and stars as Melvin), Boxing Day is the first British Christmas romcom with a Black main cast.
Here’s the synopsis:
Melvin, a British author living in America, returns home to London for the holidays to introduce his American fiancée, Lisa, to his eccentric British-Caribbean family. Their relationship is put to the test, as she discovers the world Melvin left behind revolves around his ex-girlfriend Georgia, who is now an international pop star!
I love the trailer, which you can see below, particularly the frosty response from the female British chat show presenter when the urbane Melvin trots out his well-rehearsed line about moving to the States and falling in love.
Also starring in Boxing Day are Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Tamara Lawrance, Sheyi Cole, Samson Kayo, Joshua Maloney, Lisa Davina Phillip, Claire Skinner and Stephen Dillane.
Warner Bros are releasing the film across the UK on 3 December 2021.
“It’ll be alright in the end. And if it’s not alright, it’s not the end.”
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