'A Very Vintage Christmas' is another one of those Lifetime Christmas films to have a rather cheesy and uninspired title, but also have a story that potentially could be quite charming and sweet. There never has been any bias against Lifetime's output, much of it is formulaic sure and some of it has just as much corn and schmaltz of that of Hallmark's but with the right leads and the right amount of charm and heart they can have some likeability. Provided that not too much is expected from it.
While understanding and appreciating that there are others that like the film, it is easy to see why it's garnered a mixed reception here. Personally am one of those that didn't care for 'A Very Vintage Christmas' and do agree with some of the criticisms. Not one of the worst of Lifetime's Christmas output of 2019, in a fairly unimpressive year, or overall. Also not one of the best on both counts, somewhere around low middle if anything. There are good things, but the corn and schmaltz are there, the charm and heart is not enough and the casting is a missed opportunity.
There are good things. Jesse Hutch is an engaging male lead and has a subtle easy going charm. Patricia Richardson does a nice job as well. It is a pleasant looking film, especially the scenery. The music is pleasant enough, and is not as constant or intrusive as with other Lifetime efforts.
However, Tia Mowry's performance is very flat and one-dimensional, she also looks bored. She and Hutch are quite limited in their chemistry as well, they look disconnected and under-rehearsed and their relationship doesn't really grow or go anywhere, it's also underdeveloped and bland. The rest of the cast are okay but nobody else stands out and the character writing is sketchy and little more than Lifetime cliches. The direction is workmanlike at best.
Really did like the idea of the story, but the Christmas theme is underused and the more mysterious elements are less than mysterious and are quite obvious. There could have been more charm and heart, while what too little of the tension there is is predictable and contrived. Again the idea was nice but more could have been done with more and there is very little freshness to it. The script lays it on too thick with the corn and slushy schmaltz, not unexpected but it was overkill in places and it is too talky.
Lacklustre all in all. 4/10.
