Aisle Be Home for Christmas

My title says it all. We have six people trapped in a store by a snowstorm. The biggest surprise was John Richardson, who went by Jay Richardson for years while he did movies and series aired primarily on the now departed late night Skinemax programming. He's a good actor with some comedic skills, none of which are used in this film.

We might not want to call it a film. Like many of the GAF productions, it looks to have been shot on tape, not film, giving it that TV look instead of the film look you'll see in Hallmark movies.

I was tempted to give this 3 stars instead of 4, but it wasn't really bad, it just wasn't interesting. Dare I say I looked forward to the commercial breaks, because they actually had some life in them. The story of this film and its scenes are as flat as a squashed bug on the driveway.

I see so many other people saying they know the lead actress and she's so great. I've never seen her before and my first impression is that she's the worst actor in this movie. The acting by everyone is just awful. This movie feels like an amateur high school project. The actors are just saying lines; there's no emotion in their voices or facial expressions.

The story has so much potential, but it just doesn't go anywhere. There are so many unbelievable scenarios and the actors contradict themselves. The owner complains that they can't open and use all her stock, but then she's the first one to start doing just that. If the male lead complained about about not having cell service one more time, I was going to scream!

I really wanted to like this movie. The plot had so many possibilities. Unfortunately bad writing, terrible acting, and bad directing ruined it. Terrible dialogue, actions that made zero sense, timing that was impossible (an hours long white out snowstorm that traps them all night in a store, then just because it stops they can "leave the store soon" , like there won't be piles of snow that will take a long time to clear?), and the list goes on.

The one decent actor was the older gentleman who played "Coach". I made myself watch the whole thing, but honestly I have that "well that's two hours of my life I'll never get back " feeling. So do yourself a favor and don't waste two hours of your time watching.

There isn't really a story. 6 people are trapped in a super store during a blizzard. Two of them are a couple reuniting after he was a way for years. There aren't many details, but they had been a couple and parted after school. Much of the movie is devoted to them reconnecting. What story there is doesn't have much in the way of highs or lows or surprises.

The movie is more about exploring choices, feelings, what might have been, what could be, and friendships.

The characters all have positive points. For me, Drew was the least appealing character. The tone of the movie is mostly upbeat and there isn't much tension.

The set is the store. There are occasional exterior storm shots that are obviously not real but some sort of miniature. There is one ridiculous shot of a car with what appears to be about a foot of snow on the roof but not on the rest of the car while the blizzard blows furiously. As is often the case on this network (GAF), the background music is often noticeable and therefore distracting.

The acting is fair to good.

Garrett Alexander Watson and Jennifer Freeman deliver in 'Aisle Be Home for Christmas'

By Markos PapadatosPublished December 23, 2022

Actors Garrett Alexander Watson and Jennifer Freeman deliver in the new original holiday movie "Aisle Be Home for Christmas." It premiered on December 17 on the new TV network Great American Family. In "Aisle Be Home for Christmas," two exes finally reconnect when a snowstorm leaves them stranded in a superstore (without cell service or Wi-Fi) just before Christmas. Watson stars as Drew opposite Jennifer Freeman, who plays Michelle.

The film has a sweet message to it, and it is feel-good and touching. Garrett Alexander Watson and seasoned rom-com veteran Jennifer Freeman triumph in their lead roles, and they leave the audience wanting more. There is something in it for the entire family. Well done.

Hopefully, this is a harbinger of more great things to come for Garrett Alexander Watson in the acting world in the future.