Christmas in Scotland

Christmas In Scotland (2023) -

This was a film that tried to show the difference between the cultures on the opposite sides of the pond, but ultimately it just made the Scottish people look stupid and backwards and it didn't do much for the Americans either.

I think it's rare that the U. S. companies making a Christmas film in the U. K. do them very well and this one was more proof of that theory. It's like they don't know how to direct Brits and don't even think about utilising someone that knows what life is actually like over here or how we really behave. In some ways it feels as if the American style of filming rubs the wrong way against our British way.

The story had a lot of similarities to a number of mixed nationality seasonal films, but especially 'A Yorkshire Christmas/A Very British Christmas' (2019), however the leading actor, Mark Killeen was at least hot in that one and the leading lady had an appeal and heart.

In fact the acting in this film was generally terrible.

Jill Winternitz seemed pretty ineffectual as the lead Emma and the Scottish Dominic Watters was not appealing in his role of Alex. His grumpy character made it a struggle to believe that he would ever mellow or change, even for love.

Also, Emma's Dad, Mike (Toby Rolt) was incredibly extreme! I don't know anybody that talks like that, except when they're taking the mickey out of William Shatner. And the first boyfriend Brad (Adam Bond) was more than a bit creepy. He must have paid a lot for the photos on his IMDB page, that's all I can say.

Also, my Sister is actually a Laird, because she bought a square foot of land in Scotland, so I'm not sure that being a Laird actually has as much power anymore, as it was shown here.

I did give up on this film in the end, because I just couldn't put myself through another one that was going to annoy me. I was riled up very early on and I don't need to do that to myself.

Unscored as Unfinished.

As 1 reviewer noted, most of these cheap rom/com films are made by Canadians, Reel One & Hallmark. The only American influence in most is just cash. There is 1 reviewer from Canada bashing Americans for this film, what a joke - look in the mirror buddy.

Don't blame Americans for another crappy portrayal of someone from New York to save the day in Scotland or any other country they visit, it feels like the Canadians who put out this trash are trying to make Americans look bad, while ignoring their own ineptitude.

As someone who lived in Scotland, Edzell, I agree with most of the comments. I can't stand the way these films always have a know-it-all city female character who is smarter than all the small town locals, whether it's Scotland or Kentucky.

Scottish person here. Unfortunately this nonsense is just a load of hokey drivel. The storyline is the usual - woman meets guy from a posh family then changes the (long ignored) local Christmas celebrations into something 'new and exciting'....except they're not. Unfortunately the two lead actors aren't particularly charismatic. I doubt anyone cared whether they fell in love, or not.

You can't just film a few old fashioned locations and pretend they're interesting. I suppose the Americans who made this guff think it's quaint. It's not. It's just boring. There's no warmth or excitement. All very predictable.

I'm always very apprehensive about US movie makers doing UK-set movies as they are never very accurate. This one does have some British actors, which makes a real difference. There could be more use of Scottish landscape / locations to have better impact. Whilst I have some niggles with the detail, I totally empathise with the multi-generation juggle - there's a good mix of ages, and it's nice to have the young niece rather than yet another bereaved kid and widow(er) situation. With several characters over 50, I won't grow out it like others so would watch again. If you want more about Lairds, watch the UK-made Monarch of the Glen.

A beautiful location in Scotland, but it can't make up for another garbage script from Reel One Entertainment. Their motto is "Quantity over Quality", they just keep churning them out from January to December. A good movie starts with a good script, but that's not a priority for Reel One.

If their writers want to learn something, 2021's movie "A Castle for Christmas" starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes worked because the script was good, along with the acting. It was funny and had some dramatic moments. Hallmark's 2023 "A Merry Scottish Christmas" didn't work as well, but it's still better than this Reel One disaster.

There were some good actors like Lewis Howden, among the leads Watters was much better than Winternitz.