'Coins for Christmas' sounded great on paper, one of the better concepts on paper of all the 2018-2019 festive films seen recently as part of a quest. Reading the synopsis, it sounded like a film where anybody would relate to the situations that happen in the film, with many having gone through at least one of the situations in real life too. The characters sounded like ones that would be easy to warm to or at least identify with them and what they go through.
As much as people may ridicule me for rating 'Coins for Christmas' highly and reviewing it positively, it was genuinely enjoyable for me and just clicked with me in a way that most of the recently seen festive films didn't do as much. This festive film quest has seen some surprisingly good ones, some watchable if unexceptional (at times average or just above) and some bad things, of which 'Coins for Christmas' has been one of the best.
Despite it being predictable and not all the dialogue is great, with some corn and not everything flows, 'Coins for Christmas' fared better than most of the recently seen Christmas films for two primary reasons. It was more realistic than most of them, seeing as realism was something that eluded many of them, far less contrivance and the situations were far easier to buy and more plausible. It was also more relatable than most, the characters facing situations that people in real life have gone through and in a way that hits home.
The characters are ones worth caring about, even those that are purposefully not likeable to begin with, and it is easy to root for their problems to be sorted out and find happiness. They are ones that go on journeys, rather than being perfect straightaway or not changing throughout the film, and ones that don't feel hurried. The children are not cutesy or bratty, but instead resourceful and there is genuine warm chemistry between the two leads, both amiably played (particularly Essence Atkins, with the more relatable character from the start).
It is a nicely filmed film as well and the soundtrack adds to the atmosphere. The story never feels dreary or emotionally cold and it is charming and heart-warming throughout without falling into schmaltz. Very easy to be uplifted by the film's end.
Summing up, surprisingly good. 8/10
