The Tameside Radio presenter discusses the Downing Street Christmas party controversy and rom-coms and gives five film recommendations for your festive break. You don't want to miss this one!

Whilst it was tempting to focus this week’s words on my anger over the state of UK politics right now, I’m not convinced my blood pressure can take another hit. 

I will say that I followed all the rules last December, and missed out on a lot of precious time with my parents and friends, like so many of us did. The one positive outcome from recent shenanigans for me would be a more honest style of politics. I also feel sorry for the many good and honourable politicians whose reputation is being tarnished by events at the top. I don’t subscribe to the view that I’m a fool for sticking to the rules. I did it to keep others safe, and would do the same again. Good luck if they do try and impose more now, though. It’s the Barnard Castle effect rolled over multiple times.

Away from political shenanigans, something that always picks up my mood is a good old-fashioned romantic comedy. Whilst they have been a bit thin on the ground in recent years, I watched a cracking one at Cineworld in Ashton on Tuesday. ‘Boxing Day’ has been billed as a ‘black British spin’ on the Richard Curtis formula, which proved so popular with classics like Four Weddings and Notting Hill.

My wife Sofia really can’t abide rom-coms, so alas I always end up watching them on my own! Having said that, I go to the cinema on my own every week, so I’ll stop this blatant attempt at playing the sympathy card and crack on with the review. Director Aml Ameen plays Melvin in the movie, and has created a rather pleasing addition to the ‘romantic comedy set at Christmas’ shelf in Blockbuster (RIP), including a scene which mimics the ‘handwritten signs’ scene from Love Actually. Having said that, perhaps it follows the well trodden path a bit too carefully. More on that in a moment.

The story centres around a globally famous pop singer (played by Leigh-Anne Pinnock from Little Mix) who is in London for the holidays, and bumps into her ex squeeze Melvin, who happens to have flown across from America with his new girlfriend to introduce her to his extended family. Is Christmas ever a good time to meet the family, with all the other pressures going on? Arguably not, but then the resulting drama makes for a good movie plot I guess... especially when the festive turkey is served up with a love triangle and a collar grab.

Aja Naomi King as Lisa was my standout character, but I was urging her to stand up for herself a bit more. Perhaps one of the reasons rom coms fell out of fashion is because they basically centre around a man’s romantic whims, and he always gets the girl.

Whilst Boxing Day was a little schmaltzy and frothy at times, it certainly passed a couple of hours very enjoyably. Perhaps if it stepped out from the shadow of the old rom coms that went before it, it might have had something a bit bolder to say about racial divisions and inclusiveness. The scenes involving Melvin’s mum and her new white boyfriend had great promise, and there were a good few genuine laughs from an excellent supporting cast.

Finally, five recommendations to get you through the Christmas holidays:

The Wedding Singer is a brilliant late 90s’ ride through the music of 1985, including dodgy Flock of Seagulls hair, actual Billy Idol and a great partnership on screen between Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. 50 First Dates is also worthy of consideration, starring the same lead actors.

Breakfast At Tiffany’s is on Amazon Prime, and is a bona fide classic. 

Audrey Hepburn smoulders in every scene, and of course it stars Hannibal from the A Team along with the epic Moon River. Hard to believe it’s 60 years old!

Bridesmaids is a decade old, but I still smile thinking about a particular scene in a wedding dress shop after some spicy Mexican food. Melissa McCarthy is just hilarious.

Notting Hill may not be as universally regarded as Love Actually, but Rhys Ifans and Julia Roberts complement Hugh Grant perfectly in this charming tale, even if Grant plays the same character as several other movies, but still...

About Time, Bridget Jones and 27 Dresses are all worthy, but the final one has to be It’s A Wonderful Life. It makes me cry every time... but it must be watched only in black and white.

You can listen to Alex every weekday from 7am to 11am and on the 'Super Scoreboard' show on Saturdays from 3pm to 7pm, on Tameside Radio 103.6FM. 

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