Christmas Time Capsule

The premise is a variation on the romantic leads are best friends from childhood. But now he is about to propose to his girlfriend and Tiffany is trying to stall him. One thing that is slightly unusual is that the rival, the pending fiancé, is totally likable. The movie gives you nothing in her character to dislike. That's the one exception to everything being wrong. The surprise that comes out of the time capsule is stupid and makes no sense. Other than that surprise, the movie follows the usual lines and has no great highs or lows or other surprises.

Mom is just stupid. I cringed at her appearances until late in the movie. It's a Christmas movie, so there is baking, but mom bakes cookies without sugar, on purpose.

Except for Emily Alatalo, the acting is bad. I found nothing appealing about Franco Lo Presti's James and certainly no chemistry. James was negative for so far into the movie that I couldn't understand why Tiffany was friends with him, much less thought she loved him.

Christmas Time Capsule (2023) -

I would not have watched this all the way through if Franco Lo Presti as James hadn't been so God damn tall, dark and handsome, because his character seemed like an absolute lunkhead and really unpleasant from the off, without any sign of redemption, even half way through. I didn't want Tiffany, played by Emily Alatalo, to have to be stuck with him. She deserved so much better.

If he had been my best friend I would have told him what I really thought and I'm not talking about the four letter "L" word, but probably repeated use of the four letter "F" word instead.

She'd had a crush for so long that the poor thing couldn't see that he had grown up to be very unattractive on the inside.

He also didn't really represent the soldiers of the U. S. very well, with his minimal seeming IQ. I wouldn't want to be relying on him in my platoon, with his slow wits and generally clueless ways.

The leading pair returned to their hometown to obtain an engagement ring that Tiffany had, for some reason, placed in a time capsule and I was supposed to see him warming to her as they made stops along the way to enjoy various festive activities, but he just appeared to make mistakes, referring to Tiff instead of his girlfriend Ashley (Lindura), which wasn't actually a sign that he was falling for Tiffany or remembering old feelings for her, but more of his stupidity shining through.

If he hadn't been such a d!ck all the time I might have felt for them both. I could truly empathise with Tiffany, because I've been there so many times too, but I wanted her to realise that she could do better and meet someone new on their journey so that he could make Tiff happier and then James could marry Ashley, who was alright, if a bit pushy, but perhaps more suitable for him.

The parents Elise (Toni Ellwand) and Frank (Randy Thomas) were far too nutty as well. They didn't need to be so comedic, especially in those daft tracksuits. It felt like another failed attempt at making a comedy Christmas film instead of just making a Christmas drama with heart that features comedic moments, which for me will always work better, unless you can reproduce the magic and hilarity of 'Elf' (2003) or 'The Muppets Christmas Carol' (1992).

Overall the story could have worked, because the production was good, but James' mardy ass character let it down too much and made it slightly hard to buy.

Not one for the rewatch list.

4.56/10.

I found this to be a very likeable rom movie. There is comedy angle with the little off the norm parents but they provided a fine background of a loving family. The story is the usual why didn't they each say something earlier but the years had gone by. There was no hystrionics, the characters were down to earth and all likeable. They just needed to sort out what they felt and wanted. Closer to real life. Franco Lo Presti is always good, providing a good reflection of the characters he plays. If you want a really rom-com -ie movie, with the emotional, teary female with silly interactions with the male and the best friend not so sage advice, this isn't it.

I just couldn't get into this bore fest. There were way too many long drawn out scenes of nothing. One scene lasted around 20 minutes of them just sitting in a car moaning at each other, and another scene going to an ALIEN convention at Christmas.(whah!!!!) The male lead was another one of those model type actors, where it's all just about the eye candy, zero acting ability, and the female lead just constantly grinned all the way through the movie like it was her only expression. I know Christmas movies don't always have the best talent, but this is way outside the barrel.

To top it off there was that overused silly tinkerbell music playing in the background, that is meant to give you comedy effect, but instead just annoys you. Both leads were acting away from each other, rather than towards each other, so it felt there was no love story or chemistry development. This is not one for a cosy night in, let alone a freezing night outside.

This movie follows James and Tiffany, best pals from their childhood days in the Midwest. James asks Tiffany for an engagement ring he gave her for safekeeping before he enlisted. He's got plans to propose to someone else, but their trip back home stirs up old emotions.

During their journey, they rediscover their connection. Some folks thought the actors didn't click, but I found their bond quite genuine.

I won't spill the beans on all the surprises, but trust me, this movie keeps you hooked. Some people had mixed reviews, but if you're up for a cozy, feel-good Christmas film about friendship and true love, this one hits the spot!