A Christmas Melody

6/10 - she might be able to sing, but Mariah Carey cannot act to save her life

If Mariah hadn't been in this movie I would have scored it higher. Her acting was poor and there were all these awkward close ups. Did they film half of her scenes later so she didn't have to spend too much time with the other actors? It was just bizarre and threw off the flow of the movie every time she was on. Otherwise a typical Hallmark Christmas movie. If Mariah would have stuck with directing and not acting on this, I probably would have scored it an 8 or 9.

Mariah Carey directs this Hallmark Channel Christmas romantic comedy. Single mother and fashion designer Lacey Chabert returns with her daughter to Silver Falls, Ohio. There are the usual crises, including Ms. Carey's evil PTA mom and Brennan Elliott as the music teacher who has had a crush on her since high school. In the end everything turns out fine.

Ms. Chabert is fine in her role with a couple of lovely small scenes and there is a big product placement for Folger's Coffee (perhaps this mention in the review will get me a few bucks from the Smucker company). There is also a big set piece musical number at the end, featuring Fina Strazza singing a club-music "Santa's Gonna Make It Right This Christmas" and Kevin Chamberlin plays a suspiciously knowledgeable and white-whiskered school janitor very nicely.

All in all, it turns into a typical Hallmark seasonable romcom in which the competent actors and crew do a good job, but very little extra is added.

Don't get me wrong, I love all Christmas shows, Mariah Carey and Lacey Chabert, but the closeups of Mariah were starting to freak me out. Was she pregnant while filming? That might make sense. Aside from the freaky head shots, I enjoyed this show.

I've followed Lacey in many, if not all, of the movies she has made for Hallmark and have enjoyed every one of them. Mariah's music worked well in this movie and it didn't disappoint. The young girl who played Emily was a cutie. I can't wait to see more of her on Hallmark in the future.

Although, the plots are the same on the Christmas shows, I don't mind and will continue watching the Hallmark channel for years to come.

Hallmark knows how to make the best Christmas movies. This is no exception. Apparently directed by Mariah Carey, I expected this to be disastrous but was very pleasantly surprised! Carey even had a role in the film, which was entertaining as I'm about 98 percent sure she intentionally tries to act as badly as she possibly can. No one can be that bad. No one. Also FOLGER'S CLASSIC ROAST.

Lacey Chabert plays Kristin, a single mother whose dreams of being a famous designer went up in smoke in Los Angeles. Admitting failure, she packs up herself and her daughter Emily and they drive back to Silver Falls, Ohio where she grew up. Although both struggled to adjust at the very beginning, they obviously overcome that thanks to the help of her Aunt Sarah and Danny, the cute music teacher who helps Emily break out of her shell.

Highlights:

• Hallmark has a knack of finding the best child actors to portray these kids and this one did not disappoint. Fina Strazza is a tremendous little actress and if she should choose to continue, will make a big name for herself someday.
• Brennan Elliott. I love him so much. I love any movie he is in.
• Always love Kathy Najimy! She plays the same offbeat kooky character she does in every film, but she does it well.
• FOLGER'S CLASSIC ROAST (kind of awesome how they didn't even attempt to make their product placement a tiny bit subtle)
• The Santa dancing scene. Who can't not smile while watching him?

As long as you aren't expecting an award-winning flick and just watch it for what it is, a heartwarming cheerful holiday movie, I think you'd be happy you watched it. Definitely recommend!