Netflix holiday rom-com “a merry little ex-mas” delivers unexpected climate change message through sustainability themes

While “A Merry Little Ex-Mas” might look like just another predictable holiday romance on Netflix, environmental advocates are discovering it’s actually a clever vehicle for sustainability messaging wrapped in festive packaging. The film stars Alicia Silverstone as Kate, an environmentally-minded architect whose passion for composting, solar panels, and carbon-sequestering Christmas trees often frustrates her family and friends.

The movie never explicitly mentions climate change, but sustainability references outnumber romantic scenes. Kate recommends heat pumps to neighbors, discusses geothermal energy with in-laws, and creates holiday decorations from recycled materials. Her husband even nicknamed her “Al” after Al Gore. While Kate initially embodies the stereotype of a “fun-killing environmentalist” – at one point exclaiming she can “hear the polar ice caps melting” upon seeing energy-guzzling Christmas decorations – the film ultimately validates her choices.

The story’s climax arrives when a windstorm knocks out the town’s power, leaving Kate’s solar-panel-equipped Victorian home (dubbed “the Mothership”) as the only house with electricity and heat. Neighbors flock to her home like a climate resilience hub, finally appreciating her preparedness and environmental consciousness.

Rather than returning to her old job in Boston, Kate decides to stay and launch a local sustainability company, embodying the “think global, act local” philosophy. For environmentally-conscious viewers, the film serves as satisfying wish fulfillment – a cozy fantasy where the planet-conscious protagonist is ultimately proven right and valued by her community.