ALL THE JINGLE LADIES

In order to find herself, a British teenager must embrace the true spirit of Christmas.

Fifteen-year-old Molly Bell hates Christmas. Thanks to her parents’ band, the Rocking Stockings (formerly known as the Brussel Shouts), Molly has spent most of her life avoiding her past as the adorable child star of the music video for their hit song, “Love Your Elf!” Things get more complicated when “Love Your Elf!” is chosen as the theme song for Sleigh Another Day, this year’s hot holiday rom-com. Molly tries to avoid being recognized as Annoying Green Christmas Elf in her new town (where she hoped to make a fresh start), plan a charity event, and be there for her struggling best friend. At the movie’s London premiere, she meets an American boy called Kyle, who has also retreated from the hubbub to sit in a cluttered storage room. Their friendship quickly turns into butterflies, but they’re both hiding something. In the end, Molly learns that she must truly embrace who she is before she can embrace anyone else. It’s impossible not to root for the likable characters, particularly Molly, who transforms and grows through each challenge she faces. While the opening feels repetitive in places, the narrative, which celebrates self-acceptance and the power of friendship, picks up in pace as the interpersonal conflicts develop. Red-headed Molly presents white; in the cover art, Kyle appears Black.

A heartfelt, festive, and affirming romance.