Four Christmases and a Wedding

Arielle Kebbel starred in one of my favorite Christmas movies, A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS (2012), so I was excited to watch this one. Unfortunately this one did not have the depth of story, emotion and great humor. It was a good movie. It was great to see the forever young Markie Post (Night Court) as her mom. The story tried to cover 4 years of Christmas and the 1st year when they met was rushed a bit (this hurt the emotional connection with me as the audience). Also the little girl really didn't get bigger over the time period. I loved how the dog was part of their story. Hope Arielle continues to make Christmas movies.

The premise for this movie is a little different but not unique. Chloe only gets to see her "one" at Christmastime every year, and every year there is something keeping them apart after Christmas. This movie also uses the rival girlfriend and the rival boyfriend plot device, but not exactly in the usual way. I felt the movie was stretched too long without enough interesting and new content. The ending was especially too stretched out.

The other big reason I didn't enjoy this movie is a combination of feeling really bad for Ted and the movie's over-obsession with "waiting for the one". Ted is presented as much more likeable than most rival boyfriends. But Chloe obsesses for years over a man she has only spent a few hours with. I could go into more detail but that ventures into spoiler territory.

Arielle Kebbel seems to be coasting in the role of Chloe. And Chloe starts to be a little annoying in her indecision. Corey Sevier, as Evan, seems to do a better job. But is there chemistry? They certainly hit it off the first Christmas, but Evan has a job in Oslo and has to leave. If they hit it off so well, why is there no contact during the year. We have video chat technology now (which is actually used with Chloe and her mom). I bring up chemistry - in the succeeding years there is something more immediate in their way and the chemistry has disappeared. It has been replaced by mind-numbing preoccupation. I thought the movie just became sad or even pitiful after the first Christmas.

Markie Post makes a good mom, but she and Judge Reinhold overact a bit. Cassidy Nugent as the little girl is fine, but she never grows up even as years pass.

Many viewers will be happy to overlook the problems I mention, and if that's the case, you will probably enjoy the movie as much as any in this genre.

What the hell happened to Judge Rienhold? He was never a looker, but that face is just. . . ? He actually doesn't feature that much though so it's ok.

This film isn't too bad, that is to say, that I didn't rush to turn it off, but I didn't find myself glued to it either. It has a similar concept to 'Love At The Christmas Table' in the way that the events span many years and each year brings another problem to prevent them getting together.

I am not usually a fan of the male lead, Corey Sevier, but he seems to have found his fit in this one. The rest of the cast are all fine too.

It has a nice seasonal vibe centred around a Christmas fair and the romance is cute.

I think I may have become a bit numb to these films as I've seen at least 150 since just before December and that is why this one doesn't wow me, but we will see as I still have about another 60 to watch.

I thought the plot was more clever than most Christmas movies. The acting was surprisingly good across the board. The lead actress, Arielle Kebbel, was delightful and charming. I also loved that she was constantly eating during the scenes! It was a special treat to see Markie Post and Judge Reinhold on the screen. I also liked all the establishing shots featuring real snow scenes--that helped keep the movie cold and Christmas-y. I also liked that the movie continued for 5 minutes past the "normal ending" of a Christmas movie. Overall very enjoyable.

A very bad representation of Norwegians and Swedes. Using an Australian actor with an Eastern European accent dosen't cut it.