‘Holidate’ Review: Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey Are Better Than This Predictable Netflix Rom-Com What’s your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 Facebook Twitter Email The characters trapped in John Whitesell’s “Holidate” may not know they’re in a romantic comedy, but they sure know the perimeters of one. Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) are barely into their first encounter before they start yammering about the usual cinematic expectations of the genre — including the exact ones that will unfold in the film to come — as well as the very same outdated “men are from Mars, women are from Venus” concepts that have bolstered such movies since film history invented them. But while plenty of rom-coms have tackled this tongue-in-cheek approach before, “Holidate” never attempts to subvert the very things it mocks, instead opting for pure convention the whole way through. At least Roberts and Bracey make for a charming pair, and their chemistry continually bolsters a script that never defies expectations, even as it tries to skewer them with flat jokes and bizarre swings at raunchy punchlines. At least Tiffany Paulsen’s script offers some additional pop, hinging on a cute conceit that guides Sloane and Jackson through an entire year of not-quite-dating, all leading up to a festive, totally expected Christmas miracle. Related Videos Tweets by RobertsEmma Style to wear