Everything Christmas

The basic virtue - it is a fairy tale. The significant error - the try to define the identity of Santa.

A film with serious virtues , from portraits of small comunities to the miracles , accidents, gifts and their meaning, the purpose of travel of young woman and pills of lessons about life. All- more than seductive and it is just a good point the try of Hallmark to propose something different - in some measure than you expect.

Sure, unrealism and large spoons of magic. But each of them works more than well in this mix and, not ignoring the virtues of performances, the story suggest a nice air of nostalgia, like each fairy tale, and this is the best thing, in fact.

Is it really magic or is it illusion? The two ladies, Tori and LJ keep running into Kris Kringle and he seems to be directing their paths through some mysterious process. He performs tricks that seem to surpass mere illusion, but the movie leaves you to wonder.

In the beginning, LJ quits her job after her boss cancels her long scheduled vacation which for LJ is something special. These plot devices always make me angry because you just can't do that. But LJ seems happy to be free of that job. She cons Tori into going with her. She intends to visit "magical" stops along the way to hanging her grandmother's ornament at their final stop. Along the way, the two women pick up two guys who join them, sort of.

The acting is decent. The dialogue is OK with some good moments. The story is about as simple as I described it. There are no great highs or lows. I would say there are no real surprises, but Kris does keep them all on their toes.

I'm not a Cindy Busby fan, and she pretty much does her usual. Katherine Barrell makes a good sidekick as her character Tori tries to break her habit of being a rule follower.

Cindy Busby's character was so over the top that I didn't know how she functioned. Like she wasn't believable as an actual person. I know she's not usually most viewers cup of tea, but I've always liked her. I didn't like her in this. She couldn't pull off this type of character. She works better as a downbeat character with a touch surliness. Other annoyances: Her disruptive singing while at work and then encouraging her friend to quit her job just because she had was awful.

I also found the movie so boring. The only thing that made it bearable was Katherine Barrell who will always be Officer Nicole Haught to me.

Everything Christmas was a real mixed bag for me. I thought it started out quite well with the over the top Christmas loving Busby and her level-headed friend played by Katherine Barrell on a buddy road trip to the town of Yuletide Springs. They break down and shortly after are helped by a man who resembles Santa in body and spirit. From there are a series of coincidences and almost magical experiences that lead them to believe that he might be the real thing. Oh, and of course there is romance for the both of them.

Unfortunately, after a good start with some legitimate laughs provided mostly by Barrell, it starts becoming more and more bland and predictable. I've pretty much liked Busby but here she comes across almost like a child going on and on about "believing," etc. Etc.

I thought Barrell pretty much stole the show, and George Masswohl provided solid support as the continually appearing Kris. The biggest disappointment was Corey Sevier who was the major love interest but didn't say or do much of anything. He was always just staring googly-eyed at Busby and was basically just a bubble-brain. The other male love interest wasn't a whole lot better.

Kind of a head scratcher and somewhat of a lost opportunity.

I watched this movie the other day, and I have to admit I was not impressed.

Part of the problem may be that we watch so many of them, there is a natural tendency to compare them to others. If they were just stand alone movies, we might like them fine.

Part of the problem may be that it was a Cindy Busby movie. She's never been one of my favorites.

But I think the biggest problem for me was reducing Cory Sevier, so brilliant as the grinchy stroke victim in Noel Next Door, into a guy who just grins and says "Me too!" about 40 times.

The story about a road trip where two girls keep running into the same two guys and maybe Santa Claus was a little flimsy to say the least. Supporting cast was so-so, although the Santa and the pastor were good.

Others may enjoy this, I'm sure I'll get thumbs down, but for me it's a pass.