The Fight Before Christmas

I don't mind a low-budget try-hard tacky Christmas film here and there. They make for nice background trashy entertainment. But when one normalises a coldly unempathic bereaved 58yr old seducing a 20something friend of his daughter, and his daughter is made out to be the one with the problem, its messages aren't exactly on a par with 'Its a Wonderful Life'.

The humour is of the cringey sarcastic reactions ilk, with ill-judged music to suggest things are supposed to be funny. The whole thing is such a jarring misfire I'm amazed anyone thought "yeah let's make this!"

Story wasn't terrible but the lead actress had such a truly horrible personality that it ruined the rest of the movie. She was like photocopy of Zooey Deschanel: none of the adorableness or charm. Rest of the characters were the just right of attractive cheesiness that I love in holiday movies.

The premise of breaking up a relationship between dad and a free-wheeling woman has been done a few times, but I don't remember ever doing it where that woman is the daughter's high school classmate and neighbor. I found that aspect to be taking it a little too far. It was hard to root for Brandy.

This story had some good moments, especially if you like a revenge trope, and there were great possibilities. There were also some cringeworthy moments. It seemed like there wasn't anything upbeat in the whole movie except maybe the inevitable outcome.

Emma, the daughter, definitely shows a very unlikeable side, even mean. While I didn't like this aspect of her personality, I identified with her feelings was behind her in principle, to a point. She had very mean moments. Brandy becomes a sympathetic character.

Usually in a movie with this kind of premise, the guy that the daughter picks as an ally turns into her romantic interest. Yet Hayley Orrantia and Michael Naizu had very little screentime together. There was no valid explanation for the relationship they develop.

I'm pretty sure this is not a Hallmark movie. It gets pretty crass at times, including the language and there is some heavy petting with minimal clothing.

There is nothing alright with the whole scenario. I would hate my father if he ever dated a friend from high school. It is frustrating. Hopefully this movie does not influence other older men to treat their daughters this way. Not the new normal!

Loved this. It was bonkers. Nothing made sense: not the plot, the character arcs, the conflicts, the romances, the dialogue, the settings, the editing, the music, the ending, or... well, anything.

You know that feeling you get when you stare at a strobe light too long? Sick, disoriented, and kinda woozy? Turn that feeling into a feature length Christmas film and you've got "Christmas is Canceled"

10/10 Highly recommended A+

(Plus the guy's a great photographer apparently, so that's cool.)