Boxing Day (2021 film)

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Boxing Day is a 2021 British romantic-comedy Christmas film written, directed by and starring Aml Ameen. It is his directorial debut.[1] The film also stars Aja Naomi King and is the acting debut of Leigh-Anne Pinnock.[2] Notably, it is the first British Christmas Romantic Comedy with an almost entirely Black cast.[1] Taking place primarily in London, the film follows Melvin Mckenzie (Aml Ameen) as he returns home to London after two years to launch his new book and introduce his fiancée to his family. Ameen created Boxing Day to represent his own experiences growing up in England with his own Caribbean-British family. He draws on commonly seen tropes from other famous Christmas movies like Love Actually.

Plot[]

Melvin "Smelly" Mckenzie (Aml Ameen) is a British immigrant living in Los Angeles. After the release of his new book he is prompted to go back home to London for the first time in two year in order to promote his book. He and his almost-fiancée Lisa Dixon (Aja Naomi King) journey to London to meet Melvin's lovable but dysfunctional Caribbean-British family. While there, things become complicated by the presence of his ex-girlfriend and global superstar Georgia (Leigh-Anne Pinnock) who is still has unresolved feelings for him and is very close with the family he left behind.

Cast[]

  • Aml Ameen as Melvin Mckenzie, the main character. A British writer living in America who returns home to promote his new book. He is still hurt by his parent's divorce which they announced at their family's annual Boxing Day party two years prior to the start of the movie. As a result, he seems to have an obsession with having a "perfect" relationship, which inevitably causes him to do things that mess up his own relationship.
  • Aja Naomi King as Lisa Dixon, Melvin's current girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancée. She is a casting agent in Hollywood who has just gotten a big job opportunity and has also discovered that she is pregnant. She accompanies Melvin to London for the holidays to meet his family for the first time.
  • Leigh-Anne Pinnock as Georgia "Gigi" Folorunsho, Melvin's ex-girlfriend and childhood sweetheart. She is of Nigerian descent through her father. She is a pop singer who has recently gone through a very public break-up. Georgia's family and Melvin's are very close they celebrate Boxing Day together every year.
  • Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Shirley Mckenzie, Melvin's mother. She divorced her husband two years ago after he cheated on her, and now has a new boyfriend that she is hesitant to bring around to meet her children.
  • Tamara Lawrance as Aretha "Boobsy' Mckenzie, Melvin's sister. She is Georgia's assistant and best friend.
  • Sheyi Cole as Joshua Mckenzie, Melvin's younger brother. He is in love with his cousin's ex girlfriend and is trying to woo her.
  • Stephen Dillane as Richard, Shirley's new boyfriend.
  • Robbie Gee as Bilal, Melvin's father. He cheated on Shirley two years ago with a much younger woman which has left him and Melvin with a strained relationship.
  • Yasmin Monet Prince as Alison, the girl that Josh is trying to woo and his cousin's ex.
  • Samson Kayo as Joseph, Josh's cousin and the ex boyfriend of Alison.
  • Joshua Maloney as Jermaine, Melvin's other brother.
  • Claire Skinner as Caroline, Georgia's mother.
  • Lisa Davina Phillip as Valerie.
  • Derek Ezenagu as Clint, Georgia's father.
  • Martina Laird as Janet.
  • Ricky Fearon as Kirk.
  • Fraser James as Billy.
  • Tim Ahern as Dave, Melvin's agent.
  • Melvin Gregg as Ian "Gorgeous," Georgia's rapper ex-boyfriend who cheated on her very publicly.
  • Zeze Millz as herself

Soundtrack[]

Boxing Day has not yet officially released a soundtrack but the movie score features solo performances by Leigh-Anne Pinnock as Georgia.[3] She covers Dionne Warwick's I Say a Little Prayer and For the Love of You by The Isley Brothers. She also performs an original song that she co-wrote called Woman.

Production[]

Boxing Day was created by Aml Ameen, loosely based on his own family. He co-wrote the script with Bruce Purnell.[4] He originally planned to fund it himself to get it off the ground but he met agents at Idris Elba's wedding who sent his script out to BFI and Film4.[5] In addition to being Ameen's Directorial Debut it is also Leigh-Anne Pinnock's acting Debut. She joined the cast after being recommended to Ameen by Purnell.[6] Ameen had been looking for someone who could sing, but was not familiar with Leigh-Anne or Little Mix at the time.

The film's production began in late summer of 2020.[5] The movie was filmed on location in London for six weeks in November and December.[7] The filmed during the Covid lockdown in locations like South Bank, Carnaby Street, and The Jazz Café.[5]

Release[]

The trailer for Boxing Day dropped on October 6, 2021.[8] It was debuted in theaters in the UK and Ireland on December 3, 2021, and was released in the US on Amazon Prime on December 17, 2021.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Gumuchian, Marie-louise (2021-12-02). "Aml Ameen makes director debut with UK's first Black Christmas rom-com". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  2. ^ "Leigh-Anne Pinnock to make her movie debut". Capital. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  3. ^ "Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock debuts solo songs in new Christmas film | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  4. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (2020-11-24). "Aml Ameen To Direct & Star In 'Boxing Day' Rom-Com; Aja Naomi King, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Marianne Jean-Baptiste Also Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  5. ^ a b c Kasule2021-10-08T09:26:00+01:00, Melissa. "Aml Ameen on making 'Boxing Day', the UK's first Christmas-set romantic comedy led by an all-Black cast". Screen. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  6. ^ "Watch Leigh-Anne From Little Mix Acting In The Trailer For Xmas Film 'Boxing Day'". Bustle. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  7. ^ "Filming underway on Aml Ameen's directorial debut". SEENIT. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  8. ^ "Boxing Day Trailer: Aml Ameen Is Caught In A London Love Triangle In Christmas Rom-Com". Empire. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
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