As Netflix's annual Christmas content deluge continues, viewers have been treated to yet another seasonal offering that manages to rise slightly above the platform's typical festive fare. Jingle Bell Heist, starring Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells, brings a welcome London setting and crime caper elements to the often-formulaic holiday romance genre.
A Cut Above Standard Festive Filler
Following recent underwhelming entries in Netflix's Christmas lineup like Alicia Silverstone's A Merry Little Ex-Mas and Minka Kelly's Champagne Problems, Jingle Bell Heist arrives with just enough originality to distinguish itself from the pack. Rather than following the tired American small-town template, director Michael Fimognari (long-time cinematographer for Mike Flanagan) shot the film on location in London during Christmas 2023, creating an authentic British atmosphere that immediately sets it apart.
The film makes excellent use of its London backdrop, with genuine pubs, cafes and high streets providing a tangible sense of place that's often missing from Netflix's holiday offerings. This grounded approach also eliminates the need for distracting CGI snow that frequently plagues similar productions.
London Setting and Talented Cast
The story follows American Sophie (Disney Channel alum Olivia Holt), who's caring for her sick mother while working multiple jobs, including one at a department store preparing for the holiday rush. Her path crosses with Nick (Sex Education's Connor Swindells), an ex-convict father struggling to provide for his former partner and daughter while wasting his technological talents in a mobile phone shop.
Both characters share a propensity for theft, which leads them to collaborate on a plan to rob obnoxious millionaire Maxwell Sterling, played with relish by Peter Serafinowicz. The heist is scheduled, naturally, for Christmas Eve.
The supporting cast includes wonderful British comedy talent like Lucy Punch from Amandaland, while the soundtrack features alternative holiday songs from Low and Run-DMC rather than the usual recycled Christmas covers.
Class Consciousness and Seasonal Surprises
While not fully embracing eat-the-rich territory, the film effectively channels contemporary class anxieties into its holiday narrative. Sophie's motivation stems from her inability to afford healthcare in the US, while even the NHS has its limitations for her mother's experimental treatment options. Nick's history with Maxwell involves an insurance scam that left him taking the fall.
Novelist and Bridgerton writer Abby McDonald crafts a plot that avoids the typical career-woman-meets-family-man dynamic, instead creating characters who bond over shared feelings of systemic unfairness. The heist mechanics themselves aren't as sophisticated as the Ocean's Eleven-style score suggests, but the third act delivers some genuinely surprising twists that elevate audience engagement from mild to solid.
Holt and Swindells prove to be a credible romantic pairing with reasonable chemistry, though their dialogue occasionally feels underdeveloped. One particularly clever scene involving dual undercover earpiece banter demonstrates the potential for sharper comedy that isn't fully realised throughout.
Lucy Punch emerges as the film's most reliable source of humour, making the most of her limited screen time and leaving viewers wishing she had been given more substantial material.
Jingle Bell Heist represents the current peak of Netflix's 2024 Christmas offerings - not quite revolutionary, but with enough distinctive elements to make it worth a watch during the festive season. The film is now available for streaming on Netflix.
