Noël en trois actes

'Christmas Encore' was one of those films that was part of my Christmas film completest quest that has been happening on and off over-time after it appeared as a recommendation here earlier this year. Absolutely love Christmas, have said this quite a number of times in my reviews in the past but am trying actually to not make it as obvious now unless when challenged if a review for any Christmas film is negative. Did sort of like the idea.

Saw 'Christmas Encore' actually with relatively mixed expectations, excepting at least some degree of heart and charm while not expecting a particularly great story or dialogue. Watching it, 'Christmas Encore' had its moments. But it was a film that pretty much delivered on not having a great story or dialogue (neither were even good) and didn't have enough heart or charm. Not unwatchable but quite bland with a number of things working against it.

There are good things here. The always watchable Brennan Elliot was an amiable male lead and has the one character to have any form of likeability or development (while being generally thin on both). The music is pleasant and nostalgic.

Furthermore, the scenery is suitably picturesque and beautifully photographed. Some parts are cute.

Unfortunately, the bad things outweigh. Have seen much better performances from Maggie Lawson. She is dull later on and comes over as too neurotic early on from trying too hard with the negative character traits. Really did not find her character appealing at all for most of the time, too self-absorbed and narcissistic. The rest of the cast try but are undistinguished in typical Hallmark cliche roles.

Chemistry between Lawson and Elliot is none. Quite cold, takes too long to get anywhere and then rushes through when it finally shows some sign of developing and too much of a mismatch. 'Christmas Encore' is very cheesy in writing to the extent that the pong that exudes from it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The sentimental sugar is also too much. The story is a major failing, it's paper thin and beyond bland that is excessively predictable from being too faithful to the typical Hallmark Christmas film formula and moves very slowly early on. This could easily have been 45 minutes at the maximum.

Concluding, watchable for one time only but mostly a failure. 4/10.

I'll start with the pluses: lead Maggie Lawson, anywhere. She's charming, energetic-even a bit inspiring-here. All around, the acting is a high point and a cut above for this genre.

Unfortunately, that's about where the positive runs out.

Male lead Brennan Elliot is also good, but he comes off as old for Lawson's perky Charlotte, which is emphasized by their more-work-than-spark vibe through most of the movie.

So, it's thin on the vital romance angle.

The worse sin, maybe, for the holiday romance crowd: there's very little hint of Christmas except as a calendar date.

The movie was shot almost entirely in dark interiors, so for all of Charlotte's infectious optimism, there's also a visual heaviness that, combined with the lack of Christmas zing and tepid romance, kind of sank the whole enterprise.

There's nothing wrong with this movie, but there is also nothing really great about it. The story revolves around putting on a production of A Christmas Carol, which is pretty well used. (But the story itself is not patterned after Christmas Carol.) There is the additional plot device of they're-going-to-close-our-theater-we-have-to-save-it. That's also well used. It picks up some sentimental points with an underdog-makes-it-big story. And of course the romance. There aren't any really exciting plot twists.

The acting was good. Maggie Lawson is charming and optimistic and energetic. Brennan Elliott is his usual being a regular in the Hallmark romance stable. He's maybe a tad old for Agostino. The rest of the cast was also decent.

It's pretty typical Hallmark, so if that's what you like, you should like it well enough. If that's not your cup of tea, this one is probably not for you.

Review Date 7/1/2018

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 Christmas MOVIES. On all Christmas movies BEWARE OF FAKE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. Many reviewers have only have ONE REVIEW. When it's a POSITIVE REVIEW chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. If its a negative review then they may have a huge grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

In this film A struggling actress cast in an off-Broadway show contemplates quitting the business and moving home. However, she has second thoughts after discovering a renewed passion for her craft. But when the historic theater where they perform loses its lease and the show is set to fold, she and her castmates need a Christmas miracle.

This film is almost a chore to finish. It has some attractive leads but no great story to make this film worth remembering.

I am a big Maggie Lawson fan from Psych and was excited about her being in a Christmas movie. I also love Brennan Elliot. They were both a delight throughout the movie. The first 30 minutes of the movie was pretty good. The movie lacked something in the execution of the story. The story was actually pretty good in which an actress gets her big break by starring in a Christmas play as a female scrooge. Wish they had included more of this play dynamic. The movie was not dull (stayed awake and engaged the whole time). A bit of a disappointment here but I hope Maggie keeps up the Christmas movies.