Ma petite entreprise de Noël

Film historians of the future will no doubt teach seminars on the impact of the Canadian film factory (heavily taxpayer subsidized) on the content circulating through north America from approximately 1985 onwards.

Hollywood bluebloods hate the Canuck film machine because it takes food off the table. But, based on a lower dollar, the Canadians have found multiple "niches" where year after year they can slip almost-generic content into the maw, each one virtually into profit the moment the film leaves the camera because of the lower costs.

Some 90% of the movies that flood the airways around X-mas, in particular, are of this origin and most Americans don't have a clue.

This film is unusual for two reasons. Behind the camera is David Perlmutter who has been a Canuck film producer since the 80s and is by no definition a Johnny Come Lately.

And in front of the camera we have Shenae Grimes-Beech, an actress possessed of enough charisma for two leading ladies. She carries this film on her back and in the many areas where the script fails, or the casting of the extras (all too-familiar Canadian faces) fails, or the set design fails (the "toy factory" looks like an empty warehouse with a cheap sign installed at very the last minute) she simply cracks a smile and the audience decides to stick with the film for a few moments longer.

Finally and for the benefit of newbies to these sorts of films, a "6" rating is veritably an Oscar nod for such a film. I have seen worse.

Although the title of the film was one of those cute but very corny titles and the premise did sound like very familiar ground, part of me was still intrigued into seeing 'Christmas Incorporated'. Due to liking enough of Hallmark's Christmas efforts, which in terms of overall quality when it comes to their overall output is a very mixed bag. Also have seen Steve Lund in other things and he strikes me as not being bad at all as an actor and tending to be one of the better aspects of what he stars or features in.

'Christmas Incorporated' is not one of the best Hallmark Christmas, with there being too many big flaws. It is also not one of the worst, as it does have some quite big good things too. Ranking it, 'Christmas Incorporated' is somewhere around low middle and one of those films that is like what the title and plot synopsis indicate. Not terrible by any stretch, better than what has been indicated by some here despite sharing some of their criticisms, but nothing special really at all.

It looks quite good, very nicely photographed with not too drab a look. There are some sweet, mildly amusing and light-hearted moments here and there, as well as some nice parts in the music.

Lund is a likeable leading man, the character does not sound pleasant at all on paper at first but the character is actually easier to endear than the main character which is saying a lot. The other cast standout is Hannah Spear, a delight in a relatably amusing and resourceful sort of role. Jane Moffat was also quite good.

Was a bit mixed though on Shenae Grimes-Beech, who gets better as the film progresses and has more charm and subtlety. But to begin with her over-eagerness felt very over-played and it was a bit annoying, actually found Riley a character that took time to warm to. She could have had more chemistry with Lund, which wasn't non-existent but could have done with more spark. The locations can be limited and quite cheap, was expecting the toy factory to have more wonder. The music has moments but like too many Hallmark festive films it can be too over-scored and intrusive.

The script can be very awkward and cheesy, with its fair share of mush, and the direction is workmanlike but lacks urgency so the film can feel dull. The premise was a familiar-ground one, given very by-the-numbers and formulaic (to the extent that everything is telegraphed very obviously too early) execution. It could have done with a lot more charm, heart and the Christmas spirit is missing. The supporting turns are variable, good with Spear and Moffat but forgettable at best with the others, while the characters are the kind that don't grate as such generally but don't have enough distinction.

Concluding, okay but not much more than that. 4/10

Christmas Incorporated was my introduction to Steve Lund and it made me want to see more of his work. Hallmark movies tend to be predictable but I really enjoyed this one. I highly recommend it.

6.0 stars.

I'm not sure how anyone could have ignored the awkward and mismatched relationship and dialogue between the leads, which was most difficult to watch. I figured it was a fluke at first, but it continued and continued and continued. They are not synchronized at all.

His acting style seemed very forced, maybe because he was uncomfortable with the part, or he was actually so infatuated with her in real life that he couldn't contain his angst. Additionally, she was bland and uninterested, and as a result totally uninteresting. Near the end they are attempting to express feelings and moments that never existed. It's a very strange experience watching them push a romance that just isn't there.

The grinch reporter was very easy to loathe, and it was nice to have an antagonist for once that we could sink our teeth into (not in the usual positive sense).

I give it 6.0 stars instead of 5.0 because the story was well done, saving a town, saving a man's boyhood joy of Christmas, the portrayal of a very intelligent and capable executive assistant... these qualities of the film were flawless, but could not capably carry the dead weight.

The plot was of course unoriginal, but so are 95% of these Hallmarks, and many of them pass my litmus test of re-watchability. 'Christmas Incorporated' deplorably failed.

Sure, it was corny and formulaic, but that's exactly what I love about Hallmark movies. They're clean, have mild religious overtones, no sex, maybe just a kiss at the end. Riley talks about her family attending Midnight Mass. Love that. I believe people crave these types of movies rather than Hollywood filth with their obligatory premarital sex scenes.

Riley is an appealing character, and she carried the film She's a little tart, not too mushy, not too gorgeous, but a nice down-to- earth girl you'd love for her to invite you to her parents' home for Christmas. The male lead wasn't as strong. The story wasn't all that strong, but I don't care. I liked it, and wanted to watch it until the end.