It’s November, which means ’tis the season for blasting Christmas music and binging holiday-centric romantic comedies. Networks like Lifetime and Hallmark have long been the go-tos for fans of this genre, but as of late, Netflix has been rising as a staple for holiday flicks. No matter where you’re streaming holiday-coms from, though, they all tend to follow the tried-and-true formula, a meet-cute, the development of romantic feelings, some sort of obstacle and a happy ending.  

Netflix’s latest holiday rom-com “Holidate” is no different. Set in Chicago, the Netflix original follows the story of Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey). Sloane is a romantic cynic who is sick of her family prying into her romantic life every time she doesn’t bring a date home for the holidays. Jackson is a Hemsworth-esque golf pro reeling from his recent nightmare of a casual hookup turned stage-five clinger come the holiday season.

Sloane and Jackson meet in line to return a Christmas gift, both seeking a companion for New Year’s Eve. But neither of them wants to deal with the commitment and baggage that comes with bringing an actual date. After bonding over their shared hatred for holidays, Sloane tells Jackson about her idea of a “holidate” coined by her Aunt Susan (Kristin Chenoweth) — a no strings attached, strictly platonic date with whom you only attend holiday parties. Jackson thinks it’s a great idea and offers to be Sloane’s holidate, thinking it will benefit them both, but Sloane is reluctant since they just met. Nevertheless, she eventually accepts, and thus a holidate deal is born.

After having an unexpectedly good time on their New Year’s Eve date, Sloane and Jackson extend their pact to include all holidays: Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, the Fourth of July, Halloween and even Mother’s Day. These dates go on predictably, with Sloane and Jackson developing a stronger friendship holiday after holiday. 

In the end, Sloane and Jackson finally admit their true feelings for one another, sparing no dramatics as Sloane stands up in front of the entire mall where she and Jackson met and announces she’s in love with him. For a romantic comedy, “Holidate” actually manages to wrap things up pretty tidily not only with the main couple, but also side storylines like Aunt Susan and her new boyfriend, who happens to be Sloane’s former almost-boyfriend, and Sloane’s mom and her new boyfriend, who happens to be one of Aunt Susan’s old holidates.

Just from looking at this somewhat tidy ending though, it’s evident that “Holidate” has its oddities. Not only are all the final pairings strangely interconnected, there are moments in the film that just don’t seem necessary. Take, for instance, the accidental amputation that occurs on Sloane and Jackson’s Fourth of July date or the children’s Easter egg hunt set to Ludacris’ “Move B—-.”

Not to mention that when you really think about it, the whole premise of the movie doesn’t make much sense. While the idea of a “holidate” is a fun concept, does anyone really need a fake date to a Mother’s Day brunch or the bar on St. Patrick’s Day? And what’s really the point of bringing said fake date if all your family and friends know you aren’t really dating?

But for the casual viewer or the diehard rom-com fan, “Holidate” is an enjoyable viewing experience. Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, the chemistry between Roberts and Bracey is undeniable. The two have an electric yet believable connection made possible by Sloane’s cutting sarcasm and the playful charm of Jackson’s Australian accent. 

Even though “Holidate” fits into so many predictable rom-com stereotypes, it is just enough off the beaten path to be successful. In a market saturated with too good to be true fairytale stories of everyday people falling in love with royalty, big-city professionals falling for small-town folk and more, “Holidate” is a great diversion from the typical fare. It’s also a mind-numbing distraction from everything going on in the world, even if it does leave you dreaming of a world where people can pack into malls and restaurants without masks or celebrate the holidays with their families without the fear of infecting one another.

While it’s no holiday classic like “Love Actually,” and a far cry from other friends-turned-lovers flicks like “When Harry Met Sally,” “Holidate” serves its purpose. In a year that’s been anything less than ordinary, “Holidate” is a craveable holiday treat.