New Years Eve Review

We would call this a spiritual sequel to Valentine’s Day, but neither movies have much spirit. Another starry ensemble cast navigate a secular holiday, and once again relationships are forged, repaired or tested in the process — but for every moment of real human connection there are ten scenes of such transparent contrivance and aggressive superficiality that this, at times, feels like a parody of the rom-com genre’s worst excesses. While some performances are good (Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer), they’re shackled by breathtakingly stupid storylines, and the attempt at a romantic whodunnit for the big finale ends up a damp squib. Everyone involved deserves better.