Boxing Day review – black British romcom plays it safe

A black British spin on the Richard Curtis formula, Boxing Day recycles plenty of the Christmas romcom themes – lots of extravagant public declarations of love; an entire plot that hangs on the fact that key characters fail to tell each other basic information – and sets them to a glossily antiseptic musical accompaniment courtesy of Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Aml Ameen directs and stars, playing a successful, Hollywood-based novelist returning home to visit his extended British Caribbean family in London for Christmas with his American fiancee, Lisa (a likable Aja Naomi King), in tow. A charismatic cast inject some sparkle, but the contrived plotting and thin characterisation take some of the shine off this festive bauble.