‘Let It Snow’ Is The Teen Holiday Rom-Com We Never Knew We Needed

Holiday rom-coms have always been big business. Aimed at middle-age married and single women with a hopeless romantic streak alike, they feature over-the-top histrionics and plots so unbelievable they make IT seem like a documentary. Most women know they have a better chance of being struck by lightning than of falling in love with their own personal Prince Charming via grocery store meet-cute. Nevertheless, women in their late twenties and beyond flock to them like a moth to a flame every year—but what about the teens? Let It Snow aims to fill an obvious gap in the market and it does a great job of it.

This Netflix offering doesn’t get bogged down by standard rom-com cliches, nor does Let It Snow target lonely women who worry they’ll be forever alone/never again experience the magic of the honeymoon period. Instead, this is one strictly for the high school set featuring an incredibly inclusive storyline, a diverse cast, and, despite the lack of outlandish drama, a whole lot of heart. It is, quite frankly, one of the best holiday romantic comedies in general, let alone for Gen Z, of which there are so few it’s shocking.

Let It Snow is based on the book of the same name by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. With Green’s name attached, you know there are going to be plenty of moments that pull on the heartstrings but the movie introduces these moments so organically, you’re not even tempted to roll your eyes cynically during them.

When Julie (Isabela Merced) runs into pop star Stuart Bale (Shameik Moore) on a crowded train, what could be a cringe-worthy moment is turned into a comedic one thanks to how obviously unimpressed Julie is with Stuart’s celebrity status. The classic trope of “popular guy rejects homely girl” is turned on its head by Dorrie (Liv Hewson) and Kerry (Anna Akana), who portray their roles as a whip-smart waitress with a crush and a closeted cheerleader so genuinely that you can’t help but root for them (and be pretty stoked that a same-sex female couple is finally getting some screen time).

Even Duke (Kiernan Shipka) and Tobin’s (Mitchell Hope) storyline, which is the most by-the-book rom-com plot in Let It Snow, manages to accurately encapsulate the awkwardness and uncertainty of teen relationships and come out with a happy but realistic ending that will make even the most cynical viewer utter a little, “Aww…” under their breath.

There’s even a minor lesson in the importance of being alone, which we see play out with Addie’s storyline. Despite spending much of the first half of the movie being paranoid that her boyfriend Jeb (Mason Gooding) is cheating on her and treating everyone around her, particularly her best friend Dorrie, like crap, she eventually finds peace in being on her own and accepts that no relationship is better than an unhappy one. It’s a message we don’t often see in movies, particularly rom-coms, so it was nice to see here, especially considering the heavily teen audience. (Of course, it should be mentioned that in the often missed post-credits scene, Addie is seen dancing with JP, indicating a new romance is on the way—hey, can’t win them all!)

Many have positioned Let It Snow as Love Actually for teens, and in many ways that’s a fair comparison. There are several parallel storylines happening at once on a snowy Christmas Eve, all of which intersect in entertaining if not always all that surprising ways. However, that comparison simplifies what Let It Snow seems to be trying to accomplish, which is to take the overwhelming sentimentality of holiday rom-coms and bring it to a younger generation in a realistic way that speaks to their actual experiences, while still indulging in the mushiness of the season and the subject matter. Love Actually lacked the down-to-earth approach that Let It Snow thrives on, and that’s where the two movies part ways.

That being said, you don’t need to be a teen or even a fan of rom-coms to enjoy Let It Snow. While the grinches and scrooges among you should probably avoid it at all costs, anyone who loves a little schmaltzy holiday cheer will love this movie.

Jennifer Still is a writer and editor from New York who cares too way much about fictional characters and spends her time writing about them.

Stream Let It Snow on Netflix