It is the time to be merry. By that I mean pull up your socks, get those steaming cups of cocoa by the sofa and read a book. Or maybe call up your friends and have a movie night? Maybe a movie date after dinner with your partner? Here is a list to make things easier for you to relax this holiday season. Pairing up is my favourite and these movies are perfect to indulge in alongside those bookmarked chapters and festive cookies. Some of them are all about the celebrations of the holiday season while some are cosy and warm to jilt your heart in joy. Comedies, love stories, children’s favourites – we have one for every mood.
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and ‘The Princess Switch’
When young Mia discovers a world beyond the scary Algebra and school, she does not expect to be the princess of Genovia and waited upon in a royal life. Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries series is a laugh riot, highly entertaining and colourful. Vanessa Hudgen’s hyped romantic Christmas movie of the year is a cross between The Princess Diaries and Parent Trap. In The Princess Switch, a young baker swaps places with a Duchess who is due to marry the Prince of Belgravia. A perfect confection with royalty, snow and love for a frosty night. If you are feeling extra fancy, follow up with Anne Hathaway in the brilliant film remake of The Princess Diaries too.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg and ‘The Christmas Chronicles’
The Polar Express is a lovely holiday read if you are revisiting the old favourite as an adult or reading it to a child. It is the story of a boy who boards a train to North Pole on Christmas Eve. The Netflix comedy, The Christmas Chronicles, is a good pick for both adults and kids this year. When two siblings try to catch Santa Claus on camera, things do not go as planned in this hilarious Christmas film.
84, Charing cross Road by Helene Hanff and ‘You’ve Got Mail’
These aren’t exactly festive choices, but more of cosy ones that you need for your nights under the blanket. 84, Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters between a struggling freelance writer (Hanff) in New York City and a used bookstore employee in London. The correspondence that ran into several years introduces them to each other’s friends and family circles but fate is not kind enough to let them meet. You’ve Got Mail is that classic love story you need after the book. It is about two people falling in love over emails but not knowing that they aren’t on friendly terms in real life. Be warned about the old, noisy sounds of a dial up connection and make sure you have a pack of tissues.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and ‘A Christmas Prince’
Austen is just so perfect for December. That agony of ‘will Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth fall for each other’ never gets old. I like it best to listen to the classic on audio and sigh intermittently at Austen’s beautiful passages. If you are in the mood for something cheesy and snowy, A Christmas Prince about a journalist sent to cover a story about the royal family of Aldovia is the best pick. There is royal drama, a bit of romance, a prince and everything nice. And the best part? You can binge the sequel, A Christmas Prince: A Royal Wedding,  if you do not want to leave the love birds without a more happy ending.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang and ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’
What’s December without love stories? In The Kiss Quotient, Stella has Asperger’s Syndrome and is socially awkward. She hires an escort, Michael, to learn the nuances of being in a relationship. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of the much hyped movies of the year (and perhaps also the one with the most lovey dovey gifs and memes), so a re-watch over the holidays is a must. The movie is your feel-good-high-school-love story while The Kiss Quotient is like Peter Kavinsky-Lara Jean’s fake dating in a more adult world with lots of sex. Weekend binge sorted.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and ‘Angela’s Christmas’
There is no Christmas without Dicken’s three Christmas ghosts visiting the bitter Scrooge to make him welcome the joy of celebrating the holiday season. Tiny Tim, the crippled son of Scrooge’s secretary is the darling who fills our heart with warmth. As a perfect pairing, we have an animated Netflix film, Angela’s Christmas, about family and love where a young girl tries to keep baby Jesus warm.
