Really wanted to like 'Sharing Christmas' a lot more. The story did sound very tired and predictable from having been used with not an awful lot of variation many times, but as a fan of Christmas and as someone who has admittedly liked a fair share of Hallmark's festive films (while not caring for a lot of them too). For a while having been watching Christmas films from Hallmark films as part of a completest quest and it has been an uneven endeavour but an oddly interesting one.
'Sharing Christmas' is one of the ones that didn't do an awful lot for me and somewhere in the below average category. Really did want to be among the positive reviewers and had the intent to at least like it and take it for what it was and aimed to be. Sadly, while there are things done quite well there is a lot here that is not good. Is 'Sharing Christmas' a terrible film? Not quite. Is it good? No, not even close in my view, and do have to agree with those that were mixed to negative on it.
There are good things about 'Sharing Christmas'. The acting to me was one of the better assets, Ellen Hollman does work hard in making her character as appealing as possible and Bobby Campo is a charming leading man. While their chemistry doesn't entirely sparkle, and a lot of the problem is down to how the relationship is written, the chemistry is there and it is an easy going and genuine one. The supporting performances are better than average too, with Cynthia Gibb stealing her scenes.
Photography is quite nice as is some of the scenery. The film starts off quite well, quite conventional but it did charm and engage at least.
A shame that the rest of 'Sharing Christmas' did not. While the cast are fine, they are hampered by wafer thin and well worn cliches passing for characters. Ones that are not developed enough and sometimes behave too stupidly to root for them. They are also let down, even more so, by the even thinner script that is filled to the brim and beyond with awkward cheese and over-sentimentality with all the corn and schmaltz feeling contrived. While the outside and the photography are nice, there is the agreement with others that the interiors are on the tacky side.
What really brings 'Sharing Christmas' down badly is the story. It starts off promisingly, but too quickly becomes extremely basic and tired. With too much over-stretched filler, it felt quite dull and thin as well and comes over as silly and lacking in charm or heart. The sentimentality is hard to stomach, especially when it feels manipulative than sincere, the ending is too neat and easily telegraphed and the central relationship is far too rushed and lacks growth. The music badly over-emphasises the mood and feels excessive in placement and tone.
Despite a few good things, this was very lacking in my view. Sorry. 4/10
