OF all genres, the festive rom com is the most tenacious. Surely no other has weathered so much critique and lived to tell the tale. These are the most watched films of all time, wheeled out once a year to be enjoyed with cookies and hot chocolate. For many, Love Actually tops the bill.

This week, hoping to join that upper echelon of seasonal favouritism, comes Last Christmas, a Wham lyric inspired rom com in which boy meets girl and snow meets earth.

On paper, the film is perfection. It comes from the imagination of Emma Thompson and is delivered under the directorial eye of Bridesmaids’ Paul Feig. On screen, there’s pedigree too. Emilia Clarke leads as the chronically unlucky Kate, who last Christmas survived life threatening illness. Henry Golding is her foil as Tom, whose habit of showing up whenever Kate needs him most is key to the film’s whimsy. Michelle Yeoh, Golding’s Crazy Rich co-star, brings severity as Kate’s boss, whilst Thompson goes borderline offensive with a dubious accent to play her mother.

The reality of Last Christmas is that this is a middling affair. Beyond the final act twist - which many will see coming - and Wham soundtrack, there’s little to stand it apart. Whilst there’s no denying the festive appeal, a sense that Thompson’s script, co-written by Greg Wise and Bryony Kimmings, lacks directional momentum proves heavy. As does the persistent drive for social critique. Brexit-phobics be warned.

All that said, I would be surprised to witness Last Christmas defy my faith that festive films are judged only lightly by general audiences. Next year, I’m hoping for something more special.

One more for this week, Le Mans 66 is the terribly titled new film from James Mangold. Please note, such poor titling can only truly be appreciated when one realises that, in America, the film is called Ford v Ferrari.

Matt Damon and Christian Bale lead as Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, the American automobile designer and British racer who sought to topple the unbeatable Ferrari with a Ford GT40 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Filmed in just two months, Le Mans 66 successfully blends high stakes with human drama. There’s thrill in the race and compulsion in the sheer will power of the American dream, even if old fashioned values hog the middle lane.