My Christmas film viewings over-time have been a very mixed bag. With some surprisingly good hits, where regardless of how predictable they are succeed in being full of charm, warmth and heart so succeeding in being light-hearted and undemanding fun. But also some quite big misses, where the characters are not likeable, everything is forced and shallow with implausibility too in some of the worst cases, the acting and writing being weak and basically with just nothing to them.
'Christmas Camp' is not one of the worst Christmas films recently seen, a long way from being that. It is also though nowhere near being one of the best, and is closer to being in the lesser category. Is 'Christmas Camp' terrible? No, it didn't insult my intelligence, was well intended and it had its moments. At the same time, it is really not particularly good at all with many things wrong with it. Things that even when taking it for what it is and taking into account the target audience are very difficult to overlook.
It is not all bad. Bobby Campo does a great job and not only looks as though he was committing to his role but also that he understood it.
Also did think that the scenery was beautiful and complemented slickly by the photography, regardless of the lack of authenticity, And that the music had pleasant moments.
Too many things let 'Christmas Camp' down however. Lilly Anne Harrison is incredibly stiff and one note with no romantic chemistry or any real connection with the rest of the cast. The rest of the cast pretty much walk through their cliched roles, though some have very little to work with. Didn't find the characters interesting or easy to like or relate to while a lot of the lot of the writing is cheesy and awkward.
Furthermore, the story is excessively predictable, with an old hat premise already done to death having no variation. As well as very bland, the charm and heart are not there and it could have done with more light hearted playfulness, less schmaltz and a tighter pace that would have made it less over serious. The direction is rather routine and the ending too neat.
Concluding, weak though not terrible. 3/10.
