With the holiday season around the corner, Amazon Prime Video has added a bunch of feel-good movies to its slate. Here’s our top four picks that you can add to your watchlist this Christmas.
Candy Cane Lane:
Eddie Murphy’s first holiday movie is a must watch if you are one for magic realism. Murphy’s Chris Carver is a doting husband and devoted father whose only aim is to outshine his neighbours in the annual Christmas decoration contest, Candy Cane Lane.
When a television show announces a reward of $100,000 for the house with the coolest decoration, the need to win becomes even more pressing, especially because Chris has recently lost his job.
Chris’ desperation makes him an easy prey for the notorious elf Pepper (played by Jillian Bell) who sells him cursed figurines. Though their Christmas decorations become the talk of the town, the Carvers eventually find themselves enmeshed in a chaotic spell that has the potential of jeopardising the entire neighbourhood.
As they embark on an adventure to salvage the Christmas spirit for everyone involved, new mysteries are unravelled, and new difficulties crop up at every step.
Helmed by Reginald Hudlin, Candy Cane Lane sets forth some of the most quintessential themes of Christmas – compassion, kindness, resilience and a quest for redemption.
Your Christmas or Mine 2:
Premised on the same theme of cultural differences as its predecessor, this holiday romcom starring Asa Butterfield and Cora Kirk is a heartwarming tale involving moments of joy, blessings, goof-ups and reconciliation.
The return of the beloved characters from the first instalment and the introduction of some new ones, Your Christmas or Mine 2 promises to be a cosy watch during the holiday season.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Austrian Alps, the film begins with a mix-up in hotel accommodations. The already exasperating situation aggravates for the Hughes and Taylor families when their luggage is also swapped.
But this is only the beginning of the various misunderstandings that form the hilarious, albeit delightful, narrative of the film. As the two families indulge in a night of drunken revelry, accidental slips on everyone’s part lead to unexpected twists and turns and even a breakup.
Will James be able to stop Hayley from flying back to her hometown? Will their love find a way to overcome the misunderstandings? Watch the Jim O'Hanlon-directed sequel to find out.
Dating Santa:
Appealing to a much broader audience, Jose Sierra’s Dating Santa, starring Ana Serradilla as Lucia and David Chocarro as Sergio, delves into the depths of a complicated relationship.
Lucia is a devoted single mother who regrows interest in dating after meeting the charming chef Sergio on a blind date. However, her daughter Leo has qualms about accepting a third person in their family. So, Lucia hides her relationship from Leo, but things go awry when Sergio visits them for two weeks during Christmas.
In an attempt to pacify her agitated daughter, Lucia tells her that Sergio is Santa, leading to a series of Christmassy moments involving the trio. Besides being chock full of holiday rituals, the film explores many pressing issues, particularly the emotional subtleties of a single mother’s relationship with her daughter.
World’s First Christmas:
This Brazilian holiday drama transports you to an alternate reality where Christmas holidays do not exist. Starring Ingrid Guimaraes (who plays Tina) and Lazaro Ramos (who plays Pepe), World’s First Christmas recounts the story of a newlywed couple struggling to establish an affectionate attachment between their stepchildren.
When Pepe’s distraught daughter prays for the disappearance of Christmas, her wish is granted, and the family finds itself stranded in a world that has never experienced the holiday season. Bereft of Christmas decorations, carols and family gatherings, the town becomes a grim place to live in.
As Pepe and Tina embark on a journey to revive the town’s holiday spirit, they rediscover not only Christmas but also their forgotten familial bond.
Directed by Susana Garcia and Gigi Soares, the film also features Fabiana Karla as Silvana whose remarkable performance is a cherry on top.
