The Sweetest Christmas

Kylie Watson (Lacey Chabert) is trying to start her own cake business and expecting a marriage proposal from boyfriend Alex. He brings her to a pizza place owned by her high school boyfriend Nick. Instead of a marriage proposal, Alex offers her a promotion. Disappointed, she breaks up with him. She gets into the American Gingerbread Competition and needs Nick's oven.

I actually like Alex trying to fix it. It's not the greatest move. It could have been funny. Of course, Kylie has to go with the hunkier guy and on top of that, he has a cute little boy. Lacey Chabert is super sweet and that's the central heart of this Hallmark romance. Otherwise, I don't think this would work. I don't really like Nick. She makes it work. She is so up that she uplifts the whole movie. In the end, that's all that matters in this type of movies.

Some reviews for these types of movies come across so harsh. Sure they're predictable but, isn't that what we're looking for when we tune in to Hallmark movies? They give us exactly what we want, a happy ending with two people finding a way to be together. We watch them not because we expect them to appear on the next Oscar ballot, but because we want to escape the world for a bit, drink something warm & smile cause it worked out exactly how we wanted in the end, which is a nice change from reality.

Wow. There's a good bit of off the charts awesome reviews for this one.

It was good. Lacey Chabert is lovely. But, really?

The Gingerbread Competition plot-line is straight from Food Network. Not really all that imaginative. Also the boyfriend was really daft to not think she would be expecting a proposal.

Check your brain at the door and you'll really enjoy this!

There were quite a few reasons for wanting to see 'The Sweetest Christmas'. The title was a little corny but also somewhat appetising. The idea for the story was hardly innovative but sounded cute enough. Lacey Chabert is always a likeable watch, like her voice work too, and generally one of the better prolific Hallmark leads, whether their festive efforts or in general. Have been on another one of my completest quests since November/December, and this was part of it.

If there was one word to sum up 'The Sweetest Christmas' it would be okay. It is not a bad film, it is at least palatable, and there are things that come off well. At the same time it is not one of Hallmark's better Christmas efforts and a bit of a missed opportunity, too many of its components being average at best. Will say though that 'The Sweetest Christmas' is not one of the worst either, there are worse written, acted and looking and ones that bored, annoyed and insulted the intelligence more.

Visually, 'The Sweetest Christmas' looks quite good with it being shot and lit well and while standard the settings were appealing at least. The music is a pleasant listen with some nostalgic song choices, and didn't sound over-scored or gimmicky.

Chabert is her usual likeable and charming self and carries the film with ease. Jonathan Adams is amusing and quite delightful in his role, his comic timing bringing some welcome levity, and the cast in general look comfortable and nobody is below average. The chemistry always came over as natural.

However, the story doesn't have enough to it. Actually don't mind awfully that it was very formulaic, what bothered me was that there was very unimaginatively executed, was really not much of one at all, had some fairly contrived situations and the film gets so sweet (too much so) in places it was almost sickly. The script is similarly thin and quite routine, it has some shining moments with Adams but it tended to have an awkward flow and was excessively cheesy and schmaltzy.

Pacing can be a problem, with the story being too little a lot of the film crawls along and feels over-stretched. The direction is only functional at best and can be on the leaden side of things and while the characters are inoffensive enough there is no real depth to them.

Summing up, okay but a middling/middle-tier festive Hallmark effort. 5/10

Cute movie ... I liked all the characters except for the leading man, Nick! He was annoying and such a jerk sometimes! I especially loved the sisters' dynamic! it was so fun and very real!