I Hate Christmas Review: A formulaic plot executed in a fun manner by a charming star cast

3/5

Story: A 30-year-old single woman Gianna lies to her parents that she has a boyfriend and promises to bring him home for Christmas. Will she be able to find the one for her in 24 days?

Review: Gianna (Pilar Fogliati), a nurse at a local hospital and a single woman in her 30s, is tired of hearing questions about being single every Christmas. After having broken up with her boyfriend Francesco three years ago, Gianna has been unlucky when it comes to matters of the heart. Her mother makes it all the more awkward by making her sit in the middle of her brother's twins. So after 12 hours of being constantly tormented about being 'alone', which also involves a fight over a mistletoe, Gianna lies to her family that she will bring home her boyfriend over Christmas. But there's only one problem. She needs to find a boyfriend in a span of 24 days.

Holiday movies and web series are fun to watch, however, most of the plots end up being predictable and something that we have watched a number of times over. The trope used in this Italian series is similar- finding love during holiday season but what really works for I Hate Christmas is the charming star cast and the beautiful locales. The plot is set in the picturesque Venice and as Gianna cycles around the city, the city provides a visual treat to the eyes. While most holiday films are set amid the Christmas backdrop with Christmas decor in almost every frame, here Christmas is used only as a premise against which Gianna's love story is set. The dialogues are in Italian and one has to constantly read the subtitles to follow the conversations, but that doesn't really come as a dampener.

There's never a dull moment in Gianna's search for love and one can totally resonate with her and her feelings every time she has an awkward encounter. She looks beautiful, carries herself well and her character is quite relatable to all of us. Giving her apt company is her bunch of friends and the interesting men she meets during her search for 'true love'. Though some of the characters might come across as archetypes, what's interesting is that they all have a story to tell and all their characters are etched in a way that their personalities, too, seem well carved. The star of the show, however, is Pilar, who rules the screen with her effortless acting.

The story, too, proceeds at a brisk pace and songs used in the BGM work well and complement the goings-on on the screen. Does 'I Hate Christmas' stand out from the other TV series? Not really, but this one is a fun, feel-good watch that would bring a smile on your face. And does Gianna indeed find someone to bring home for Christmas? Well, the makers have left a surprise there for all of us and we wouldn't want to ruin it for you either. If you are looking for a binge watch over the weekend, this one would perfectly fit the bill. So, grab some Christmas cake, cookies and bissiola and binge away.

Verdict: A perfect binge watch for the holiday season