Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Like most holiday movies, No Sleep ‘Til Christmas makes you scratch your head and question the logic of what’s happening.
| Director(s) | Phil Traill | |
| Written By | Phil Traill, Steve Smith | |
| Date Released | 12/11/2018 | |
| Genre(s) | Romance, Holiday | |
| Good If You Like | Unique, But Not Completely Weird, Holiday Movies | |
| Noted Cast | ||
| Lizzie | Odette Annable | |
| Josh | Charles Michael Davis | |
| Billy | Dave Annable | |
| Fiona | Sheryl Lee Ralph | |
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No Sleep ‘Til Christmas‘ Plot
Lizzie is an event planner, and Josh is a surgeon. They are scheduled to get married at the end of the year, and it seems the marriage has royally thrown off Lizzie’s ability to sleep. Mind you, this problem didn’t exist before. This leads to the question of maybe Josh’s mother, Fiona, being the cause of Lizzie’s restless nights. For with Josh being a surgeon, he has every kind of test imaginable done to see if maybe it is a medical, psychological, or what have you kind of issue.
Yet, after accidentally hitting a man named Billy with her car and both taking a moment to rest their eyes before going into the hospital, they sleep like babies. Oh, did we mention Billy has sleeping problems too? It’s just his deal with abandonment issues than anxiety. But, taking note of how refreshed they both are and how well they can now perform at their jobs, a deal is made. One in which Lizzie will finance the bar Billy wants to open if he sleeps with her non-sexually so she can get proper rest.
What’s the worst that could happen, right?
Highlights
It Certainly Has a Different Story
Holiday movies often lean towards the ridiculous side of fantasy and sometimes even sci-fi, but this one is strangely rooted in reality. The idea that something is off with someone’s vibe to the point that you can’t comfortably sleep near them makes sense. Especially since the film pushes the idea that it isn’t anything personal when it comes to Josh, it is just something about him that doesn’t allow Lizzie the ability to be truly comfortable. Be it beside him, alone, or for various other reasons the film barely dives into.
Then Billy being unable to sleep since he was a child, due to his father walking out on his mom, not only makes sense but is a little heartbreaking. Now, we aren’t given the reasons why his dad left, but there again is this lack of damning someone for what isn’t working, and you have to appreciate that.
For while it pushes you to have mixed feelings towards the end of the film, it also reminds you that sometimes things just don’t work out. That there doesn’t always have to be some big blow-up, cheating, or all that. It could just be you are compatible with someone in a multitude of ways but maybe not in the way which matters most.
On The Fence
Josh’s Part In All This
When it comes to No Sleep ‘Til Christmas, it gives me Christmas Inheritance flashbacks. The main reason is feeling uncomfortable with the way one relationship ends and the next begins. Something which would be fine for a regular romance movie because then there would be layers and complications to it. However, holiday movies forego that. This movie, in particular, may show Lizzie going through a battery of tests to learn why she is having sleep issues but barely addressing her relationship with Josh or Fiona.
Not addressing the elephant in the room makes the inevitable with Billy not have the spark you know it should have. And while you can remix it, as I do in the highlights, it requires you to believe in some grand design or be a romantic. If that doesn’t apply to you, you’re just left with this woman who seemingly has issues with communication and likely will have the same issues with this new guy as she had with the last.
Overall
Mixed (Divisive) | Available on Amazon
The main issue with No Sleep ‘Til Christmas is the issue of Lizzie’s transition from Josh to Billy. It’s hard to find it romantic when the main issue with Josh is she can’t sleep. Not because he snores, he is a terrible person or boyfriend, any of that. The only clear issue is with him, things might be too serious, and with her already being that type of person, she needs someone fun in her life.
So while this film has a unique storyline, in terms of why our leads end up together, the complication of Josh ruins what could have very well been a cute film.
No Sleep ‘Til Christmas Ending (Spoilers)
After sleeping together for a while, Billy starts to catch feelings. The main reason you can fathom is that she, Lizzie, brings him peace. The kind that makes him comfortable enough to talk about his dad leaving his mom. Also, while Lizzie is a bit serious, it is what Billy needs. Someone to give him a kick in the pants and support him in making his dreams come true.
So, between the bar coming to fruition and the ability to sleep, that’s why he falls in love with Lizzie. As for her? She falls for him since he is her opposite. He doesn’t do planning, he isn’t a momma’s boy like Josh, and there isn’t this pressure to be perfect with him. Lizzie can be Lizzie. Which, with Billy, means being more playful.
Hence why Lizzie leaves Josh at the altar, and we learn a year later, that she and Billy have a kid.
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- So, did Josh get to have a happy ending?
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