Netflix's latest Christmas offering, Jingle Bell Heist, is a passably entertaining crime caper turned romcom that rises above the streamer's usual festive filler. Set in London during Christmas 2023, the film benefits from authentic location shooting, a game cast including British comedy stars Peter Serafinowicz and Lucy Punch, and a soundtrack featuring alternative holiday songs. While not remarkable, it offers enough to give it an edge over more anemic peers like A Merry Little Ex-Mas and Champagne Problems.
The plot follows American Sophie (Olivia Holt), who cares for her sick mother while working two jobs, and Nick (Connor Swindells), an ex-convict father struggling to provide for his daughter. Both share a knack for stealing, and they team up to rob obnoxious millionaire Maxwell Sterling (Serafinowicz) on Christmas Eve. The heist is fueled by class anguish, with Sophie's healthcare struggles and Nick's history as a fall guy for an insurance scam adding depth to their motivations.
Writer Abby McDonald (Bridgerton) delivers some decent twists in the last act that raise the stakes, but the dialogue often feels beige and lacks laughs. Holt and Swindells have solid chemistry, but the script could have benefited from a punch-up. Lucy Punch provides the most reliable comedy, though she is underused. As it stands, Jingle Bell Heist is as good as it gets for now – a slight cut above the usual Netflix Christmas fare, but not much more.
