Your Christmas or Mine?

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...

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.

This is a very enjoyable Christmas movie. Not the stuff of legends but still enjoyable.

The two main actors are good, but the thing that won me over was the rest of the cast. Brilliant and funny! They were responsible for the best laughs and the (almost) tears. Especially the grandparents, the housekeeper and both of the dads!

I used to reeeaaally dislike Alex Jennings and Harriet Walter, due to some of their previous roles as not-so-nice characters (I know, it's just acting but the roles had an effect on me. Kinda like Ron Perlman! I consider him to be pure evil :D). Nonetheless both of them (Jennings & Walter) were amazing in this film and so endearing.

We watched "Your Christmas or mine?" last night, with high hopes but a little trepidation. We need not have worried. It's fun, ridiculous and charming. And tons better than "Last Christmas" or "The Holiday" both of which have a similar feel but, for me, fail to ballance the cheese with charm. The acting in the scene in very first minute is abysmal, but quickly settles down. If you want a simple festive seasonal pick me up, this fits the bill nicely. I think the expression is " suspend disbelief" and it'll be enjoyable. It deserves neither the 3 star reviews nor the 10 star reviews, but is certainly watchable and I will happily watch again one day. Oh and if you want another feel good Christmas fix, try "Click and Collect".

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.