Haul Out the Holly

Lacey Chabert is one of our favorites, so we looked forward to this. We're not the only big fans ... that's why they made her their new spokesperson for Christmas movies after other stars signed with GAF.

However, this movie just annoyed me from start to finish. The writers went for zany and quirky and slapstick. Three swings, three misses.

The HOA part of the plot seemed overbearing and intrusive and ALWAYS over the top. The movie wasn't full of "Christmas spirit", but anti-social, antagonistic, controlling neighbors I might have been driven to burn out.

I was ready to bag it by the "set up the reindeer" scene, but my wife held on to desperate hope for improvement for somewhat longer. A few minutes later, she succumbed to the desire to stop the pain.

This was a disaster. They tried to do Christmas comedy with romance but failed. This is a story about a woman played by Lacey Chabert hallmark house name who isn't the most Christmas cheerleader going back home to a place that is all Christmas joy. This was supposed to be a movie about finding the joy and happiness of Christmas. But instead it became unbearable to watch. All the characters were over the top cliche that were too annoying. It wasn't funny or magical . They tried to do romance story but it didn't work. I love the actor another hallmark actor but the character was as annoying as everyone else in this movie.

This could have worked better but when most of the characters including the awful parents are annoying there is nothing to make you enjoy the movie.

There is a little thing that I noticed. I think I saw Lisa Chabert Wearing the same white sweater in a Christmas movie before. Look in "Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas" from last year. It's the same.

Watching this as I'm searching to buy a home & this movie reinforces,my hate for HOA or similar associations.

Imagine paying a mortgage/owning a home & dealing with a person or association,way more annoying than a landlord.

No thanks! Why do people choose this? Unless an association is formed after your an owner,but still why agree to such things.

Being ticketed for holiday standards not being followed? This movie actually gave me anxiety,wasn't almost anything cute about it.

Look at Naughty or Nice & even Christmas with the Kranks,dealt with neighbor issues but in a comedic way.. This movie went in an unhealthy direction,calling it satire still doesn't excuse it.

Oh sure many feel an HOA is useful from preventing nearby Sandford & Son type homes,but bullying a person that doesn't follow Stepford protocol is ridiculous.. I have ran across many HOA communities that only allow D. I. N. K-Double Income No Kid,that's a whole other level of crazy to avoid.

Sure it was a bit different storyline & acting like the houses over the top,but nothing worth watching again.

Casting was ok & cinematography,is always decent.

Lacey and Wes did a really good job with the script they were given but there was just no way to save this monstrosity. The writer, Andy Sandberg, created a mess that never should've seen the light of day and yet someone produced it anyway.

To think that this movie is supposed to be family friendly only makes it so much worse. People with children are watching this disaster!

The whole movie is based on super intense peer pressure and a total disregard for the leading character's boundaries. The lead is constantly pressured, to the point where I'd call it harassment, to participate in over-the-top Christmas events which are blatantly labelled as obligations. I'm normally not so bothered about movies skirting the lines of moral but this one is just too appaling.

The very obviously fake snow and perfectly round fake snowpeople fit perfectly with the supporting characters who are all in desperate need of a psychiatrist. And let's not forget the immature love interest. The movie starts out with "Emily" dumping her manchild jerk boyfriend, only to meet another annoying grown baby who has absolutely no regards for her boundaries.

The very worst part is that none of these trainwreck characters ever change, they all stay just as obnoxious, tacky, and invasive to the very end. But hey, it's Christmas so let's just cheer for the message this movies sends...

Haul Out The Holly was funny and enjoyable for the whole family to watch together! Lacey and Wes were great together (funny, great chemistry and banter!) and the supporting cast added so much to the movie. The two surprise cameos were an added bonus! My only critique would be that I wish they let Melissa Peterman go full out funny. She was hilarious in Reba and Baby Daddy and with the Haul Out The Holly storyline, Melissa's trademark full out funny would've fit in well. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and think the change up with Haul Out The Holly and Three Wise Men and a Baby storylines worked very well for Hallmark this year!