The Flight Before Christmas

Two people meet on a flight from LA back East. She has recently been dumped and he is an a long distance relationship. But of course romance ensues.

The dialog is a bit more interesting than the usual Christmas TV movie. There seems to be a subtle message about compatibility of personality over looks. " This is Mayim Bialik's movie. For fans of "Big Bang Theory" where she plays Amy Farrah Fowler - it's a treat to see her. Usually Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas movies don't feature lead romantic actresses who look like or are shaped like her. It's nice to see someone like her leading this type of movie. Ryan McPartlin of "Chuck" is a good enough comedic actor to make his role believable.

If you are going to watch one Xmas movie this year this is a good choice.

I've seen lots of people complain about this movie, about Mayim Bialik being too rude, sarcastic, ugly or prickly or whatever, but I love it. Women don't have to be blonde, optimistic and bubbly. This movie has a snarky and sarcastic female lead, and it really works. Sure, if you want the stereotypical christmas romance, this movie might not be for you. And if you can't deal with a woman being strong and sarcastic and maybe slightly awkward, feel free to skip this one. If a woman has to look a certain way to be a female lead, well I'm just sorry for you. Go and choose another movie. And maybe reexamine your life choices. Or go out and meet some real women. Merry Christmas, y'all. Merry Christmas.

Christmas films can go either way, which has been my experience watching overtime the festive output of Lifetime and Hallmark. They can either be well-meaning, charming, warm-hearted and don't feel too heavy. Or they can be too over-sentimental, cheesy, contrived and bland. There have been many films of theirs that have fallen in both camps and in the camp where there is a bit of both. And Lifetime's 'The Flight Before Christmas' did have the sort of premise where the execution could have gone either way.

'The Flight Before Christmas' for me unfortunately was in the latter category, and this is being said with regret. Have been pleasantly surprised by a lot of Christmas films overtime as part of my Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas film completest quest but 'The Flight Before Christmas' was not one of those films. Of the recently seen ones, it's one of the weaker ones. Is it terrible? No it isn't as it does have its good things. Unfortunately it was a flight that potentially could have charmed and soared but in reality sadly in my view never did take off.

Its best aspect is Ryan McPartlin, who is a very likeable male lead and brings a lot of ease and charm to his character. Jo Marie Payton and Reginald VelJohnson are fun in supporting roles, the latter's character is pretty preposterous but he gives his absolute all and makes the performance just about work.

Some of the music is quite pleasant.

However, 'The Flight Before Christmas' has a lot working against it. Mayim Bialik came over as miscast, her performance comes over as wooden and unenthusiastic and she lacks warmth. Also found Stephanie as a character very irritating and her flaws over the top in the first third particularly. There is no chemistry or spark between Bialik and McPartlin, too distant, too stiff and the relationship doesn't really go anywhere. The rest of the supporting cast don't stand out. The direction was mediocre at best and often pretty plodding and not very organised.

Other Lifetime Christmas films look a lot better than 'The Flight Before Christmas', which has a rather drab look and even the locations are quite limited. Some pleasant moments aside, the music could have been used less and been more subtle. The script is heavy in cheese and awkwardness and is also very cloying, while the story tends to be uneventful and is lacking in charm and heart. So pretty dull and bland.

Concluding, very weak and doesn't get off the ground. 3/10.

I am not fan of Christmas romance films. But this movie could be a reasonable exception. For the story who tries to be little more complex than many other pink Hallmark products from the same genre. For charming couple created by Jo Marie Payton and Reginald VelJohnson. And, sure for the contrast, very smart, between Mayim Malik in the clothes of Ugly Duck and Ryan McPartlin in the shield of a mix of Clark Kent and sophisticated Prince Charming. The result is nice , the story is seductive for the risk of director to propose a not ordinary story , not so different but nuanced. Short, a good cocktail of romance, humor and the right choice.

I will give this movie credit for having maybe one of the most horrible breakups ever, making Stephanie "homeless".

I would also say that the story premise was somewhat unusual except that Hallmark had the exact same premise the same year as this movie. Still those are the only two movies I've seen with it out of hundreds I've watched.

But beyond the premise, the story was not good. And the dialogue was also bad. I especially hated the heart to heart conversations each of the leads had with the innkeepers. And in the first 1/3rd of the movie, Stephanie was so annoying, crabby, and rude, that I wanted to shut off the movie. Her behavior ran deeper than just a bad breakup. Then suddenly she was empathetic and caring.

Mayim Bialik has so much experience but in this movie she delivered her lines like an amateur. It looked like she was trying too hard. Ryan McPartlin was better but there was still no chemistry between them and certainly no reason for him to do what he did. Reginald VelJohnson and Jo Marie Payton were also bad. Again it was like they were trying too hard. Perhaps it was the direction that made it look the same for all of them.