There was a time when the phrase "original film" implied something other than a dating expert seeking to break a seasonal curse, but that time has passed, and the streaming services have moved on without us.
The Roku Channel announced today that it would add two romantic comedies to its holiday programming lineup later this year: "Second Chance Holiday," starring Ayesha Curry and Matthew Daddario, and "The Holiday Spark," starring Joey Graziadei and Jamie Chung. The films represent part of an ongoing effort by the streaming platform to establish itself as a destination for seasonal fare, a strategy that has apparently been working; Roku says every holiday title it has released since 2024 has ranked among the service's top 10 offerings during its opening month.
"Second Chance Holiday" casts Ms. Curry as a dating expert who finds herself perpetually unattached come December and who reconnects with a high school flame, played by Mr. Daddario, best known for his role in "Shadowhunters." The film was directed by Maxwell McGuire, whose résumé includes "A Wild West Christmas," "Yes, Chef! Christmas" and "Christmas by Design," among others. (One senses a theme.) Muse Entertainment produced in association with Motion Entertainment, a WPP media company.
The role marks something of a return for Ms. Curry, who appeared in "Hannah Montana" and "Good Luck Charlie" as a teenager before stepping away to raise a family with her husband, the basketball star Stephen Curry, and to build a lifestyle brand around cooking and entertaining. She has re-entered the acting world in recent years with roles in "Irish Wish" and "A Black Lady Sketch Show."
"The Holiday Spark," meanwhile, features Mr. Graziadei — who emerged from "The Bachelor" franchise before winning the mirrorball trophy on "Dancing With the Stars" — as a firefighter who enlists a children's book illustrator, played by Ms. Chung, to help plan a firehouse holiday party. Rhonda Baraka directed; her credits include "Mistletoe & Matrimony" and "A Christmas Spark," which is not the same film as "The Holiday Spark," though one could be forgiven for momentary confusion.
"Acting in my first feature film has been a dream come true," Mr. Graziadei said in a statement, which is the sort of thing one says in a statement.
Brian Tannenbaum, Roku's head of originals, noted that the holiday season represents "one of the biggest moments of the year for streaming," a claim that is almost certainly true and also not particularly surprising. The films will join what the company describes as a growing collection of seasonal offerings, each apparently designed to deliver warmth, humor and romance on a predictable schedule.
The hearth, it seems, is now algorithmic.
Original story published in The Hollywood Reporter: "Ayesha Curry, Matthew Daddario, Joey Graziadei and Jamie Chung to Star in Roku's Holiday Rom-Coms"