LET IT SNOW: A Christmas Movie That’s All About The Feels

With every holiday season, audiences are graced with a new crop of Christmas movies vying to become a traditional holiday classic. To close off 2019, Netflix continued its tradition of producing holiday-themed motion pictures, which has not always yielded consistently watchable products. Let It Snow is one such offering from the streaming giant this past Christmas, and although it’s certainly not for everyone, the film makes a compelling argument to be crowned a bona fide classic for younger audiences.

Let It Snow takes place in an unspecified small town and revolves around a group of high school students in the midst of a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. As relationships (both old and new) develop, we end up with a heartwarming depiction of love and friendship catered for the Generation Z demographic. The cast features an impressive pool of familiar young faces, including Isabela Merced, Jacob Batalon, Kiernan Shipka, Shameik Moore, Odeya Rush, Mitchell Hope, Anna Akana and Liv Hewson. To cap things off, there’s also a cameo appearance of sorts from the great Joan Cusack playing a character billed as ‘tin foil woman’. There’s a little dose of weirdness, for sure.

Staying true to the holiday spirit

While watching Let It Snow, one does wonder why Christmas movies all seem to feel so similar. Most of them have a tendency of pandering to lost or conflicting relationships, which is usually punctuated with some form of pleasant reunification with those we care (or should care) about. And this is by no means a form of criticism on the genre’s lack of creativity, as it’s simply an apt description of what defines the genre itself. In a rather fitting way, the usual tropes and conformities we’ve grown accustomed to in these films are completely in line with what the holidays are meant to be.

It therefore makes perfect sense that Christmas movies capture the holiday spirit so perfectly, and it’s a major part of why these films never grow old. Let It Snow isn’t the most original piece of work, but it certainly stays true to what the holidays should be about. While there’s conflict between the multitude of characters we’re introduced to, there’s also resolution of said conflicts by the end of the film. And this lack of nuance and realism in favour of an overly idealistic world view (or a Hollywood-esque one) may not be peak cinema, but it does serve up the ingredients for a very good Christmas film.

Contending to be a Generation Z holiday classic

And part of what makes the film such a watchable experience stems from the talented young cast Netflix was able to rope in. There aren’t any household names here, but most viewers will probably recognize a few of these faces. Nevertheless, the entire young ensemble is fairly on point in playing their respective roles, with no real blemishes to make note of (which is a big plus in a film like this!).

I’ll make the assumption that Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Instant Family) and Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) will be most recognizable among viewers who aren’t in the young adult age demographic. That was certainly the case for me, and it comes as no surprise that both actresses turn out impressively strong performances. Merced, in particular, helps ground the film by breathing an air of subtle maturity onto the stubborn-yet-tender teen caricature, which is a characterization we’ve seen endless times.

Blending in the trials and tribulations of social media and modern technology, Let It Snow is clearly creating a narrative for the Generation Z demographic. One might even argue that it’s trying to become a holiday classic for the younger generation, as films of this nature rarely focus on the teenage age group. But only time, and perhaps a critic from said generation, can determine whether or not the film will eventually attain this level of acclaim.

All about the feels

When all is said and done, Let It Snow isn’t an overly ambitious film, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable. Depending on where you are on the age spectrum, you might even find its teenage melodrama story arcs to be aptly relatable. But even if you don’t, you’re likely to still have an endearing cinematic experience because Let It Snow is all about the feels. And that, is something that hits the mark for everyone, regardless of how old you are.

While most people will consider Netflix’s Christmas present to the world this year to be The Irishman (or Marriage Story), Let It Snow is undoubtedly a nice stocking stuffer.

Let It Snow is currently streaming on Netflix.