Tails of Christmas

I actually watched this a month ago, but I held off reviewing. Then I saw all the tens and thought I had the wrong movie.

No mistake.

Well, we're all entitled to our opinion. Mine is this movie is barely a five.

It stars Ash Tsai as a young woman who operates an animal shelter, and Eric Guilmette as an embittered veteran who begins volunteering there.

There's not a great deal of story here, but it is, unfortunately, one of those GAC movies in which the actors are stiff, wooden and amateurish...at times painfully so.

You really have to be able to get past that to watch some of these. Clearly several people did.

I can understand that. Ash Tsai was in another movie last year I gave a similar review and doubted I would watch it again. But I was wrong. I did watch it.

I don't see an Academy Award in her future, but she does have an appeal that's hard to describe, and an ever-present sweet smile that makes it ok that she's not yet a great actress.

Guilmmette was much the same. I have seen worse actors refine their craft and become very good, so I will hold out hope for both of them.

All in all not the best year for the Christmas movies, but GAC is getting there. In fact, I think I liked them better than Hallmark this year. First time for everything.

I don't know if it is director, the script or the actors but I felt I was watching the first table read. The leads were very attractive and had some chemistry but were very stiff and showed very little emotion. A good director should have been able to get more from them. Instead, they just stood looking at each other and recited their lines. The supporting actors performed better, probably due to the fact that they are more experienced actors. The animals were the best part of the movie. They made the movie more watchable. I am sixty six characters too short so I will just ask why I see some reviews that are only two or three lines? Ok, now I'm done.

The Tails of Christmas brings the warmth and spirit of the holiday season to life, beautifully exploring themes of healing, resilience, and love. Eric Guilmette stars as Caleb, an Army veteran facing the physical and emotional challenges of recovery. When he returns home and unexpectedly finds himself volunteering alongside Amber (Ash Tsai) at a local animal shelter, he rediscovers a sense of purpose and forms a connection that goes far beyond gratitude.

Guilmette's portrayal of Caleb is nothing short of transformative. With remarkable authenticity, he transitions from a man struggling with his past to someone rediscovering joy and fulfillment. Each emotion-from pain to hope-rings profoundly true, making Caleb's journey feel incredibly realistic and deeply moving.

With its blend of pets, holiday cheer, and an uplifting love story, The Tails of Christmas is far more than a romance. It's a heartwarming testament to second chances, reminding us that everyone deserves happiness and purpose, even after life's hardest moments. This genuine, feel-good movie is a must-watch, capturing the true essence of the holiday season.

Whilst doing physiotherapy Caleb meets Amber, who owns an animal shelter. A Year later, Caleb is all better, and happens to drive past Amber's shelter. Being unemployed, he offers to volunteer for her Christmas adoption drive.

With his love for dogs, Caleb manages to make her drive a huge success, and in the process he falls in love with Amber, and an adorable dog named Rex. This dog is so precious that he might just inspire you to adopt a dog yourself!

From a romance perspective, it is just as predictable as a Hallmark movie. I mean, from the moment Caleb and Amber met it is inevitable they would fall in love. But hey, this is a movie with a simple premise, and a real feel-good movie! 'Tails of Christmas' is perfect for a family movie night - especially around Christmas!

The acting wasn't the greatest. Ash Tsai, who portrays Amber, sounded like she was simply saying her lines. She might not be the best actress, but at least her voice is nice and clear and I could hear every word. Eric Guilmette was much better in the role of Caleb, but then again, he is a far more experienced actor. And he's darn cute, too!

The good: promoted shelter adoptions, and how taking the focus off yourself and helping others (including dogs and cats) help make you happier and cures loneliness. Story was well written, and flowed well.

The bad: only showed fluffy purebreds that look like they literally stepped out of fancy dog shows. I love that they promoted adoption, but wish they had shown actual lovable shelter dogs. While there are purebreds in shelters, you much more commonly see terrier breeds. Seniors, black dogs, and cats, Heinz 57s-- all who are just as adorable and lovable and need homes the most.

And as everyone else mentioned, while the actors were attractive and likable enough, they were not good actors. Not by a long stretch. It was watchable only because they seemed pleasant, but lacked any sort of emotion or acting abilities.

Conclusion: I had to give it a higher grade because I love any movie that features animals and presents the idea of adopting an animal from a shelter. This movie's writers's heart was in the right place.

Merry Christmas!