The 12 Days of Christmas Eve

The 12 Days Of Christmas Eve (2022) -

I really hadn't expected to get very far in to this one because the previous Kelsey Grammer seasonal films that I've seen have not hit the right notes with me at all. However I have to say that this one really surprised me. Although there were still some very silly bits that could have been tamed slightly to make it less cheap.

A tweak on Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' story and in the style of 'Groundhog Day' (1993) Kelsey in his role of Brian was given 12 days to fix the problems he had created in his life with his family, work and his outlook on life in general. As I watched I did feel that it's a shame that these redemptions always find people so late in life. I'm 44 and need someone to show me the true meaning of Christmas already! Don't wait until I'm so old and decrepit that I can't really make a big enough difference please? Or are the powers that be waiting for me to make my fortune first? (Good Luck).

What followed was a repeated, yet cleverly not a repetitive day of working out how to rebuild his relationship with his daughter Michelle, (Kelsey's real life daughter Spencer Grammer) and I have to say that actually he should have succeeded by about day 6 if it wasn't for the fact that Michelle didn't exactly make things easy for him. I'm sure he had a long history of cocking up and not being there for her, but she did throw it back in his face when he did try so what does that say about her? Like Father, like Daughter I supposed?

It had some humour and didn't go too far with the extremities and although not everyone was an amazing performer, perhaps they were directed to be a bit over the top, it was ultimately a charming message and full of heart so that the daft bits didn't matter so much.

And it was certainly better than his actual 'Christmas Carol' (2004) attempt. I'd watch this one again.

7.59/10.

Despite being somewhat off-putting early on, because of some characters being over-drawn, this movie is well worth watching. But be sure to stick with it until the very end. After watching it for a second time I needed to come back and increase my rating from 8 to 10.

After the opening sequences that establish the characters and the situations they face, and after the essential nature of the movie has been revealed, the plot really finds its footing and gets rolling. It begins pulling together different plot elements from earlier in the movie into a well-orchestrated, meaningful, engaging, and highly satisfying closing sequence of scenes. The acting was simultaneously both quirky *and* good.

There is a lot of subtle humor, and you'll want to pay close attention to pick up some of it. I missed a number of little throwaways the first time through. On the second time through I laughed when I realized how well they set up, in advance, some little bit of humor that I had not quite "gotten" on my first viewing. Without giving away anything about the actual plot, when you watch the movie, be sure to take a close look at the candle at the end of the opening scene, and also take note of the news story about the escaped reindeer not long thereafter.

There were also some good, solid comedic lines and events that were anything but subtle! My second viewing was even more entertaining than my first viewing had been, which is a rare thing for a movie to be able to pull off. Someone who had not previously seen the movie was watching it with me -- they had quite a number of break-out-laughing moments.

But this movie is more than just its humor. It also contains a number of deeper insights, and it presents some life lessons that we could all take to heart.

Overall, this is a well-crafted movie. As of Dec 4th, 2022, as I write this, "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" is my favorite 2022 Christmas movie to date.

You can see all of my other favorite 2022 Christmas movies by clicking on my profile link above; then look for "2022 FAVORITE CHRISTMAS ROM-COMs" under "Lists".

I wasn't expecting much when my girlfriend and I start watching "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve", but the film has pleasantly surprised us both. This movie ignited the Christmas spark in me and I am really grateful for it. "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" does have this something which movies rarely have. Well done to everyone involved in making this film: screenwriter, director, actresses, actors, technical staff. Love for ourselves and others, generosity, kindness and being always in present time with people you love, are messages of this movie we all should remember and always have in our minds.

This movie had a good idea, and some mid to good acting, but it fails multiple times

The original premise is good, it goes on a route(Redemption or death) none of the movies I have seen of the type touches(Except maybe groundhog but that is not "learn or die" that is more like "Die to reset the day" kind of thing)

The whole point of the Groundhog day situations is that they learn by failing You got Murray's situation where he fails a ton and like 10 years go by in the movie(Really, google it) You got Pete's christmas(Which I prefer over "Christmas every day" to be honest, where he learns little by little, always finding new things to learn about himself and those surrounding him and the growth, as in Groundhog, is slow and steady You even have Happy Death day where she also learns little by little all that was wrong with her life and outlook

And that is where this fails abysmally, you have Santa guiding him, or even outright telling him what is wrong, that rests importance to the learning curve and makes it feel rushed by the end.

And then there is the lessons learned thing, when he realizes what is wrong, he still gets it wrong a few times.

The end goes on a high note and it is refreshing to see a character outright speaking about christ, which I find sad, but in this day and age seems to be taboo(Like speaking about christianity as a religion and talking about the nativity in that context, not in Jingle Bells context)

So that ending(and the good acting from several of the actors) saved this movie... will I see it again? Only in the holidays(Yeah, I am a christmashead, I sometimes see xmas movies outside of the season), but it could have been much better.

Mawkish Starts off ok but gets tedious in the middle.

Then just irritating.

After a while I just fast forwarded it.

Lacks any of the the Dickensian charm and lessons that are so wonderful in most of the Christmas Scrooge movies.

Not a good groundhog movie either.

Off putting with Kelsey Grammars feet too.

Supporting actors not great so must have been low budget.

How lunch more of a review do I need to write to submit this. Ridiculous that I have to have so many characters that I am just filling the space to get this submitted.

Halve the number please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!