Merry Ex-Mas

Nonsensical story full of ridiculous situations that weren't funny. Inane dialogue that isn't the least bit funny. Universally bad acting. It seemed like the actors were merely coasting. Inconsistent half-effort Irish accent.

Even if all of that weren't true, the movie fails in one of the most important aspects to an enjoyable Christmas/romance movie - none of the characters were particularly likeable, not even the protagonists.

Other than being a deadline and some snowy weather, Christmas wasn't even a factor.

This sounds like a sour-grapes review, but it's not. Bear in mind that I have reviewed over 1,000 movies, the vast majority Christmas and/or romance. I happen to like Kristy Swanson most of the time.

Reasons not to watch it: 1) The screenplay sounds like it was written by a child. The consistent repetition of lines... OMG, did my head in! 2) Not one good spirited aspect to the storyline. In direct conflict with all central Christmas themes/messages 3) The most appalling acting ever 4) One and a half hours you'll never get back....

How did such a good cast make such an awful movie? No only did I not care about the characters, I actually disliked everyone of them. There is also what could possibly be the most dreadful Irish accent I have ever heard (yes it IS worse than Brad Pitt's in Snatch) The scene where the obnoxious brat of a daughter is eating crisps with her mouth open made me want to slap her. Such a shame there is no zero star option, this film is dreadful. On the plus side, the driver of the limo was nice.

My advice would be Don't Bother!

OK--it's true, this is one of the worst Christmas TV movies ever-- HOWEVER--you need to watch it because it boasts a hilarious supporting performance by Jodi Lyn O' Keefe. She is crazy good in EVERY scene she is in, playing a self-absorbed lawyer who is so over the top awful we end up loving her despite her deplorable nature. In fact, she is one of the only characters in the story that rings true--she never lets up, doesn't "get all gooey at the end because it's Christmas". I will not even mention the story, because it's incredibly bad, and only Ernie Hudson provides any hint of enthusiasm for his role. It's all Jodi here- you have to see her crummy yet cute character to believe it. The producers should make a sequel of sorts, a better movie using her bad Amanda character here--just don't have her go all good in the end, please.

So, going in I had no idea about this movie, but we gave it a shot anyway.

The acting is, well... goofy. But I think it's _deliberately_ goofy and campy, to an extent. This movie is really not meant to be taken too seriously.

Once we realized that, we actually enjoyed some of the bizarre moments they threw in there. The lawyer's strange family, the clerk at the shop ordering pizza, etc. I mean, there are so many totally random, bizarre little nuggets of humor that we were laughing in spite of everything else.

Even the terrible Irish accents (that I couldn't quite place at first... I thought it was just a really thick Canadian accent, but then it kept changing the more the movie went on).

So, just sit back and chill and be ready for one heck of a strange ride.