Christmas by the Book

There was zero chemistry between anyone. It felt like a coloring book by the numbers. The lead actress is far too thin, and has obvious lip fillers. I try to avoid commenting on actors looks, unless it is distracting. The pretend boyfriend Ted, felt like a community theater actor at best. He could barely keep eye contact with other actors in their scenes. Oddly enough I found that when the main character was hanging out or seen on screen with the older " entertainment mogul", that was the only guy she actually fit as a couple! Those two were more believable than she was with the other two very half hearted love interests. There was something very unlush about this production. It felt cheap. I am not sure what exactly caused that, lighting? film quality? This did not feel like a Hallmark movie at all. It felt like something from ION or some off brand production company. I know Hallmark is taking movies from other places to fuflill their huge quota of Holiday movies, but I would rather see less movies of a better quality. Finally, this movie had zero Christmas spirit or heart, it was just flat. I did watch the entire movie. I will not review a movie unless I have seen the entire movie.

Clumsily written, poorly acted and just an overall ill conceived mess. The cast as a whole were the dullest and potentially ugliest bunch ever assembled for a Hallmark movie.o

Would have been a great story if Joanne and Val fell in love. Ted who?? Dell who??? I don't know them.

Unfortunately not every holiday Hallmark movie is a winner. This one...major miss. The lead actress is too young, too thin, and too unbelievable to be an expert in anything let alone a romantic lead. She's too uptight. The male lead would be okay with a different actress and the protagonist ex-girlfriend is a dud and a bad actress. Really, skip this movie. It's flat, not romantic or Christmassy and not up to our Hallmark standard of rom-com expectations.

I'm less than 5 minutes in and I don't think I can continue much longer. Eating disorders are not to be taken lightly. I wish the African American actress in the blue dress was the main female lead instead. She's gorgeous and looks healthy.