The 2024 Christmas movie season reveals a bizarre shift in the portrayal of romance. Gone are the narratives of high-powered career women learning the true meaning of Christmas. Instead, this year’s heroines are unexpectedly paired with underwhelming, almost childlike men, marking a distinct departure from previous tropes. These pairings often feel forced, requiring a significant suspension of disbelief from the audience.
Previously, Christmas movie heroines were often depicted as ambitious city dwellers needing a lesson in holiday spirit. Their workaholism or disdain for family traditions were framed as character flaws requiring redemption. This year, however, the female characters are generally portrayed as agreeable ”girl next door” types. Their single status, or their attraction to the ”wrong” kind of man, becomes the central conflict. These ”wrong” men are often depicted as conventionally attractive and successful, but ultimately flawed – perhaps unfaithful or overly focused on their careers. They represent a type of man deemed unsuitable for settling down and integrating into the traditional family setting that Christmas films idealize.
The 2024 Christmas movie presents a new ideal: the labradoodle man. Like the popular dog breed, these men are characterized by their affability, eagerness to please, and trainability. Unlike the ”soft boy” archetype, the Christmas movie labradoodle man is largely asexual. Despite a trend towards shirtless male characters in these films, the overall tone remains sanitized and devoid of any real sexual tension. The focus is on domesticity and compliance, rather than passion or romantic chemistry. This is evident in films like ”Hot Frosty,” where a naked, magically animated snowman possesses the libido of a newborn, yet is accepted by the female lead due to his helpful nature.
This new dynamic is exemplified in several films. In ”Our Little Secret,” Lindsay Lohan’s character is reunited with a dull ex. ”Hot Frosty” features a magically animated, perpetually shirtless snowman named Jack, whose mental capacity resembles that of an infant. Despite his lack of sophistication, he is embraced due to his handyman skills. ”Meet Me Next Christmas” features a successful woman inexplicably falling for an incompetent, poorly dressed concierge simply because he can make crème brûlée and endure long lines at luxury stores. These pairings often require intervention from a well-meaning friend, who persuades the female lead to overlook her initial instincts and embrace the unassuming labradoodle man.
The shift towards these unconventional pairings raises questions about the underlying message of these films. The female protagonists are often nudged, or even coerced, into these relationships by well-meaning friends who extol the virtues of the labradoodle man, despite his obvious lack of appeal. The narrative seems to prioritize settling down and conforming to traditional family expectations, even if it means sacrificing personal preference and genuine attraction. This emphasis on domesticity and procreation, even at the expense of personal fulfillment, resonates with certain societal pressures, particularly within conservative circles.
This new breed of Christmas movie romance presents a fascinating contrast to previous iterations. The emphasis has shifted from reforming the independent woman to guiding her toward a particular type of man, one who embodies traditional values and domesticity. While these films may offer a cozy and predictable escape, they also raise questions about the evolving portrayal of relationships and the expectations placed upon women in contemporary society. The underlying message appears to prioritize conformity and traditional family structures over individual desire and personal fulfillment, suggesting a subtle shift in the cultural narrative surrounding romance and relationships.
