Just when you thought holiday rom-coms were all about big-city cynics melting in small-town charm, A Very Merry Breakup comes along to shake up the genre. This fresh take on the Christmas love story is now available on digital, and we've got an exclusive sneak peek to get you in the mood.
Written and directed by Elizabeth Guest, who also stars as Lydia, the film expands her acclaimed web series Guest Appearances into a full-length feature. Lydia is a commitment-phobic love addict who seems to have found the perfect match in Tim, played by Andrew Leeds (known for Ghosts). Tim is handsome, reliable, and pops the question in a picture-perfect Christmas proposal straight out of a movie. But instead of saying yes, Lydia panics and hops on a plane to her parents' place across the country.
Our exclusive clip captures the start of that unexpected visit. Lydia arrives in Los Angeles to find her parents are about to fly out to see her. She's there for some advice, and she gets it from not one, not two, but four parental figures: Nicholas Guest (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation), Pamela Guest (Airplane II: The Sequel), Ed Begley Jr. (Better Call Saul), and Rachelle Carson-Begley (Cobra Kai). They're understandably puzzled by her cross-country escape from romance, especially when she reveals that Tim followed his proposal by watching It's a Wonderful Life—the greatest Christmas movie ever, in her book. Their confusion only deepens when she hands them Christmas gifts that Tim picked out, each one perfectly thoughtful.
Can Lydia salvage this relationship, or is perfection not what she's really looking for? You'll have to book a holiday date with A Very Merry Breakup, now streaming on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.
A Family Affair Behind the Scenes
Elizabeth Guest's filmmaking roots run deep. Her parents, Nicholas and Pamela Guest, both appear in the film, and her aunt and uncle are none other than mockumentary maestro Christopher Guest and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis. The film also features real-life couple Ed Begley Jr. and Rachelle Carson-Begley as Lydia's other parents. And in a poignant touch, the movie is dedicated to the memory of Robert Carradine, who passed away earlier this year; he and his brother Keith Carradine both star in the film.
With its star-studded cast and a twist on the classic holiday rom-com formula, A Very Merry Breakup is a must-watch for anyone looking for something a little different this season. And if you're craving more unconventional holiday fare, check out our exclusive look at the bloody Christmas finale or Ben Affleck's wild holiday heist. For more on the cast, see the Ghosts Christmas special twist.
