Christmas on 5th Avenue

It's been a long time since I've been moved enough to write a review, but wow. The trope of a grump/grinch/beast being tamed by a sweet Belle character is not new. Usually, there is growth along to way to make it believable, a softening of the edges or a wearing down of a tough exterior.

At first, it seemed like we were going to get that, but it's as if it all fell away towards the end. I don't want to give too much away, but I haven't felt this let down by a movie in years.

Adding to that, he gives authors (especially ones of crime fiction) a bad name. They do not all see only the negative. He was just wholly unlikeable up until breaking her heart, which made him hate-able.

Eva (Kathryn Davis) runs a concierge business. She is given an assignment by a favorite client to decorate her son's NYC condo for Christmas to pick up his spirits, his wife died 3 years ago on Christmas day. Eva was going to stay at the condo since the son, Lucas (Oliver Renaud), was in Vermont and wouldn't be in NYC until Christmas, however, unbeknownst to the mother, Lucas had already returned to the NYC condo. Since Eva has no place to go, Lucas agrees to let her stay in the guest room. Eva is a Pollyanna type of person with a sunny and optimistic disposition, while Lucas is a pessimistic, recluse, a cold hearted writer, two opposites living in the same place. The plot takes us on a journey of how the two very different personalities impact each other.

Kathryn Davis is one of my favorite Hallmark female actors, she plays the role of Eva with a sparkling positive personality PERFECTLY! Some have criticized Oliver Renaud's performance saying he was too cold and stiff. However, that is EXACTLY how the character of Lucas was written in the script, at the beginning we see a depressed recluse, and the viewer watches Luca's character change and his feelings for Eva grow. I think Oliver did an excellent job portraying Lucas's transformation. The only complaint I had was toward the end of the movie when Lucas starts to reveal his feelings for Eva, and all of a sudden she does a 360 change in her personality and seems to blame her lack of understanding and experiencing what true love really is on Lucas! She also seems to suddenly forget all the nice things he's done for her. It was like they switched personalities, and was an awkward moment in the script. (perhaps it was Hallmark's set formula of incorporating their usual "conflict" which didnt work in this case since it was too much out of character for Eva.) But overall, this was an enjoyable romantic Christmas movie.

7.3 stars.

The story begins with a woman named Eva who helps people improve their lives. She takes on a challenge to spruce up a very rich author's Manhattan apartment for the holidays. She discovers there is more depth to this man than at first, and he's not the scrooge that he appears to be. The rest of the story is about how she helps Lucas find happiness, and he fills the hole she's had in her hopelessly romantic heart. The theme is about finding happiness with the people in our lives no matter who they seem to be or what station they currently hold. We bring our genuine self to the table and that's how true love is revealed to us.

The film has a lot of slow moments and takes its time delivering the goods. I stuck with it in the hopes that I'd be blessed by something and I wasn't disappointed, however you must be patient with 'Christmas on 5th Avenue' because the gems don't show up until the last 30 minutes.

Christmas On 5th Avenue (2021)-

I find it unlikely that he would agree to her staying at his house. I know that I would be furious if someone interrupted my "Special alone time". And her arguments to stay would not persuade me even if I thought that she was attractive. Furthermore I would have to ask her to leave as soon as I realised just how hyperactive and "Always On" she was.

I'd rather let the creative juices flow my way without her, instead of this barrage of Christmas from a crazy lady. And I love Christmas!

Olivier Renaud is gorgeous, a great leading man and that bottom is desperately trying to break free from those trousers, what a beaut. He deserved better support all around.

That Christmas tree however is awful, what a twig!? Why do they let the props people get away with this?

Some of the other actors are terrible and the sets quite questionable, especially the theatre balcony.

It's not a bad story, but it's hard to believe how it all begins. It puts me in mind of "Trading Christmas" (2011), which I actually enjoy, but I might have turned this one off if it hadn't been for Oliver, his effortless acting and his tight trousers.

7ish/10?

Eva runs a concierge business and is very busy during Christmas. When one of her most important customers offers her her son's penthouse to live in while he is in Vermont in exchange for decorating and filling his freezer with home-cooked food, she jumps at the chance. But surprise surprise, the grieving reclusive best-selling author shows up unexpectedly. Romance and reclamation insue.

I'm in the minority in thinking Olivier Renaud's performance as Lucas was right on the money. He was supposed to be a cold fish, harsh, and stiff. Eva was so perky and sunny that it made a nice contrast and upped the chemistry between them. When he finally did warm up, it made it all the more affecting.