Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke stars in this awkward but sweet Yuletide romcom as Kate, a chaotic, George Michael obsessed twenty-something in London who’s lost her way following a serious illness. A failed singer, she works in an all-year Christmas shop dressed as an elf, while alienating family, friends and long-suffering boss (Michelle Yeoh) with her boorish behaviour.
The clouds lift with the appearance of bicycle courier Tom (Henry Golding, of Crazy Rich Asians), who begins to soften her cynical, self-loathing shell. But is he too good to be true? Given that this is co-scripted by Emma Thompson and directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters), it takes a surprisingly long time to reel you in, and is hampered by way too much rom-com cliché and cutesiness.
That said, Thompson herself is on good form as Kate’s equally miserabilist Croatian mum, the young leads grow on you, the Wham/Michael soundtrack works a treat, and the preposterous final-reel twist is nonetheless very touching.