A Song for the Season/A Holiday Romance (CBS, 1999) She doesn’t tutor on the horn, pardon my pun. Starring:Gerald McRaney, Naomi Judd, Alison Pill, Andy Griffith Plot Synopsis: A disgruntled school administrator comes to town to do the dirty deed of closing a school. But little does he know what he’s up against till he encounters the quirky, lovable music teacher, who not only gives him a run for his money, but also has him falling head over heels in love with her! A fun-loving holiday flick for the entire family. (x) In My Humble Opinion: I’m closing out this years reviews, by once again looking at a CBS film that is meant to tug your heartstrings. A film that is sentimental and schmaltzy in droves, yet still manages to be kind of charming and cute. It’s a film that seems to overwhelmingly know that it its meant to be inspirational and heartwarming and goes for it with a gusto that still manages to not feel all that false. Under no circumstances should this film succeed at all, as it should feel unbearable and false, and yet it does not which is amazing to behold. That said, there is some sketchy acting, Alison Pill is a little rough around the edges as a kid hurt by her mom’s death, and Andy Griffith mainly seems to shout his lines in a weird “I’m so confused but folksy!” way. Also why does CBS keep finding it necessary to have two titles for a film? Makes it annoying to write it up. At least both titles make sense this time, which was not the case with A Holiday for Love/Christmas in my Hometown. Watch If: You merged with your school instrument becoming one as a kid, you relate dating to active duty, or if you prefer to study with sunglasses. Skip If: You think relationships can be just as fine as marriage, if you get angry when people skip out on your deserts, or if you don’t appreciate a random doo-wop performance when you go to the gas station. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A Song for the Season/A Holiday Romance (CBS, 1999)

She doesn’t tutor on the horn, pardon my pun.

Starring:Gerald McRaney, Naomi Judd, Alison Pill, Andy Griffith

Plot Synopsis: A disgruntled school administrator comes to town to do the dirty deed of closing a school. But little does he know what he’s up against till he encounters the quirky, lovable music teacher, who not only gives him a run for his money, but also has him falling head over heels in love with her! A fun-loving holiday flick for the entire family. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: I’m closing out this years reviews, by once again looking at a CBS film that is meant to tug your heartstrings. A film that is sentimental and schmaltzy in droves, yet still manages to be kind of charming and cute. It’s a film that seems to overwhelmingly know that it its meant to be inspirational and heartwarming and goes for it with a gusto that still manages to not feel all that false. Under no circumstances should this film succeed at all, as it should feel unbearable and false, and yet it does not which is amazing to behold. That said, there is some sketchy acting, Alison Pill is a little rough around the edges as a kid hurt by her mom’s death, and Andy Griffith mainly seems to shout his lines in a weird “I’m so confused but folksy!” way.

Also why does CBS keep finding it necessary to have two titles for a film? Makes it annoying to write it up. At least both titles make sense this time, which was not the case with A Holiday for Love/Christmas in my Hometown.

Watch If: You merged with your school instrument becoming one as a kid, you relate dating to active duty, or if you prefer to study with sunglasses.

Skip If: You think relationships can be just as fine as marriage, if you get angry when people skip out on your deserts, or if you don’t appreciate a random doo-wop performance when you go to the gas station.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆



A Christmas Wedding Date (ION, 2012) Skate to be great! Starring: Marla Sokoloff, George Wendt, Chris Carmack, Catherine Hicks Plot Synopsis: After being fired from her high-powered job, Rebecca heads back home to see her mom, Shirley, and attend her friends’ small-town wedding on Christmas Eve. Initially convinced that the trip is a terrible mistake, especially her botched romantic conversation with former beau, Chad, Rebecca soon learns that, indeed, you can go home again, and, again — until you get it right. (x) In My Humble Opinion: Marla Sokoloff tends to annoy me in TV movies, as she plays the wide-eyed, sad faced believer in true love who gets everything she wants through persistence. Her skillset doesn’t seem to lie in getting us to like these sappy, wide-eyed optimists, as much as producers seem to believe so. Instead, where Marla Sokoloff truly succeeds is when she gets to be a little bitchy. On the whole, her most likable roles and the ones where she seems to come alive, are ones where she gets to be cynical and sarcastic and kind of a mean girl. A Christmas Wedding Date, yet another Groundhog’s Day on Christmas tale, seems to recognize this and as a result, it becomes pretty enjoyable even if you keep living out the same plot over and over and over again. On the whole, this film seems to have a kind of manic energy that I tend to really enjoy in these films, and if you ever come across it, I’d recommend seeing an iteration of the Christmas Wedding Date a time or two. It’s probably my favorite new TV Christmas movie of the year. Watch If: You think marriage is a gift you give yourself, if you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint by not touching people, or if sing to people to get them to turn around and talk to you. Skip If: You are a single lady who does not have a cat, if you know Girl Scout cookie sales take place in February and March not during the holidays, or if you are a person who has had the high school taken out of you. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A Christmas Wedding Date (ION, 2012)

Skate to be great!

Starring: Marla Sokoloff, George Wendt, Chris Carmack, Catherine Hicks

Plot Synopsis: After being fired from her high-powered job, Rebecca heads back home to see her mom, Shirley, and attend her friends’ small-town wedding on Christmas Eve. Initially convinced that the trip is a terrible mistake, especially her botched romantic conversation with former beau, Chad, Rebecca soon learns that, indeed, you can go home again, and, again — until you get it right. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: Marla Sokoloff tends to annoy me in TV movies, as she plays the wide-eyed, sad faced believer in true love who gets everything she wants through persistence. Her skillset doesn’t seem to lie in getting us to like these sappy, wide-eyed optimists, as much as producers seem to believe so. Instead, where Marla Sokoloff truly succeeds is when she gets to be a little bitchy. On the whole, her most likable roles and the ones where she seems to come alive, are ones where she gets to be cynical and sarcastic and kind of a mean girl. A Christmas Wedding Date, yet another Groundhog’s Day on Christmas tale, seems to recognize this and as a result, it becomes pretty enjoyable even if you keep living out the same plot over and over and over again. On the whole, this film seems to have a kind of manic energy that I tend to really enjoy in these films, and if you ever come across it, I’d recommend seeing an iteration of the Christmas Wedding Date a time or two. It’s probably my favorite new TV Christmas movie of the year.

Watch If: You think marriage is a gift you give yourself, if you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint by not touching people, or if sing to people to get them to turn around and talk to you.

Skip If: You are a single lady who does not have a cat, if you know Girl Scout cookie sales take place in February and March not during the holidays, or if you are a person who has had the high school taken out of you.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆



The Mistle-tones (ABC Family, 2012) First of all, Marcy is a frigid bi-yotch!!! Starring: Tia Mowry, Tori Spelling, Jonathon Patrick Moore, Reginald VelJohnson Plot Synopsis: Holly, blessed with an amazing singing voice, is all set to audition for the newly vacated spot in a legendary local Christmas group which was founded by her late mother years ago. Shocked and upset when the slot goes to the barely talented best friend of the group’s leader, Marci, Holly sets out to create her own musical group, The Mistle-Tones. After challenging their rivals to a sing-off on Christmas Eve, Holly finds herself on a journey to the real meaning of Christmas—with some new friends and a new love thrown in for good measure… (x)  In My Humble Opinion: This movie worked for me as kind of like a campy, Christmas-y version of Glee with more adults. You can’t take a single part of this movie seriously, but its fun to snark about, and it has a charming energy that you kind of get swept up in anyway. Get some alcohol, get some friends, go crazy, in my opinion. Watch If: The best kind of Christmas gift is a highly productive fiscal year, you enjoy screaming competitions, or if the most important manager duties for a mall is playing Santa. Skip If: If your peppermint barking up the wrong tree, if you are a fa-la-la-ing fruitcake, or if you were once blackmailed with a karaoke performance of “Burnin’ Love”. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Mistle-tones (ABC Family, 2012)

First of all, Marcy is a frigid bi-yotch!!!

Starring: Tia Mowry, Tori Spelling, Jonathon Patrick Moore, Reginald VelJohnson

Plot Synopsis: Holly, blessed with an amazing singing voice, is all set to audition for the newly vacated spot in a legendary local Christmas group which was founded by her late mother years ago. Shocked and upset when the slot goes to the barely talented best friend of the group’s leader, Marci, Holly sets out to create her own musical group, The Mistle-Tones. After challenging their rivals to a sing-off on Christmas Eve, Holly finds herself on a journey to the real meaning of Christmas—with some new friends and a new love thrown in for good measure… (x) 

In My Humble Opinion: This movie worked for me as kind of like a campy, Christmas-y version of Glee with more adults. You can’t take a single part of this movie seriously, but its fun to snark about, and it has a charming energy that you kind of get swept up in anyway. Get some alcohol, get some friends, go crazy, in my opinion.

Watch If: The best kind of Christmas gift is a highly productive fiscal year, you enjoy screaming competitions, or if the most important manager duties for a mall is playing Santa.

Skip If: If your peppermint barking up the wrong tree, if you are a fa-la-la-ing fruitcake, or if you were once blackmailed with a karaoke performance of “Burnin’ Love”.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆



Secret Santa (NBC, 2003) Let me give you a little newsflash. You have to have a soul before you can mate it! Starring: Jennie Garth, Charles Robinson, Steven Eckholdt, Barbara Billingsly Plot Synopsis: A reporter who has been passed over for years is given the opportunity to report on an elusive secret Santa in a small town after her boyfriend dumps her. (x) In My Humble Opinion: If it’s a bit overly treacly, I can’t say that I wasn’t pleasantly surprised overall. A solid cast, a solid script, and a really nice sense of pacing and humor help make this film come together as one of the upper echelon movies in the Made-for-TV Christmas pantheon. Watch If: If the right answer is that you ran off with a Chippendale dancer, if you want an alternate alternator, or if you are too pretty to be a newspaper journalist. Skip If: If Santa did not give you the BB gun you wanted when you were ten and you have lingering issues, if your life is a dumpster, or if all you really wanted was a decent trip to Hawaii for the holidays. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Secret Santa (NBC, 2003)

Let me give you a little newsflash. You have to have a soul before you can mate it!

Starring: Jennie Garth, Charles Robinson, Steven Eckholdt, Barbara Billingsly

Plot Synopsis: A reporter who has been passed over for years is given the opportunity to report on an elusive secret Santa in a small town after her boyfriend dumps her. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: If it’s a bit overly treacly, I can’t say that I wasn’t pleasantly surprised overall. A solid cast, a solid script, and a really nice sense of pacing and humor help make this film come together as one of the upper echelon movies in the Made-for-TV Christmas pantheon.

Watch If: If the right answer is that you ran off with a Chippendale dancer, if you want an alternate alternator, or if you are too pretty to be a newspaper journalist.

Skip If: If Santa did not give you the BB gun you wanted when you were ten and you have lingering issues, if your life is a dumpster, or if all you really wanted was a decent trip to Hawaii for the holidays.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆


posted 5 months ago with 0 notes
#secret santa #nbc #review #4 stars

Picking Up & Dropping Off (ABC Family, 2003) “The one time I’m early, my kid is late.” Starring: Amanda Detmer, Scott Wolf, Rachelle Lefevre, Eddie McClintock Plot Synopsis: A divorced father and a divorced mother start to meet at Denver airport when picking up and sending off their children. (x) In My Humble Opinion: This film isn’t really a Christmas movie, even though it’s included as part of ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas line up a majority of the time (then again, nowadays, 99% of the stuff that makes it into ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas line up has nothing to do with Christmas). That being said, this film is the kind of low-key, charming stuff that probably would never win any awards, but which hits right into my sweet spot of fabulous fluff. A fine TV movie to watch, no matter the season, really. Watch If: You love a little history, if you feel compelled to organize the sugar packets, or if one time you peed next to Bea Arthur. Skip If: You dislike it when your friends compare dating to shampoo directions, you hate people who waste perfectly good coupons by throwing them up in the air and then rolling around in them, or if you hate to see a pair of good hockey tickets get squandered. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Picking Up & Dropping Off (ABC Family, 2003)

“The one time I’m early, my kid is late.”

Starring: Amanda Detmer, Scott Wolf, Rachelle Lefevre, Eddie McClintock

Plot Synopsis: A divorced father and a divorced mother start to meet at Denver airport when picking up and sending off their children. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: This film isn’t really a Christmas movie, even though it’s included as part of ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas line up a majority of the time (then again, nowadays, 99% of the stuff that makes it into ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas line up has nothing to do with Christmas). That being said, this film is the kind of low-key, charming stuff that probably would never win any awards, but which hits right into my sweet spot of fabulous fluff. A fine TV movie to watch, no matter the season, really.

Watch If: You love a little history, if you feel compelled to organize the sugar packets, or if one time you peed next to Bea Arthur.

Skip If: You dislike it when your friends compare dating to shampoo directions, you hate people who waste perfectly good coupons by throwing them up in the air and then rolling around in them, or if you hate to see a pair of good hockey tickets get squandered.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆



The Christmas Clause (ION, 2008) Sophie: Do you think I can do it?Morris: You are ruthless, cruel, and have fantastic teeth… I know you can. Starring: Lea Thompson, Andrew Airlie, Richard Ian Cox, Rachel Hayward Plot Synopsis: With the pressures of a working mom, Sophie asks Santa for a different life. Freedom has its price as she realizes the sweet life is not so sweet. Now she must race against time to find the true meaning of family and love before Christmas Day. (x) In My Humble Opinion: I went into the film expecting an extremely offensive feminist disaster of epic proportions, and even though this film isn’t perfect in any way, I enjoyed it much more than I expected. I think what saves this film from being an offensive disaster is that the establish right away that even though the character makes a wish to save her life she regrets it two seconds in. This film does not follow the normal formula where things go great for 30 minutes before we learn family matters after all, it is just the story of a woman who takes her need for a good night’s worth of sleep too far and regrets it immediately. This film is less a story of a women learning a “lesson” about what matters in life, but is rather a story of a woman trying to fix a mistake. Making that calculation, and making it more comic and less preachy makes this film not unbearable. In fact, I would say this film made me less depressed about the female condition than I Don’t Know How She Does It did, and since one was a major studio production and one was probably made on a budget of $2 million, I think that says something positive. And I think what also saves the film is that Lea Thompson really commits to a thankless role. This entire movie rests on her shoulders, and she gives it her all. You can tell she’s having fun, and that makes it fun. Usually, when you watch this movie you get a bunch of actors who are half-assing for a paycheck and look kind of miserable doing so. Watching Lea Thompson gamely give a Toni Matthews face, or look like crap during the “bad day portion of the movie” and fall and hijink like it matters was just really refreshing. I’m not usually a Lea Thompson fan, but this made me appreciate her a whole heckuva lot more. So ION’s vault from 2008 gives us another pleasant surprise. It makes you wish they put more of an effort in 2011. Watch If: You refuse to go to Starbucks because they call a small coffee a tall, you enjoy a good food fight, or if you want to make the workplace a great place for working mothers to be! Skip If: You hate to see a low-carb diet ruin, you don’t wanna see a yoga class get ruined by bickering, or if you think that Christmas brings out the best in everyone, not the worst. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Christmas Clause (ION, 2008)

Sophie: Do you think I can do it?
Morris: You are ruthless, cruel, and have fantastic teeth… I know you can.

Starring: Lea Thompson, Andrew Airlie, Richard Ian Cox, Rachel Hayward

Plot Synopsis: With the pressures of a working mom, Sophie asks Santa for a different life. Freedom has its price as she realizes the sweet life is not so sweet. Now she must race against time to find the true meaning of family and love before Christmas Day. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: I went into the film expecting an extremely offensive feminist disaster of epic proportions, and even though this film isn’t perfect in any way, I enjoyed it much more than I expected.

I think what saves this film from being an offensive disaster is that the establish right away that even though the character makes a wish to save her life she regrets it two seconds in. This film does not follow the normal formula where things go great for 30 minutes before we learn family matters after all, it is just the story of a woman who takes her need for a good night’s worth of sleep too far and regrets it immediately. This film is less a story of a women learning a “lesson” about what matters in life, but is rather a story of a woman trying to fix a mistake. Making that calculation, and making it more comic and less preachy makes this film not unbearable. In fact, I would say this film made me less depressed about the female condition than I Don’t Know How She Does It did, and since one was a major studio production and one was probably made on a budget of $2 million, I think that says something positive.

And I think what also saves the film is that Lea Thompson really commits to a thankless role. This entire movie rests on her shoulders, and she gives it her all. You can tell she’s having fun, and that makes it fun. Usually, when you watch this movie you get a bunch of actors who are half-assing for a paycheck and look kind of miserable doing so. Watching Lea Thompson gamely give a Toni Matthews face, or look like crap during the “bad day portion of the movie” and fall and hijink like it matters was just really refreshing. I’m not usually a Lea Thompson fan, but this made me appreciate her a whole heckuva lot more.

So ION’s vault from 2008 gives us another pleasant surprise. It makes you wish they put more of an effort in 2011.

Watch If: You refuse to go to Starbucks because they call a small coffee a tall, you enjoy a good food fight, or if you want to make the workplace a great place for working mothers to be!

Skip If: You hate to see a low-carb diet ruin, you don’t wanna see a yoga class get ruined by bickering, or if you think that Christmas brings out the best in everyone, not the worst.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆



12 Dates of Christmas (ABC Family, 2011) Starring: Amy Smart, Mark-Paul Gosslear, Richard Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Kydd Plot Synopsis: This romantic comedy follows a young woman who re-lives the same first date on Christmas Eve over and over again. Will she be able to put her past behind and finally get the romantic Christmas she longs for or will she ruin her chances of love for good? (x) In My Humble Opinion: While some of the semantics of the film made no sense (I have no idea why some of the days turned out to be wrong, especially when the final day didn’t do things that you would think would be critical), for the most part it was a fluffy, engaging ride. Mark-Paul Gosslear follows in James Van Der Beek’s footsteps proving that the best place for career rehabilitation is poking fun of yourself in a viral video mixed with acing the Christmas TV movie thing. A fun way to waste two hours. Watch If: All you want is a puppy, you think Christmas Hoarders is a marvelous idea, or you really love that coulda been a contender ice skating trope. Skip If: Zack Morris should only be making out with Kelly Kapowski, you hate being called Katie, or if your boyfriend makes you a light up snowflake every year for Christmas and that’s annoying. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

12 Dates of Christmas (ABC Family, 2011)

Starring: Amy Smart, Mark-Paul Gosslear, Richard Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Kydd

Plot Synopsis: This romantic comedy follows a young woman who re-lives the same first date on Christmas Eve over and over again. Will she be able to put her past behind and finally get the romantic Christmas she longs for or will she ruin her chances of love for good? (x)

In My Humble Opinion: While some of the semantics of the film made no sense (I have no idea why some of the days turned out to be wrong, especially when the final day didn’t do things that you would think would be critical), for the most part it was a fluffy, engaging ride. Mark-Paul Gosslear follows in James Van Der Beek’s footsteps proving that the best place for career rehabilitation is poking fun of yourself in a viral video mixed with acing the Christmas TV movie thing. A fun way to waste two hours.

Watch If: All you want is a puppy, you think Christmas Hoarders is a marvelous idea, or you really love that coulda been a contender ice skating trope.

Skip If: Zack Morris should only be making out with Kelly Kapowski, you hate being called Katie, or if your boyfriend makes you a light up snowflake every year for Christmas and that’s annoying.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆



Santa Jr. (Hallmark, 2002) Stan: Where’d ya learn to drive?Santa Jr.: Internet!!Stan: Cool. Starring: Lauren Holly, Nick Stabile, Judd Nelson, George Wallace Plot Synopsis:  The title character in this made-for-cable comedy is a youthful slacker who has long been a source of disappointment and embarrassment for his famous jolly-old-elf father. Anxious to prove his worth, Chris(as our hero is known) decides to clamber down a few chimneys just prior to Christmas Eve. Alas, his efforts coincide with a string of burglaries, and Chris is promptly arrested by cops Daryl Bedford and Norm Potter. As Chris frets away the hours before Christmas under house arrest, Bedford grows attached to Chris’s court-appointed attorney, Susan Flynn — and inevitably, the real burglar strikes again. (x) In My Humble Opinion: Just like Christmas Town before it, this is another movie that managed to surprise me. I thought it was genuinely cute, and harmless and even a little bit fun. And I also really appreciated that the turn it took was not “Young Santa heir-apparent needs a wife” but instead was about Santa Jr. trying to live up to expectations while his non-magical sidekicks found love with one another. Pretty adorable, really. Watch If: You wanna see some of Santa’s outdated technology, you hate when people are intruding on your swagger when giving out gifts, or if you’re into housing some jolly criminals. Skip If: You hate long walks in the nighttime, you were once scared when Santa broke his house arrest to give you a hug, or if you find that Santa once told your ex you were cheating on her via his outdated technology. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Santa Jr. (Hallmark, 2002)

Stan: Where’d ya learn to drive?
Santa Jr.: Internet!!
Stan: Cool.

Starring: Lauren Holly, Nick Stabile, Judd Nelson, George Wallace

Plot Synopsis:  The title character in this made-for-cable comedy is a youthful slacker who has long been a source of disappointment and embarrassment for his famous jolly-old-elf father. Anxious to prove his worth, Chris(as our hero is known) decides to clamber down a few chimneys just prior to Christmas Eve. Alas, his efforts coincide with a string of burglaries, and Chris is promptly arrested by cops Daryl Bedford and Norm Potter. As Chris frets away the hours before Christmas under house arrest, Bedford grows attached to Chris’s court-appointed attorney, Susan Flynn — and inevitably, the real burglar strikes again. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: Just like Christmas Town before it, this is another movie that managed to surprise me. I thought it was genuinely cute, and harmless and even a little bit fun. And I also really appreciated that the turn it took was not “Young Santa heir-apparent needs a wife” but instead was about Santa Jr. trying to live up to expectations while his non-magical sidekicks found love with one another. Pretty adorable, really.

Watch If: You wanna see some of Santa’s outdated technology, you hate when people are intruding on your swagger when giving out gifts, or if you’re into housing some jolly criminals.

Skip If: You hate long walks in the nighttime, you were once scared when Santa broke his house arrest to give you a hug, or if you find that Santa once told your ex you were cheating on her via his outdated technology.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆


posted 1 year ago with 0 notes
#santa jr. #hallmark #review #4 stars

Christmas Town (ION, 2008) “It’s like I just walked into a very special Christmas episode of the Twilight Zone!” Starring: Nicole de Boer, Patrick Muldooooon, Garry Chalk, Gig Morton Plot Synopsis: A week before Christmas Liza McCann visit her estranged father who strangely lives in a town decked out for the holidays and is full of Christmas spirit. Strange events immediately occur when they arrive challenging everything Liza had once believed in. (x) In My Humble Opinion: This movie was a pleasant surprise. Going in, I was rolling my eyes, because yet again we have a single mother plotline, and yet again we have a learning to believe storyline, but Christmas Town executes the tropes quite well. The main thing the film’s got going for it is great decisions with scale and pacing. The romance is small and presented as not a be-all or end-all but an opportunity for something more. The other main conflict is introduced early and resolved sufficiently without having any ridiculous, unnecessary last minute hurdles thrown in. The story doesn’t pretend to be about more than the 4 main characters, and it doesn’t pretend life-altering changes have been made. It keeps the story small, and the pacing simple, and it manages to work because of those choices. There’s not much to say about Christmas Town except that while not being wholly original, it takes the tropes it wants and uses them well. And there’s something to be said for a movie that can do that. Watch If: You love all the whip cream on your hot chocolate, you sometimes get the urge to jump out of your car and follow reindeer around in the forest, or if you think savings bonds make great Christmas presents because it’s not too early to think about tomorrow. Skip If: It’d be disheartening to hear that Santa operates in Canada, if you’d be confused why nobody seems to need to wear any kind of winter wear while it’s December in Canada, or if you don’t think kids should wear stupid hats… in Canada. Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Christmas Town (ION, 2008)

“It’s like I just walked into a very special Christmas episode of the Twilight Zone!”

Starring: Nicole de Boer, Patrick Muldooooon, Garry Chalk, Gig Morton

Plot Synopsis: A week before Christmas Liza McCann visit her estranged father who strangely lives in a town decked out for the holidays and is full of Christmas spirit. Strange events immediately occur when they arrive challenging everything Liza had once believed in. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: This movie was a pleasant surprise. Going in, I was rolling my eyes, because yet again we have a single mother plotline, and yet again we have a learning to believe storyline, but Christmas Town executes the tropes quite well.

The main thing the film’s got going for it is great decisions with scale and pacing. The romance is small and presented as not a be-all or end-all but an opportunity for something more. The other main conflict is introduced early and resolved sufficiently without having any ridiculous, unnecessary last minute hurdles thrown in. The story doesn’t pretend to be about more than the 4 main characters, and it doesn’t pretend life-altering changes have been made. It keeps the story small, and the pacing simple, and it manages to work because of those choices.

There’s not much to say about Christmas Town except that while not being wholly original, it takes the tropes it wants and uses them well. And there’s something to be said for a movie that can do that.

Watch If: You love all the whip cream on your hot chocolate, you sometimes get the urge to jump out of your car and follow reindeer around in the forest, or if you think savings bonds make great Christmas presents because it’s not too early to think about tomorrow.

Skip If: It’d be disheartening to hear that Santa operates in Canada, if you’d be confused why nobody seems to need to wear any kind of winter wear while it’s December in Canada, or if you don’t think kids should wear stupid hats… in Canada.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆


posted 1 year ago with 9 notes
#christmas town #ion #review #4 stars