Rating: 🎄🎄
Premier Date: November 12, 2025
Description: Kate (Alicia Silverstone) is recently divorced, and hoping for a picture-perfect family Christmas one last time before she sells her house. Unfortunately, her dreams of a nostalgic holiday break are dashed when her ex-husband, Everett (Oliver Hudson), unexpectedly introduces his young and successful new girlfriend into the mix.
Chemistry: Silverstone and Hudson have the kind of chemistry you’d expect from two people who could absolutely co-parent a golden retriever. They play off each other fine, but the addition of the “young new partners” subplot felt forced—like someone added extra ornaments to an already drooping tree. And yes, the daughter’s boyfriend deserves a special shoutout for being… memorably odd (and not in a good way).
Plot: The story started strong, but halfway through I was scrolling my phone and skipping scenes like I already knew the ending — which, to be fair, I did. It’s not bad, it’s just aggressively fine.
Design: Now this is where Merry Little Ex-Mas earns its two trees. The snow looked legit, you could see the actors’ breath (a true Christmas movie flex), and the set design actually reflected Kate and Everett’s contrasting personalities. Netflix clearly spent its budget on ambiance—and honestly, good call.
Overall: I wanted to love this one. With a strong cast (particularly for millennial fans) and a promising setup, it should have been a standout. Instead, it’s a background flick—fine to half-watch while wrapping presents or binge-eating an entire advent calendar.
Best Enjoyed With: A comfy blanket and the satisfaction of knowing your ex’s new relationship probably isn’t going that great either.
Holiday Movie Wrap 