Jingle Bell Heist Review: An Enjoyable, Different But Slow Holiday Flick

Jingle Bell Heist Review: Two thieves, planning to rob the same department store at the height of Christmas, team up to get the job done, falling in love in the process.

The Christmas rom-com film has a runtime of 96 minutes.

Jingle Bell Heist Review

In this Netflix rom-com, two down-on-their-luck thieves decide to rob a department store together to combat their difficult life situation. The premise is fun and makes you want to explore the storyline in depth. The motivations of the two characters will feel relatable to many as more and more people struggle during the holidays as the years go by.

Moreover, the concept of enemies-to-lovers, although nothing new, adds to the cosiness of the Christmas film. The rom-com vibes are sweet, and the tone strikes a mostly good balance between dreary, thanks to London’s forever terrible weather and fun because of the crazy heist angle. Most of the film hinges on the chemistry between the leads, as they talk to one another about their lives and plan for the heist for ages.

The heist itself is unimpressive and forgettable and is more symbolic than anything. This can be termed as a drama film, with the emotions behind Nick and Sophie’s struggles taking centre stage over anything. I think the film is quite enjoyable in a dry humour sort of way, and the heist turns out to be only a gimmick. It’s at least different from the soapy rom-coms that we see during the holiday season. The genre oscillates between playful and emotional, and it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was pleasant in a very different sort of way and will leave viewers entertained for the most part.

That being said, Jingle Bell Heist needed a bit more energy in the storytelling. From the London weather to the characters’ reactions, everything seems a bit depressing at times. It also tends to get a bit slow sometimes, but somehow that adds to the realism of the story and the circumstances under which Sophia and Nick operate. The last twist is a bit melodramatic and crazy, but it adds to the excitement in some way, at least.

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In the end, I think I enjoyed this Netflix film. It’s definitely unlike the vibe of other holiday rom-coms that we come across during the season, but it could’ve really benefited from a little more enthusiasm and excitement. Regardless, it’s easy to relate to Nick and Sophia, although I don’t buy their romance even a bit. I think the film should’ve steered clear from the romance angle since it feels mostly like an afterthought, but the sparse amount won’t be memorable either way.

However, the film asks some important questions about wealth disparity and who is really good or bad in the traditional sense of the term. The film is actually quite interesting and well-made in that respect and asks nuanced questions through the two protagonists’ struggles, which make it an interesting and impactful watch. You root for the characters despite the depressing state of affairs, which, ultimately, makes this a better watch than you’d expect.

Final Thoughts

Jingle Bell Heist is a different experience as a holiday film that uses the heist as a mere prop and focuses mostly on the emotions. If you don’t enjoy somewhat slow-paced dramas, this one will not be exciting for you. Moreover, I think we don’t get a lot of answers in the end, which is a bit disappointing. However, overall, it’s an interesting watch that a lot of people will find themselves enjoying.

What are your thoughts on Jingle Bell Heist? Let us know in the comments below!

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