Christmas List

This is a cute movie, although it fails to hold attention in my case. While I love Alicia Witt's roles for the most part, this one seems to be over-acted. Her expressions and voice are really amusing, but not captivating compared to other Hallmark movies she and others have done. (See: Lacey Chabert for perfection in acting each role.) She plays Isobel, a young woman who struggles with an overbearing mother who tried to keep Christmas as neat and tidy as possible; I understand having a mom who cares about these things, so I found that relatable, but not to this level. So point #1: Mom is a handful, and responsible for plaguing her daughter with obsessive limitations. To the viewer, you do get a slight desire to punch the mom...in theory, of course! :-) The romance-triangle is interesting; her boyfriend is insufferably obsessed with work, and the rest is Hallmark history: workaholic, but "safe" and overall decent.

Point #2: I admired Isobel's desire to keep her commitments to him, even though he was disturbingly rude to her and her interests.

Point #3: the new man is very natural in his role with her, and they have a fun vibe/chemistry. He is also incredibly respectful toward her and supports her commitment (well, for the most part).

Point #4: The Elf Voice that she did was extremely unsettling. I spent more time thinking about whether they manipulated the sound to create that voice than understanding or appreciating why the elf scene was even in the film. To be clear: the elf and santa costume scene was hard to watch without turning away. Poor Alicia - that voice.

The ending was good - I thought that it was finally gratifying. That's when I realized that this movie deserved a few more stars than I was initially planning to give (like, a 4).

Bottom line: If you are a die-hard Christmas fan and committed to the usual traditions, you'll appreciate this movie. I also love love love the actress that plays the movie mom of Jamie. (the romantic lead). She is amazing, as another reviewer said.

If you ever grew up in a place that never gets snow then you really do dream of a White Christmas. Here the Alicia Witt Character does just that. She also grew up in a single parent home with no siblings. (A fact the script doesn't point out). So what she really wants to do is create a family and traditions that are mostly seen in "Hallmark Movies".

What I like about this film is that the "LIST" is something someone would create if they never got do them for whatever reason. I also think that wanting to do these things is sweet and "Childlike Innocence" and that is what makes this film special.

The film is made with care. If you do not like Christmas or you grew up spoiled then you might not be able to relate to this at all.

This is a winner.

4/10 - probably my least favorite Hallmark movie of all time - an obnoxious main character and pretty flat acting

Hallmark Christmas films vary in quality. Some good ones (a reaction not always expected), some mediocre at best and even very bad ones and plenty that fall somewhere in between. The concept for 'Christmas List' sounded nice, though hardly innovative. Am not always a fan of Alicia Witt, a Hallmark regular. Sometimes she is charming and has characters easy to like, at other times her acting to me is too affected and it makes me struggle to root for her or the film.

'Christmas List' was a more than watchable festive effort of theirs. Actually thought that despite its flaws that it was quite good and it is for me easily one of Witt's better performances (though it is also not perfect as has been said by others) in a festive Hallmark film and one of her better festive Christmas films overall. As well as one of Hallmark's better festive efforts that year in a hit and miss batch, something that is not unusual for Hallmark.

Is 'Christmas List' perfect? No it isn't, none of Hallmark's Christmas films are. The music is too often intrusive and could have been more subtle, a common problem for Hallmark. Absolutely detested the boyfriend character Brett, like others here, it's not because he is a well worn Hallmark stereotypical type of character (he is) because of how over the top unlikeable he is and the film makes no attempt to make him interesting or dimensional. Hallmark have rarely done well with their jerk boyfriend characters and this was one of the worst cases.

Not all the dialogue is natural, some awkwardness early on. Do agree that some of the more childlike parts of Witt's character are overdone.

Most of Witt's performance though is charming and amiable, in one of her most expressive performances, and on the most part she isn't annoying. Gabriel Hogan is a likeable leading man as well as witty, he and Witt have a genuine and natural chemistry together and their banter has both tension and playfulness. Susan Hogan steals her screen time. Although the characters are on the underdeveloped side, the performances are better than average and the chemistry never disconnected.

The film looks attractive, especially the scenery. The photography is not drab or gaudy. On the most part, the script has less of the corn, cheese, overdone sentiment and awkwardness that can be heard in other Hallmark efforts. Yeah, some of the dialogue still isn't great and can get contrived, but it flows well, is heart-warming and it doesn't get sugary. The story is very flawed, but it has a lot of charm and heart and some parts are quite poignant. The ending is foreseeable and a bit too tidy, but is very sweet nonetheless. The pace doesn't feel too rushed or too dull.

Overall, a worthwhile film. 7/10

When you like a movie even more the second time you watch it, you know it will always be a favorite for you.

I am totally in love with Isobel. She is totally crazy in a quirky way. Her laugh is amazing. I can't get enough of it - it doesn't hold back. The world around her is full of awe and wonder. She has dreams and tries to live them. This is someone that I wish I knew. In the beginning of the movie she is a little stuck on perfection. That doesn't show up as much after she and her mother have a heart-to-heart. Maybe she is a little naïve. Maybe.

Alicia Witt does all of this so well. She is so expressive. She does quirky well and the same with awe and wonder. She also does sad or angry well. I can't see Chabert, or McKellar, or Lowndes, or Bure doing this role. This is my favorite Christmas Movie and my favorite Alicia Witt movie. I also love Very Mixed Up Christmas.

For me, this movie is about falling in love with Isobel, and Jamie is the vehicle. But maybe it is a cute love story too.

I didn't realize when I saw this the first three times that Alicia Witt and Gabriel Hogan were reunited in this movie after doing Christmas at Cartwright's. I think they both connected much better in this one, partly because they had more screen time together.

I think my favorite scene in the movie is the Nutcraker. I think it really sums up different aspects of Izzy.

There is much to laugh at in this movie, not just dry jokes that don't quite get past just a smile. And maybe there are some things that will bring sweet tears also.

There are no great surprises. There is one minor villain in the form of Izzy's existing boyfriend Brett. Like so many Hallmark movies, the current boyfriend is stuck on himself, or a workaholic, or both, not to mention looks down on small towns.

Having watched this at least three, maybe four times in about 11 months, I can still say I will watch it again and maybe even this season.