Tag Archives: coincidentally

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Same Time, Next Christmas’ on Netflix, A Holiday Rom-Com Where Childhood Sweethearts Try To Find Love Again In Hawaii

**Same Time, Next Christmas: Stream It or Skip It?**

First aired on ABC in 2019, *Same Time, Next Christmas* is back and streaming on Netflix, ready to transport you to Hawaii for a second-chance rom-com. The movie stars Lea Michele and Charles Michael Davis as childhood sweethearts who first met coincidentally on the beach as little kids while their families were both vacationing in Hawaii for Christmas.

The two form a quick bond and pledge to meet up at the resort each year for the holidays—until one of them suddenly cuts contact after a personal tragedy. Years later, they unexpectedly meet again as adults, with sparks flying all over. Is it meant to be, or is this a classic case of “right person, wrong time?”

### The Storyline

Their usual promise of “same time, next Christmas” is suddenly broken when Jeff and his family fail to return the next year after the sudden death of Jeff’s mom, Katie. Unfortunately, timing proves to be an issue as a separated Jeff opts to get back together with his wife for the sake of their four-year-old daughter, Madelyn Williams (played by Dannah Lane).

### What Movies Will It Remind You Of?

*Same Time, Next Christmas* might recall other second-chance romance holiday movies like *A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love*, *The Christmas Cottage*, and *Catch a Christmas Star*. It also fits nicely alongside Hawaii-set rom-coms such as *Just Go With It*, *Forgetting Sarah Marshall*, and *50 First Dates*.

### Performance Worth Watching

A special shout out goes to Phil Morris for embracing the cheesiness of this genre wholeheartedly. He delivers many sports metaphor-filled lines with a smile and twinkle in his eye, adding a charming touch to the film. His performance stands out as a highlight in this holiday rom-com.

### A Holiday Tradition

The movie features an annual Christmas luau and hula dance, so there’s never any doubt that the characters are firmly rooted in Hawaii’s festive spirit.

### Does the Title Make Any Sense?

Absolutely. The title *Same Time, Next Christmas* refers to the pact between the young couple to reunite each Christmas at the same place and time—though life’s complications test that promise.

### Our Take

*Same Time, Next Christmas* is just okay. It’s your standard holiday rom-com fare, but the filmmakers spice things up by setting the main action in Hawaii and using a series of occasionally jarring time jumps.

I appreciate the committed acting from Lea Michele and Charles Michael Davis. Their solid chemistry makes it easy to root for their characters to have a happy ending. However, some story elements, like the character Gregg, felt unnecessary and detracted a bit from the overall experience.

On the positive side, the Williams family is likable, and the older adult love story budding between Alec and resort manager Mariel (Christina Souza) felt natural and sweet.

Overall, though, the film is fine but not exceptional. The script is sometimes clunky and sports-metaphor dense, and the storyline is predictable. It’s an easy watch that you can enjoy here and there—not terrible, but not particularly memorable either.

If I had to give it a grade, it’d be a solid C.

### Our Call

*Same Time, Next Christmas* is a decent enough mindless holiday watch, and the main couple is one you want to end up together. It’s a pretty good movie to have on in the background while you’re doing something else.

But if you’re looking for something to really grab and hold your attention this holiday season, you can probably **skip it**.
https://decider.com/2025/11/11/same-time-next-christmas-netflix-review/

“Cowards”; “Pathetic” – Fans slam Blue Jays skipper John Schneider’s strategy to neutralize Shohei Ohtani for remaining World Series games

**Dodgers Superstar Shohei Ohtani Faces Strategic Pitching Tactics in World Series Game 3**

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was on course for a generational stat line in Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. However, Toronto skipper John Schneider quickly altered the dynamic by instructing his pitchers to intentionally walk Ohtani in his next five plate appearances.

In a postgame press conference following Monday’s marathon, Schneider revealed that moving forward, the team planned to “take the bat out” of Ohtani’s hands. This drastic strategy drew criticism from fans on social media, who had witnessed the reigning MVP’s brilliance at the plate, especially in Game 3.

Before being walked five straight times, Ohtani put forth an impressive performance: going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two solo home runs, three runs batted in (RBIs), and three runs scored. Despite being heavily limited at the plate, Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in league history to record multiple games with 12 or more total bases. He also set a new mark as the first player to reach base nine times in a playoff game.

At the time of writing, Ohtani has already matched his base on balls total from last year’s World Series, standing at 13. With this year’s series guaranteed to extend for at least two more games, it will be intriguing to see if he can surpass the Dodgers’ record of 20 walks, set by teammate Max Muncy back in 2020.

**Dodgers Outlast Blue Jays in Record-Setting World Series Marathon**

In a game destined to be etched in baseball history, the Dodgers outlasted the Blue Jays in an epic 18-inning battle during Game 3 of the World Series. The reigning champions emerged victorious after Freddie Freeman crushed a solo walk-off home run to seal a 6-5 win.

The game tied the record for the longest World Series game in history by innings played, matching the 18-inning thriller between the Red Sox and Dodgers in the 2018 Fall Classic—coincidentally also held at Dodger Stadium.

The action was intense from the start. Toronto’s Teoscar Hernandez opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run, his fifth of the 2025 postseason. Andres Gimenez extended the Blue Jays’ lead with a sacrifice fly, giving Toronto a two-run edge heading into the fifth inning.

Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman then combined efforts to tie the score at 4-4. Bo Bichette’s RBI single in the top of the seventh put the Blue Jays ahead once again. However, in the bottom half of the inning, Ohtani responded with another solo home run to level the game.

From there, the contest turned into a pitching duel. Unheralded reliever Will Klein etched his name in the history books by pitching five innings—from the 14th to the 18th—allowing just one hit while striking out five batters.

Finally, Freddie Freeman delivered the game-winning blow in the bottom of the 18th inning. With his walk-off home run, Freeman became the only player in history to hit two walk-off homers in his World Series career.

As the series continues, all eyes will remain on Ohtani and the Dodgers as they battle the Blue Jays in what has already become an unforgettable Fall Classic.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-cowards-pathetic-fans-slam-blue-jays-skipper-john-schneider-s-strategy-neutralize-shohei-ohtani-remaining-world-series-games