A Gift Wrapped Christmas

Writing skill, casting and chemistry between the main characters (with efforts from the supporting cast) make or break these generally formulaic Lifetime/Hallmark holiday films.

It is very interesting to me that many of these efforts, with similar small budgets, vary so widely in quality.

This recent made for TV production clearly didn't have the budget of the long ago big studio holiday films. Once upon a time, these had "A" list stars and the very best supporting actors in Hollywood. But, after all this is a made for TV production. So, direct comparisons are unfair.

My opinion is that the writers are not so much mediocre as...restrained.

However, mix some charisma and a little chemistry and reasonably witty writing together and you get a watchable story.

This one does better than average. It shows off Meredith Hagner at her best (perhaps by pushing other characters into a vanilla background).

This seems to be a "hallmark" of the Hallmark films. The female protagonist gets the lion's share of the story and the rest of the cast (with a few exceptions) fades into the scenery very quickly.

That would be the big diff between the holiday films of the past and those of the Hallmark channel. These current supporting actors are short-changed both in screen time and vibrancy of characterization.

Having said that, this is one of the better attempts.

I feel like most Christmas movies are so cheesy and the acting is mediocre. This movie was so different..... the acting is amazing! It almost seems like they weren't going off a script and seemed more real!

If you are a sucker for sappy movies as many romantics are then this film is right up your alley. The story is based upon a widower dad and business man named Charlie who is played by Travis Milne. Milne previously starred in the TV police drama series Rookie Blue. Charlie is attempting to balance his work and personal life as he runs a busy company and also raise his 7 year old son named Owen. Owen is played by Anthony Bolognese who is starring in his first film but based on his strong and adorable performance in A Gift Wrapped Christmas he will be kept busy for at least the next few years as he grows into a young man.

Now Charlie has a girlfriend named Victoria played by Anna Van Hooft who will infuriate the audience with her focus on business and lack of any empathy for the relationship between widower Charlie and his son Owen. All Owen wants for Christmas is to go tobogganing with his dad but Victoria wants to push her own agenda of lying on a sun filled beach with Charlie and just let little Owen go play in the sand to leave the adults alone to discuss her self centered business agenda and her strategy to rule the business world. As for little Owen's dream for a white Christmas and tobogganing on a snow filled hill, Victoria is playing Scrooge and buys airline tickets to the sunny south, so she really comes across as Mrs. Scrooge.

The main focus of the film is a professional personal shopper named Gwen played by Meredith Hagner, who has a special knack of picking out just the right gifts for all of her clients. What is missing from Gwen's life though is as she continues to make everyone happy around her she is not focusing on herself and as a result she is planning to be lonely this Christmas holiday.

As events would happen the stars align and Gwen sets out on a course to not only make Charlie and his cute little son Owen happy this Christmas but she also intends to try and make her own Christmas special this year. The film is very light viewing and romance abounds as Charlie and his personal shopper get to know each other better as Christmas draws near. It is a sappy film but will help put the viewer in a Christmas and romantic mood.

I give the film a 7 out of 10 rating.

Throughout my whole Christmas film completest quest undertaken since late 2019, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Hallmark's and Lifetime's output in particular. There was however always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level.

A distinction that does not belong to 'A Gift Wrapped Christmas' in any way. It is not quite a Christmas classic, but out of the films seen between then and now (which have been very hit and miss) 'A Gift Wrapped Christmas' is easily among the best faring and quite a pleasant surprise for a premise that could have gone either way. With almost everything done remarkably well and only a couple of things done imperfectly which was not unexpected in a way.

Other than the expected predictability, 'A Gift Wrapped Christmas' weak link is the ending. Rather abrupt and hasty, and yet another ending to feel too neat.

However, the film looks great. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Most of the soundtrack is nostalgic and appealing to listen to, capturing the festive spirit well. Have seen a lot of over-scored Christmas films, but that's not as much the case here.

Script just about avoids being corny and saccharine, with it never coming over as awkward, and the story is mostly very engaging, easy to be uplifted by and heart-warming. Not to mention quite poignant. Did like the characters too and they came over as more real than characters for most recently seen Christmas films (for instance Hallmark has an annoying tendency to exaggerate character flaws).

Gwen in fact was quite refreshing, easy to root for from the start and that and her positive role model-like quality stayed. It helps too that she is played perfectly by Meredith Hagner, who has a lot of positive energy and also nuance when needed while not making Gwen too perfect. All the acting is very good and so is the chemistry. Relationships develop at a realistic rate and not given short shrift.

In conclusion, very well done. 8/10.

Seen this a couple of times and still love it. The chemistry is so natural. Gives you a very warm feeling.