Jasmine Nicole

When it came to this Christmas season, I was in the mood for anything that had to do with love, holiday lights, black culture, and laughter.

Boxing Day was a perfect film that fit that criteria. It’s on Amazon Prime and while I wasn’t looking for that particular film, I’m glad I found this gem. Aml Ameen, starred in, wrote, produced, and directed this film.

The movie blurb gave me everything I needed to let me know I would enjoy this movie. It went a little something like this: A Black British author, Melvin, played by Ameen, living in America makes his way back home to London to introduce his British Caribbean family to his American fiancé, Lisa, played by Aja Naomi King. The trip proves to reveal a lot more than expected for both of them.

Now if you read my last blog post, you would know that the film had me at Black British author. I have been gravitating towards Black British writers, maybe because it’s just a part of the diaspora that I don’t get to see often.

The trip to London is ultimately for Melvin to promote his latest book, but he also makes plans to see his family, who is hasn’t seen in two years! This is where you as a viewer ask yourself, what’s kept him away because you will get your answer. The film focuses mostly on that baggage that Melvin had left behind and how he unintentionally thrusts Lisa into all of it.

Along the way, there’s lots to fill the spaces as several, smaller storylines work they through the film. Such as Melvin’s mother’s, played by Marianna Jean-Baptiste, love interest in her white coworker, played by Stephen Dilanne and how they navigate the cultural differences that leave her reluctant to introduce him to her British Caribbean family.

And oh, the culture! Maybe it’s the American in me, but the aspects of British Caribbean culture all throughout the film are magical. I absolutely love it. The language remains consistent throughout and I soaked it up like a sponge. Some scenes you are plunged headfirst into Caribbean song, food, and dance and it’s amazing.

This film is not without a lot of holiday drama though. Melvin doesn’t mention to his bride-to-be that the reason he left home is because of the traumatizing infidelity of his father and demise of his parent’s relationship. He fled, leaving behind his childhood friend and former girlfriend, Georgia, played by Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who is now an internationally known singer. The sting of his actions drive the plot along. The three often come to heads, never fully addressing the issue until later in the film.

I think you’ll find yourself rooting for Lisa as she is the most oblivious character to all the drama that she has been brought into, but she learns quickly and doesn’t take it lying down. Melvin on the other hand, comes off naive as if he didn’t realize addressing his familial and past relationship drama while simultaneously introducing them to a woman they never met would be ideal.

Some storyline issues plague this film and leave the viewer with some work piecing small things together for themselves, or leaving you in the dark until later in the film, but it’s a film definitely worth your time this Boxing Day.

It’s a fresh and funny take on the holiday romantic comedy genre. A guaranteed warm hearted film perfect for this time of year.