Une Famille Formidable

Now I am a huge fan of the original. That film I just discovered about 2 years ago. I knew there was a remake so yesterday I finally I got to see it it.

In 1992, this remake of Christmas in Connecticut was made, starring Dyan Cannon This made-for-TV movie, was directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also made a cameo as the man sitting in front of the media truck. In this remake, Elizabeth "Blane" is the hostess of her own cooking show. When her manager, Alexander Yardley, introduces her to Jefferson Jones—a forest ranger who lost his cabin in a fire— he asks her to make Jones Christmas dinner live on her show. As in the original, Elizabeth isn't as talented as she seems. This version was not as well-received as the original. As one critic wrote, "You'll be hungry for a better movie after suffering through this film.

I will say this film is not as bad as that critic has stated. The film starts off great but it does lose steam. The worse casting decision is that of Tony Curtis who is too over the top here. The film has a believable set-up and when the film sticks closely to the original it shines. In the last half of the when this film strays from the original is when this film encounters trouble. The first half of the film the original material is works great.

I thought this movie was very funny and light-hearted, which IS the point of a comedy. Everyone knows re-makes always take a certain poetic license. I thought there was a great relationship with Cannon and Kristofferson and he was perfect as the crusty woodsman. Cannon carried her part off with great panache and that million watt smile. The supporting actors all performed beautifully also. The "son-in-law" who was also auditioning, the faux daughter who was the real cook, and of course, Tony Curtis as Mr. Yardley, proved once again that he is a comedic genius.

This is laid-back entertainment, not a Shakespearean tragedy. Lighten Up People!

I gave "Christmas in Connecticut" 5 stars instead of the ~3.5 it deserved due to its one redeeming quality: its radiant star, Dyan Cannon. Aged about 55 at the time the film was released, she's just as lovely, charming, and sexy as ever, and actually brings a measure of believability to her character, the beloved-by-America but ultimately fake TV chef Elizabeth Blane. The tired, utterly predictable script would have been even more insufferable in the hands of a lesser actress. Unfortunately, Cannon's bright spectre only serves to underscore just how less-than-mediocre the rest of the cast is. Elizabeth's TV "family" are completely unremarkable and forgettable individuals who bring little to their respective roles. Tony Curtis is meant to bring flair and comic relief as Cannon's manager/producer and would-be TV husband, but his over-the-top execution of the predictable slapstick jokes and comic gigs ultimately falls flat, leaving the audience to feel he's been horribly miscast. Kris Kristofferson, as Blane's western-woodsman forest ranger love interest, looks appetizing enough, but walks through his lines woodenly. And those are the more remarkable of the cast members, most of whom look like they've been plucked right off the main street of a small town somewhere in Middle America. The opening scene, where Blane is filming her TV cooking show, and the camera changes points-of-view to reveal the behind-the-scenes workings of the fake cooking show - including Blane's assistant (and the actual chef) crouching under the counter and handing up the finished dishes - is probably the best scene in this film, which gets more contrived and predictable as it progresses towards its inevitable conclusion, in which her ruse of being the perfect domestic doyenne is destroyed on live TV for all of America to see, and she predictably finds love with Kristofferson amidst the chaos.

I should add that haven't seen the 1945 original, so I am judging this film purely on its own merits. Schwarzenegger brings absolutely nothing new or interesting to a film whose best line may just be (coming from Cannon's fake grandson) "For $50, I can fake a nightmare and sleep in your bed!" (to prevent her from being stuck there with fake "husband" Curtis). With this as his sole directorial credit, it's no wonder he hasn't directed another movie since. Despite the fact that Cannon's sparkling performance is ALMOST infectious enough to make us all partially re-discover the magic of Christmas along with her when she hears Christmas bells while taking a (completely unrealistically set-up) sleigh joyride, it's just not enough to save the tired writing and inane attempts at humor. If you're looking for a nondescript, Lifetime-style Christmas movie to kill a couple of hours, Cannon's performance puts this film just a notch above the other formulaic Christmas rom-coms out there. Otherwise, I can't see any reason at all to waste your time watching it.

I know, I know. It probably sucked. And i really don't like Dyan Cannon; talk about a chick who's afraid to age.

But i LOVED this movie. It was a total 'feel good' production... no big downers, only delight.

try it, with an eye towards entertainment. i'm sure you'll like it!

(admittedly, this is no "Auntie Mame" :)

The TV version isnt great but it isnt that terrible, i mean its a cute little movie that pokes fun at overdone TV characters and yes at times it gets a little crazy. Watch it and then decide. The original is good yes but its old. This one makes more sense.