When I Think of Christmas

I'm retired now, but I made my living as a musician and nothing bugs me more than actor portrayals of musicians. They look ridiculous.

In this case there really wasn't much to sing about.

Also, I moved last year at Christmas, and there was nary a Christmas decoration to be seen as I'd just have to pack them up again.

Ok, enough venting.

This movie involves a former musician New York lawyer who goes home at Christmas and runs into old flame/musical partner who is putting on a Christmas show using local talent. She ends up spending way more time helping him than her mother, but fortunately there is a ruggedly handsome carpenter in the condo next door.

Not much of a plot, really, and the big ending pretty much fizzled too.

Five.

I really like Niall Matter but the story line was so slow and it could not keep me focused on the storyline. I enjoyed Niall's singing but not a fan of Beth Broderick's singing. The live interest Shenae sang lovely but I didn't like the chemistry between her and Niall. The relationship between mother (Beth) and daughter (Shenae) was good but the story was just so monotone just like the rest of the movie that it got lost. The story was just lackluster. I really wanted to like this movie but it didn't catch my interest. I wouldn't mind seeing the two leads in a better written movie. Here is to hoping a better story for these 2.

We've enjoyed Niall Matter since his days on Eureka, and he's been a solid presence in a number of Christmas films.

We found this film watchable, but it won't be on our repeat list. We have a couple the writers wanted us to believe both thought the other had left them. The reason they came up with seemed contrived and unbelievable, and they begin their reunion in their hometown each quite bitter at the other.

When Niall's character, who is putting together a Christmas show, runs out of piano players for rehearsals, she agrees to play the piano. Not just agrees, but volunteers with the slightest of suggestions from her mother. From there the supposed bitterness virtually melts away with very little effort. The relationship changes, in our opinion, lacked authenticity.

Our verdict is watchable, but we won't repeat the viewing.

About as typical as a hallmark Christmas movie can be. Charge the two mains did an excellent job at conveying their characters. The biggest problem I had with this entire movie was the fact that the mother couldn't sing to save her life and couldn't carry a tune if you put a handle on it. I think another reviewer said it best. This movie would've been much better if it ended with the two main characters singing that final song instead of bringing the mother up on stage. Really killed the entire mood and flow of the movie every time that woman opened her mouth to sing. Out of tune and pitch is being nice.

This story has many of the common elements of Christmas movies. Sara returns home to help mom move but brings work. She encounters her ex from high school and theirs was an ugly breakup. Their animosity melts away magically and they work on a Christmas concert.

The deeper theme of the movie is life changing choices and the regrets that come years later. This is another pretty common theme, but for me, this movie captured those emotions and dealt with them. There are no great highs or lows. There is one surprise that I don't think was foreshadowed at all.

There are some nice Christmas songs by members of the cast. Shenae Grimes-Beech has the best voice of the group.

The acting is good. The dialogue is good. There is good chemistry between the leads.