captainrailroad

Throughly enjoyable. Like prior roles in Hallmark Christmas movies "Royal Nanny" (MI 5 agent) and "Christmas Island" (Commercial airline pilot), Skarsten is now a character right out of Hitchcock's classic "North by Northwest": Rather than Cary Grant it is now her character that through mistaken identity becomes involved in a complicated plot to prevent a jewelry heist. With scenes that recall "Diehard" and "Mission Impossible I" from years ago "Christmas Charade" is a delightful romp in the "this is fun to watch" genre regardless of whether Karsten could really slide down a rope suspended from the overhead ceiling. If Tom Cruise can do it...push the "I believe" button and so can Rachel. I still have "Royal Nanny" and "Christmas Island" on my DVR...and "Christmas Charade" is now added to my "watch again" collection of Christmas movies.

Found this movie in a stack of "to be watched" DVDs. I did, and found it worth the time. While billed as a remake of the Pam Grier-Roger Corman 70s classic, it's much different in many aspects, particularly the escape from The Arena.

I found the "Extras" as interesting as the movie itself. Both principal women were interviewed and revealed many interesting aspects of filming in Russia. Lisa Dergan's lengthy narative was particularly interesting, in dealing with Russia's climate and terrain (the movie was filmed in Russia), drunk Russian actors (vodka), a buff male gladiator who told her, in the clenches, that he was gay, and the Russian health care system (not). (Lesson learned: Get to an American health faculty if injured; Russian "care" (sic) can be as dangerous as the injury itself.)

Both Durgan and McDougal discussed the process from going from a Playboy playmate to being featured in a movie; very Interesting.

Of note, the cover for the DVD is deceiving. When the crew returned to LA the women were fitted out in the bikini outfits shown in the cover image. In the movie itself both women are dressed far more appropriately in gladiator outfits, particularly Dergan's right arm in armor which was heavy and difficult to wield over multiple sword clashes with her female opponent (McDougal) and multiple male Romans at the end.

Both women expressed disappointment that more of their "fights" were not depicted on screen, a legitimate ciriticism. The training was exhausting and the steel swords heavy. Unfortunately, most of the scenes were edited to an almost incoherent "flash" depiction. Both women would have benefited from a Ridley Scott treatment of gladiator combat in The Arena. (A director with a "Thelma and Louise" perspective would have been of value here.)

Bottom line: Worth getting a DVD copy and watching both the movie and the extras.

A noted departure for this season's multiple Christmas movies. The Arizona locale was different (regardless of where it was actually filmed) and the family issues were also much different than normal plot lines in these Christmas movies. I liked the focus on ranch work and the reality that it's not everyone's favorite way of making a living.

The "sensual" scene was quick (lots left to your imagination as it should be for a Christmas movie) but contributed to the raw feelings at the end that had to be resolved. Along with Hallmark's "The Royal Nanny" and its connection with MI5 I find the unusual plot lines of these types of Christmas movies interesting and worth watching again.