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thewomanwhowatchedchristmas · 2 months ago

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Meet Me Next Christmas (2024)

If you’re a fan of Pentatonix, even a casual fan around Christmas, this is a fun movie. We open on Layla (Christina Milian) stuck at the airport trying to get to the Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert with her boyfriend Tanner (Brendan Morgan). She hangs out in the first class lounge and brief interaction with a man at the snack table before settling in on a couch. Shortly after, James (Kofi Siriboe) sits next to her and they talk for hours. James shoots his shot even though Layla has been up front about being in a relationship. They decide that if they’re meant to be together, they’ll both be single next year at the Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert and meet there.

Fast forward almost a full year, and Layla catches Tanner with another woman. Layla decides it is the universe telling her to go after James. Unfortunately for Layla, the concert is sold out. Her friend Roxy (Tymika Tafari) tells her to use a concierge company to help her. Layla goes to the office and meets with her concierge, Teddy (Devale Ellis). Teddy is struggling with the company because he doesn’t have great reviews from his clients, so he really needs this one to go well.

Teddy and Layla run around New York City trying to find tickets. After several dead ends including a defunct ticket counter, an eccentric couple, a sugar plum purse, and a scalper, Teddy believes he has found the answer in his cousin Jordy (Kalen Allen). Jordy explains that the first place prize at the Snow Ball is tickets to the concert, so they spend several hours in Teddy's mom's house- shout out Louise (Marium Carvell)- rehearsing the dance that Jordy choreographed for them.

Another fun thing about this film is that all the members of Pentatonix appear as themselves because Teddy is giving them a play-by-play of all of these events in their DMs and their manager? handler? Becca (Nikki Duval) told them about it.

There was a lot more music in this film than the others I've watched so far this year, but also Pentatonix was literally in it, so that makes sense. Netflix continues to do well production wise and I think costuming, hair, and makeup really popped off with this one, especially with the Snow Ball scenes, but generally throughout the outfits were killer. I could have done with fewer references to signs from the universe, but otherwise I had a great time watching this movie. Overall, 4 stars.

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fridaythe13ththeseries · 2 years ago

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Wedding Bell Blues

Episode Recap #48: Wedding Bell Blues Original Airdate: May 20, 1989

Starring: John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion Louise Robey as Micki Foster Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast: Elizabeth Maclellan as Jennifer Carpenter (as Elizabeth MacLellan) Steve Monarque as Johnny Ventura (as Steven Monarque) Louis Ferreira as Danny Cavaletti (as Justin Louis) Gary Farmer as Rick Maurice Dean Wint as Gil Lolita Davidovich as Christy (as Lolita David) Ondine Hayes as Sally Marium Carvell as Nurse

Written by Nancy Ann Miller Directed by Jorge Montesi

This week, we are at the Silver Dollar bar and pool hall. A game is being played between Danny and some other guy, and Danny isn't doing well. He asks a waitress to get him another drink, and she defends him to a fellow waitress who isn't a fan. The waitress, Jennifer, tries to boost his morale, but the other player says Danny should just get a job. They continue to play, and Danny loses. He takes the money he owes from Jennifer, even though she protests that it is for their wedding.

Later, in the store room, the other waitress is killed by someone we don't see but she recognizes. And she is killed by being run through with a pool cue.

Back at the table, Danny is playing again and doing better, getting all the shots he calls. He wins.

At Curious Goods, Micki tells Ryan and Jack their cab has arrived. Seems the two of them are off to a lodge in search of cursed snow shoes. Jack asks about the pool cue Ryan was on to, and Ryan says a friend named Johnny was going to do some looking around. They leave. Micki is hoping for a quiet weekend.

Jennifer and her sister Christy are doing a fitting for Jennifer's wedding dress. Jennifer's head is in the clouds with regards to Danny, but her sister tries to remind her that Danny has been stringing her along. Jennifer says they are setting a date after the pool tournament but Christy isn't buying it. She also comments that she has had to refit the wedding dress a few times and that she is gaining weight. Jennifer looks at herself in the mirror.

Later, Jennifer is talking wedding plans with an uninterested Danny, then she throws up. Danny goes back to sleep.

At the pool hall, Danny is playing again and being watched by a woman at the bar, and a man. The bar owner wonders where his other waitress is, as Jennifer tries to cover the busy place.

The phone rings at Curious Goods and the man calling asks to talk to Ryan. Micki says he's out of town. The guy, Johnny, says he thinks he found the pool cue Ryan was looking for. Micki says she's on her way. Johnny acts cool and cocky to her on the phone.

Danny is arguing with the other player, but Jennifer calms him down. Micki and Johnny meet, and he shows her Danny, and says he hasn't missed a shot all night. Micki tries to say thank you, but Johnny asks about her and Ryan and why they are so interested in a pool cue. Johnny seems to think it is just a lucky cue and offers to play Danny in a game. Danny suddenly misses a shot and gets pissed. Johnny grabs the cue and tries to run but is stopped and tossed out. Micki pretends to not know him.

Later, she meets Johnny outside and he shrugs off his bloody lip. She tells him she can take it from here. Johnny tries to ask her out, but she bows out and leaves.

In the pool hall, Jennifer and the other player are talking about Danny. Seems the guys were once good friends, but only Jennifer continues to see the good in Danny. He tries to tell her to walk away. Jennifer rolls the pool cue and we see one of Lewis' curse mark on it. She grabs it and stabs the dude, lifting him straight into the air. He dies. Seems Jennifer is the one keeping Danny from being a complete loser at pool.

At a clinic, Jennifer waits and then is told by a nurse that she's pregnant. She goes home and Danny is there to get his cue. She said she missed him, he asks for some money. She mentions the wedding and he takes off.

That night at the Silver Dollar, Micki is trying to get hired as a waitress. She gets the job and is told to introduce herself to Jennifer. Jennifer makes sure Micki knows Danny is off limits. She tells her they are getting married tomorrow after the tournament at Ruby's. Micki asks about the game. Micki opens the freezer for ice, but Jennifer shuts it before Micki can see the body inside. She takes the bucket and sends Micki away. She talks to her baby, still believing her and Danny will be happy.

Danny is winning his games again, to the adulation of the crowd. The owner gives him the trophy. Micki makes a move for the cue, but her boss puts her to work. Jennifer congratulates Danny and asks him to spend the night, but he says no. He keeps making eye contact with a woman at the bar as he packs his cue away.

At Curious Goods, a tired Micki is not thrilled when Johnny arrives. He looks around the shop, but Micki wants him to go. Johnny wants to take her to lunch, but she begs off.

At another dress fitting, Christy is again trying to get through to her sister about Danny. Jennifer can't see it. Danny arrives with flowers. Christy leaves. Danny tries to get some physical attention, but Jennifer wants to talk wedding. Danny gets upset and Jennifer placates him. They fall into bed.

At the hall, the boss leaves Jennifer and Micki to close up and tells Danny he has a lot of money on him. Danny isn't making his shots and is frustrated. He spots the blonde again and blows off Jennifer and takes off. Jennifer grabs his cue and racks it as Micki watches. Jennifer gets suspicious. Later, Jennifer talks about Danny and Micki asks some questions. Jennifer seems deluded about Danny's true nature. Micki asks about the cue stick and Jennifer says it is their good luck charm. She aims the cue at Micki's back, but Johnny knocks and interrupts. Jennifer recognizes him and Micki tries to toss him out. Johnny plays along. They leave as Jennifer wonders what's up.

Micki yells at Johnny, saying he messed up her plans. Johnny wants to know what's up, but a frustrated Micki leaves. Later, Johnny breaks into the Silver Dollar and steals all of the cues. He goes to the back room to get ice for his hand and spots the body in the freezer. He takes off.

Johnny goes to Curious Goods and wakes Micki up. He shows her all the pool cues and tells her about the body in the freezer. Micki grabs a cue and breaks it, then another. Johnny does the same, confused. Micki says the one she wants can't be broken. Johnny is lost and wants answers. Micki says the one she wants is cursed. Johnny scoffs, and asks if she means cursed by the Devil. Micki says yes, but she is also confused cause Danny didn't seemed worried when he left it at the hall.

Later, Micki and Johnny are going over the information Ryan had amassed in regards to the pool cue. He finds an article with a picture of Jennifer and they realize she is the one using it. Micki knows that Jennifer has been using it to help Danny win.

Jennifer is alone, talking to her unborn child, about Danny and when to tell him about the baby. She calls Danny, and he is less than thrilled. He tells her he wants sleep. As he hangs up we see he is bed with someone else.

Micki and Johnny arrive at Jennifer's apartment, but no one answers. Johnny knocks the door in and they search the apartment but find no cue. A cop knocks on the door and Johnny sends Micki out the back while he answers the door.

That night, Jennifer goes to Danny's place and finds him with her sister, Christy. Danny says he never intended to marry her. Christy says Danny is fun, and that she isn't the only one. Jennifer puts the pool cue together as she confronts her sister, then kills her with it as Danny watches. She tells him she's being doing it so that he can keep winning. She holds the cue to his neck and tells him he is going to marry her. She kisses him.

Micki arrives at Ruby's where the tournament is happening. Danny is currently winning and heads to the finale. Danny is reluctantly winning, and the Silver Dollar boss is anxious to keep winning. Johnny arrives having made bail. Micki says Jennifer must have used the cue again. But they see Danny miss a shot and know Jennifer will need to kill again. They follow Danny out.

Jennifer is at the wedding room, in her dress with the cake and all. Danny arrives and says it is all over, but Jennifer won't hear it. They struggle, Johnny arrives and gets knocked out. Danny beats Jennifer with the cue and she crashes into the table with the cake. He leaves.

He arrives back at Ruby's to keep playing and Micki sees him. The game begins and Danny makes his first shot. They we hear a deluded and bloody Jennifer arrive, in her wedding dress. She calls Danny a loser an stabs him. He dies on the pool table and she collapses.

Ryan is back at Curious Goods and Micki and Johnny come in with the cue stick. Jack asks what happened when they see Johnny's injuries. Johnny tells them that Micki has told him about the curse. Micki fills them in on Jennifer. Jack says thank you to Johnny, but doesn't know how they can repay him, He says Micki owes him a dinner and offers to keep helping them in their mission.

My thoughts:

First off, we meet Johnny! He is played off a little more smug and uber-confident, like he's a ladies man, but this can also be seen as him trying to look super smooth in the eyes of the beautiful Micki. He is definitely toned down a bit in the future. But he is willing to help Micki out and even gets beaten up and tossed in jail. He even takes the curse information in stride. Not a bad first meeting.

The pool cue is a different kind of cursed item. And the fact that Jennifer is the one powering it and Danny is just clueless is a good twist.

Jennifer is obviously already unstable, as shown by her devotion to the cad that Danny is. But she is treated like crap by both Danny and her sister, so she has some sympathy there. Although she has killed innocent people just so Danny can win pool games, so… No winners here.

And she wasn't great about hiding bodies. In the freezer of a busy bar? Surprised they stayed hidden for so long. And that the tournament went on after the cops found the bodies!

Sending Ryan and Jack off so Micki and Johnny have to get the cue together must have been a way for them to showcase the chemistry they are hoping for between them. Hard for those of us in the Ryan/Micki camp. And at the time, we were clueless as to why Johnny was suddenly here, so Ryan was still viable to us.

Johnny isn't a bad character, but Ryan is a lot to replace.

As for Jennifer, does she die at the end? Or just collapse and was later arrested? We'll never know.

Next week: The Maestro

#wedding bell blues #johnny ventura #johnny #micki foster #louise robey #robey #steven monarque #john d. lemay #chris wiggins #ryan dallion #jack marshak #pool cue #cue stick #season two #episode recap #Steven Monarque #friday the 13th: the series #80s tv #curious goods

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