Editing Openai/69436832-f488-800c-9b81-bf381025a116 (section)

=== Assistant: Short answer: yes, the plot would still work—but it would be a different movie in a few important ways. ===
Short answer: yes, the plot would still work—but it would be a different movie in a few important ways.

Mechanically, you’re right:
* Any large corporate party could explain why people are in the building late
* Any excuse could bring John to LA to see Holly
* Any event could reduce security and staff So from a pure action-plot standpoint, Christmas isn’t required.

But thematically, Christmas does real work:
* The story is about reconciliation, family, and forgiveness—very Christmas-coded themes
* The contrast between holiday warmth and extreme violence is intentional
* The ending payoff (family reunited, “peace on earth”) lands harder because of the holiday context

If it were, say, an anniversary party or product launch:
* The action beats would still function
* The emotional arc would feel more neutral
* The movie would lose a lot of its ironic tone and cultural identity

So I’d put it this way:
* Plot mechanics: work with any party ✔️
* Emotional resonance & identity: significantly weaker without Christmas ❌

That’s why your argument holds weight—but also why people still call it a Christmas movie. The story works without Christmas, but it means more with it.