La Mélodie de Noël

'Sound of Christmas' surprised me and in a good, pleasant way. It is one of those films that could have gone either way of charming and light-hearted or cheesy and too schmaltzy, and on the most part it was the former. While the title is a corny one, it is also catchy and while the premise is very typical Hallmark it did intrigue. Both Lindy Booth and Robin Dunne have been good in other things, though the filmographies for both of them are very variable.

The film is no masterpiece or a film that will win any major awards, then again neither of those should be expected watching a Hallmark Christmas film. 'Sound of Christmas' though is still very charming and has plenty to like and be engaged by. Proof that Hallmark should be given a chance without prejudice or scorn, in my mind they are by some, because there have been times where they show they have a good film in them and 'Sound of Christmas' is one of them definitely.

By all means, 'Sound of Christmas' has its issues. It doesn't do much new with a very familiar formula so the final third especially is very predictable. A primary example being the fairly rushed and too neat ending, a common problem with Hallmark and especially their Christmas output.

Actually do think personally that some of the music felt repetitive and could have been used less. Some of the dialogue is pretty corny early on.

However, both Booth and Dunne give very engaging performances, Booth is a ray of sunshine and to me she didn't overdo anything (other female leading ladies for Hallmark have fared far worse than this) and Dunne has a natural charisma and charm. Both characters are easy to get behind, or at least to me they were, with flaws not being overdone and neither character is too perfect either. Their chemistry sparkles and the relationship develops realistically, there is conflict early on instead of the out of the blue contrived misunderstandings that are seen a lot but the conflict doesn't go on for too long. The supporting cast support them very nicely.

Furthermore, 'Sound of Christmas' is a lovely looking film, particularly the photography, and enough of the music is fitting with the atmosphere and more subtle in placement and tone than a lot of Hallmark Christmas films, that are known for intrusive music. The dialogue has some corn early on but takes itself more seriously than most Hallmark films, with some welcome levity here and there, without being overly so and it has flow and heart. The story is somewhat formulaic, but is very heart-warming and sincere.

Concluding, nice film. 7/10.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST ABOUT THEM.

Not a bad movie but nothing to brag about. There is not a scene in this film that has been done in other films and done better. This film steel from old Hollywood Movies as well as more current films.

In this film: During the Christmas season a high school music teacher is hired by a handsome widower to give music lessons to his teenage daughters. Their lives are turned around for the better as the family grows closer and learns the importance of love, friendship and the meaning of Christmas

There is no major ground breaking moments here. There is also nothing too special. The actors are fine and they do their best with a pedestrian script.

Now this film is worth watching but as soon as its over you will not remember anything about it!

Robin Dunne & Lindy Booth who play a young widower and a music teacher who tutors his teenage daughter - both do well with the usual HM clichéd script. They give fresh & well-meaning performances into their roles. Robin especially does well as an executive ,whose company has bought the Music School and want to turn it into offices. Do they save the school ? Does the Christmas concert go well ? Does Boy get Girl ? Do we care ? .........well, yes we do. It's an above-average Hallmark Christmas movie - so put your feet up & relax !

Full disclosure. I fell asleep in the middle of this movie, but in my defense, I was in bed with this on at the time. Never the less, I wanted to log my review in order to compliment Micah Kalisch as the formidable teen daughter, the cheerful wholesome Lindy Booth, the ruthless boss, Damon Runyan, and even the guy that played the hero. I found him strangely appealing. The acting was outstanding. I'm going to go back and look at the middle. If I change my review, I'll let you know. But great casting and good acting can over-ride a lot of other flaws.

I like this movie. Maybe I don't love it, but I like it a lot. You have your opinions, and I respect those opinions. Here are mine:

LINDY BOOTH(Lizzie) and ROBIN DUNNE(Brad) are very believable, even with Mr. Dunne's wife, FARRAH AVIVA, around(she plays Meg).

I like that even if there are lots of bit players like the students, teachers, audiences and others, there are only few characters. When I was still studying I didn't get it when a mentor said I had too many characters for a movie. He doesn't think I am writing an epic so maybe I should lessen the characters or the people watching would lose interest.

No role is too big or small. All these people are worth remembering:

Micah Kalisch as Abigail Evans (Brad's lovely, talented and wise daughter) Kim Roberts as Samantha Washington(the founder/directress of the school and apparently Lizzie's best friend) Jennifer Gibson as Cynthia Brooks (Brad's good friend/colleague...she has a big crush on Brad, but he is too dense to notice) Farrah Aviva as Meg("psychic" personal assistant) Derek McGrath as Earl McKinley (I didn't recognize him here...as usual, he never disappoints...or at the very least, he never disappoints me) Damon Runyan as Travis McKinley (this guy can be evil or a very kind and charismatic man...here, he's a businessman who wants to keep earning big bucks...or a modern day Scrooge) Dale Whibley as Jordan Crawford (one of the scholars of the Music School)

How often have we as viewers or members of the audience relate to someone or some people in a movie, a sitcom, or whatever else? A lot. I am not talking plagiarism or anything similar to that. It's a total stranger or a bunch of strangers writing something like your life like they have a hidden camera or a bug placed in your soon...or someone injected a microchip or something.

I am exaggerating of course.

There were complaints about this being predictable or the same old story. Maybe.

It's just that a lot of people get the same type of problem each day, it's what you do with your problem that makes a world of a difference. It's how you deal with your day to day living.

Yes, this TV movie is formulaic, and from the start you would already guess who is related to a certain character, it doesn't matter. It's a type of movie that you want to be predictable or else you would feel sad in the end. It's a Christmas movie, and it has achieved its goal to make me smile, at the very least.

Merry July Christmas to you all.