Double Holiday

Rebecca (Carly Pope) and Chris (Kristoffer Polaha), while vying for the same promotion, are forced to work together to organise the company's Christmas party, where they will be courting a potentially large client. Through this they learn more about each other and their very different celebrations - she learns more about Christmas and he learns all about Hanukkah. Very nice film whisked along by a slightly different story, a nice variety of locations, and their great chemistry.

I wasn't sure about this film to start with. I think it was because I didn't fancy the lead male this time, but rather the spare instead. However, as the film developed, the lead grew on me and actually has a very natural way of acting. The rest of the cast do a good job too.

The story is sweet and full of Christmassy things, morals and romance, but what separates it from others is the fact that it takes the time to acknowledge Hanukkah at the as well. We say Happy Holidays, but for most of us I think we still associate that with Christmas, so it's nice to see the blending of the two in this film. After all, there must be hundreds of families out there that celebrate both or even just those that want to see themselves represented.

A nice story no matter what you celebrate.

Obviously the two opposites working together thing has been done before, and of course they learn their counterpart is nothing like they thought. That being said, the leads were incredibly likable and believable. I also truly appreciated the celebration of Hanukkah throughout the movie. The lead's family seemed loud but realistic and they truly added rather than being a distraction.

This was predictable as usually but I felt it was well written. Casting was also well done. Sure they exaggerated Hanukkah but they do that with Christmas all the time. I love a movie that has values and this movie has it in many different areas. This movie was heart felt and I enjoyed it but if I could I would have given this movie a 6.8 to be consistent with all my other ratings. It's better than a 6. Well 7 it is because of it being a little differently written than most Hallmark movies. Definitely worth watching.

2019 was a very mixed year for Hallmark when it came to their Christmas output, most being in the average and less bracket. There were winners such as 'Two Turtle Doves', 'The Christmas Club' and 'Holiday Hearts'. There were also misfires like 'A Cheerful Christmas', 'Christmas Scavenger Hunt' and 'Christmas at Dollywood'. The premise for 'Double Holiday' sounded appetising and seeing it positively reviewed by some that can be critical of Hallmark's Christmas offerings added to the intrigue.

'Double Holiday' in my mind deserves the praise it's garnered here, or at least most of it. It more than lives up to the promise it had and is easily one of the best Hallmark Christmas films from that year. Absolutely loved the idea and that it was a celebration of both Christmas and Hannukah, something different back then for Hallmark, done in a tasteful and affectionate way. Hallmark have done this combination a few times since and with equal effectiveness. Great to see Kristoffer Polaha again, it's been a while.

Is 'Double Holiday' perfect? Not quite. The change of heart about a character is too rushed and out of the blue, really didn't buy how someone could convert to such a polar opposite opinion so quickly and easily. Which led to an ending that felt too neat.

Especially considering the amount of hostility there was earlier, which for my tastes was a little overdone.

However, 'Double Holiday' has so much to recommend. The production values still manage to be pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. The music is pleasantly nostalgic and is not over-used or constant, the latter of which is the case with a lot of Hallmark Christmas films. The direction is accommodating without going too far in that it becomes pedestrian instead.

Furthermore, the script quality is better than most 2019 Hallmark Christmas films, where a vast majority were either all the way through cheesy and stilted or a case of starting off very ropey and then got better. The script here is playful and heart-warming and the flow isn't awkward. The story is light-hearted and really warms the heart without going into over-saccharine territory, and doesn't follow the more of the same formula seen in the vast majority of Hallmark's films.

On the most part, the characters were interesting and easy to like, with the only reservations being Polaha's character being a little too hostile to begin with and the unrealistic change of heart. Polaha and Carly Pope are likeable leads, especially Polaha, and their chemistry once it warms up and becomes warmer is genuine and doesn't look ill at ease.

In conclusion, nice film. 7/10.