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Such a cute movie! Great cast beautiful location

Great for a Sunday afternoon romcom.

Natalie and Marshall were so cute together, and super funny

Totally recommend.

Have said many times about my love of Christmas and getting a lot of pleasure out of in particular watching films, cartoons and specials during this period, something that most years has been much needed. Wanted to see some more festive films that were more recent, lower in budget and were not childhood favourites, so in a way to broaden my horizons and have been doing so since November 2019. The idea for 'Fixing Up Christmas' did sound predictable and not particularly interesting, but still watched for completest sake.

'Fixing Up Christmas' didn't really do very much for me. Some things are good, but there is also too much bad in too many crucial areas for me to recommend it. As far as Christmas films go, there are certainly far worse out there that fare even worse in the acting and storytelling stakes. There are also a lot better, that have a lot more charm and spark. There have actually been some good Christmas films out there seen in the past four years, so me not caring for 'Fixing Up Christmas' is not being said with bias.

Natalie Dreyfuss comes over quite well and the best thing about 'Fixing Up Christmas', sassy, confident and charming. She does have moments of nice chemistry with Marshall Williams, who has some charming moments.

Production values are quite nice to look at, particularly the scenery. It starts off quite charmingly.

Some charming moments apart, Williams tends to be on the stiff and too low key side and Matthew Kevin Anderson overdoes it in a role that served no point and came over as annoying. The chemistry had some nice moments, but is very thin in development, taking too long to get going and any development appears too late and is rushed, and generally is quite anaemic.

The writing too often is awkward and forced, with too many cheesy parts, with the comedy with Nick being jarringly over the top and not needed for a film that can be quite serious. The story is very predictable throughout and drags a lot as a result of overlong scenes (some of it padding) and the middle being quite thin. The last act is too contrived and convenient. The film is very bland, taking itself too seriously to be light hearted and the lack of interesting characters and underwritten storytelling stops it from having any charm or heart. The music is forgettable at best and could have been toned down and the direction is never above routine level.

All in all, didn't do it for me. 4/10.

I actually turned this on half way through the film, which probably precludes me from an objective assessment.

However, having watched the second half of the movie, I'm very glad that I didn't watch the first half.

Watch Tom & Jerry for 10 minutes. It's a whole lot better.

Fixing Up Christmas (2021) -

I quite liked this one. It wouldn't be at the top of my list by any means, but it ticked the boxes for good cheer and Christmassy things, as well as cute guys and a good story. However there are so many of these films now that the story was a bit of a re-write of at least three others that I've seen, but it still shined fairly well in its own right, with a new cast and slightly updated take on things.

Despite his initial introduction as a brusque uninterested guy, the lead male, Marshall Williams playing Theo, was actually quite adorable by the end. I might have given up on the film as a whole if he hadn't been so handsome, because he really was a knob at the very beginning. I was pleased that he was working in a smaller independent business, instead of being a completely work driven lost corporate soul, as so many of the others have been. I could see that it was easier for him to open up to the new things he was being shown, without getting too agro about a tyrannical boss or the pressure of his job on the line.

Natalie Dreyfus in the role of Holly was ok too I guess, but not what I watch these films for. She was a tad annoying, but I felt that the two together, balanced each other out to form a nice couple and I was happy to watch their story unfold as their playful interactions bloomed in to something very cute.

But why have a dog and bark yourself? Why get a party planner and devote your best architect to help her out for days at a time, when he should be properly planning for a very important presentation. As it turned out, he needed her input and encouragement in the end, but it wouldn't be how I would utilise my staff, if I'd paid someone else to do the job.

I also get frustrated that they don't plan their Christmas parties sooner than 10 days before the actual event, a party that will be very important in showing what a fabulous company they are to a prospective client.

I had to book one of my team parties in September when I used to plan things, because you can't even turn up to a pub for a drink without booking things way in advance any more at that time of year.

I'm not sure that the comic relief in the form of Nick (Matthew Kevin Anderson) was necessary either. I've seen him in other films and he's never impressed me with his over the top portrayals of characters that were actually already jokes. His romance with Blaire (Bethany Brown) also didn't add to the film and that time could have been better spent on the leading pair instead.

I did find it odd to see Casey Manderson in such a small role as Felix too. He's the cutest little guy who deserves more leading roles and I'd love to see a film with him and Marshall falling in love or maybe with Luke Macfarlane? I suppose that's kind of been done since the first time I reviewed this film in various other releases, mostly Made For TV, but more recently in 'Bros' (2022) too, but I think that there's still plenty of scope for more.

I did wish that they had spent a bit more on extras to actually fill out the party and festivities, because there was no way that they could impress or have a great night with just the ten people they had on the dance floor.

Other than all of that and despite some of it and due in many ways to Marshall Williams charming smile and character, the film was nice, without being overplayed or too silly.

6.25/10.

The movie starts out with some of the same old plot devices. We have to get the contract and need a party planner to make our party special. If she does a great job, she'll get a promotion. The two leads have to work together to plan the party. They start out rocky and then you know the rest.

But this movie felt different for two reasons. One was the sassy, confident, fun, and quirky Holly played by Natalie Dreyfuss. And yes she had chemistry with Marshall Williams even if she was the one who stood out and him not so much. The second thing was beginning with the conflict the whole movie shifted and did some unusual things. I didn't think they all made sense, but looking back from the end explains some of it.