Weihnachten bei dir oder bei mir?

A cast of well known Brit actors including the ever watchable Asa Butterfield, Angela Griffin, Daniel Mays etc do their best to keep this Xmas by numbers film bubbling 'n bumbling along and just about pull it off - but it's by no means a classic. Managing to comfortably straddle the line between inoffensive and formulaic it tells the tale of two romantically engaged students independently ending up at each other's family dwelling for Yuletide - and the obvious 'hilarity' that ensues from this.

And that - along with a number of run of the mill cliches, situations and characters - is about it...

Very good! I thoroughly enjoyed this.

You never really know what to expect from Xmas films, especially those with (no disrespect intended whatsoever) unrecognisable (to me, of course) leads and those that are straight-to-streaming. 'Your Christmas Or Mine?' is, thankfully, a rather swell festive flick.

Asa Butterfield and Cora Kirk are a good pairing, though given the plot don't actually spend too much time together onscreen. Butterfield has more to work with, his side of the plot is very much more fleshed out. As such Kirk does well with her scenes.

As noted this is my first time watching Butterfield [actually, technically I've seen a ~13-year-old him in 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang' - who knew?] and Kirk, though behind those two there are many a well known face that I spotted. Daniel Mays, Angela Griffin, David Bradley and Alex Jennings, plus one or two others, are actors I've seen elsewhere. The support cast are excellent, here.

It's amusing, very nicely paced and has all the necessary cheesy Christmas vibes - though, to be fair, it's not Hallmark Channel-esque cheese, it's just the usual strong sense of holiday cheer... which is what you'd want from a production of this ilk to be honest, at least I do.

Two young people in school in London are developing a relationship, they are just about to the point that they profess their love. But at this moment they must catch trains at the Marylebone Station to travel to their homes for the Christmas holidays. As they say goodbye, at the last second each independently decide they will switch trains and join the other's family for Christmas. So he ends up at the home of her family, while she ends up at the home of his family. And neither knows where the other is!

Asa Butterfield plays the part of James, it turns out he has not told her all about his family, and he has not told his dad that he dropped out of military school. Cora Kirk plays the part of Hayley and she has kept things secret also. All this to generate the difficult situations over the course of the movie's time span of two days.

This is a quite different movie for my wife and me, the British approach to comedy is unique, but we enjoyed the entertainment. Streaming on Amazon.

I have to admit, I am addicted to Christmas movies - and I have watched the full spectrum from boring to best (Love, Actually; Last Christmas, etc.)

But this newcomer is several steps above the vast selection of Hallmark-ish Holiday fare.

Great cast, refreshing unpredictable twists in the storyline. And even though I sometimes avoid aspects of "Brit Wit", this had me smiling & laughing.

From Asa Butterfield to the grumpy father in Victoria, and some refreshing actors I had never seen before, they all add to the film.

Give it a try. It is so much more uplifting than Hallmark or Netflix. Let me know what you think.

Surprisingly entertaining. The storyline is relateable. We all have family dynamics to deal with around Christmas time.

Great acting from the cast. Asa Butterfield and Cora Kirk hold their own as the leads. A great role for Daniel Mays. Alex Jennings seem to by typecasted for the English posh roles, especially after playing the abdicated King in The Crown.

In parts, the film is a little bit cliche and unrealistic. Cheesy (yet likeable) soundtrack. And when was the last time in snowed in England on Christmas Day?

It's not going to win a BAFTA, but it's a nice and easy watch to enjoy with your family, I would highly recommend.