A decade after we last saw him (and his celebrated posterior), Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine is back, albeit in the guise of “Alex Goodwin”. Working quietly for MI6, Pine is rapidly and unexpectedly drawn into the Colombian conflict via Diego Calva’s businessman, an associate of Pine’s nemesis from the first series, Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).
Screenwriter David Farr has returned alongside Olivia Colman’s FCO bigwig and Alistair Petrie and Noah Jupe as Richard Roper’s banker and son, respectively. With all that in mind, surely it would be a waste not to bring back Laurie? After all, the psychopathic arms dealer was last seen being carted off to almost certain death…
The Christmas film has become yet another seasonal indulgence in recent years. Like the holiday season, they are packed with tinsel, familiar faces, high emotion, wonder and pathos. But, also like the holiday season, some of them can represent the kind of house guests we perhaps wouldn’t accommodate at other times of the year – however, that’s part of the fun. So pour yourself something hot, and slump happily in front of this festive five…
A Merry Little Ex-Mas
Netflix, available now
