15 commentaires
The actors in this movie deserved a better script than the one for this movie. They have shined in other Hallmark movies but this script made that impossible. It was so painful to watch this Christmas movie! The movie could have possibly built on an earlier Christmas Land movie as a foundation and continued the story. It could have introduced problems with keeping Christmas Land as a thriving enterprise and the issues that presented its inhabitants. That might have made for a more interesting storyline and given the actors more to work with. Maybe Artificial Intelligence could have embellished the script!
Is it an act, a setup, or isn't it? There are hints early on that Christmasland might be giving the visitors a pretend romantic fantasy. I think it was something Em said. She and Bea are joking constantly in act 1 about everything they encounter, or will encounter, fitting perfectly in a Christmas movie rom/com. And the things that happen do fit. It seems like all the plot device boxes are checked. It is a little confusing because for a while Em seems to be accepting it as mostly real, but then she's starts honestly questioning again. All of this makes this movie a little different like a parody.
Real life husband and wife Ory and Reardon have the chemistry you would expect. Lindura's Em and Kevin Hanchard's Porter don't have quite as much partly because the story keeps you guessing as to whether he is an actor or not.
The climax is done well and the viewer's questions, as well as B and Em's questions, are finally answered maybe not completely like the viewer expects. I was still guessing at least a little.
I saw a meme about how cookie cutter Hallmark Christmas movies are, and it is so true for 80-90 percent of them. This movie takes advantage of that expectation and delivers something worth watching.
Real life husband and wife Ory and Reardon have the chemistry you would expect. Lindura's Em and Kevin Hanchard's Porter don't have quite as much partly because the story keeps you guessing as to whether he is an actor or not.
The climax is done well and the viewer's questions, as well as B and Em's questions, are finally answered maybe not completely like the viewer expects. I was still guessing at least a little.
I saw a meme about how cookie cutter Hallmark Christmas movies are, and it is so true for 80-90 percent of them. This movie takes advantage of that expectation and delivers something worth watching.
This movie was a non-starter for us, and we bagged it about halfway through. That's a shame, John Reardon was great in one of our favorite annual watches, The Christmas Secret, and we liked Meghan Ory in Dashing Through the Snow.
Sadly, those movies were ten years ago and nine years ago respectively, and while Mehgan is still a beautiful 42, at 49, it doesn't look like the 40s have been kind to John. They chose wardrobe to hide his weight, and he had to comb some permed hair WAY forward to hide the onset of male pattern baldness.
Here's a problem, they either need to write scripts which fit some of the middle-aged actors, or simply use younger players. Presenting these actors as "young love" belies believability. I mean, those two might well have gone through two divorces by now.
Then there was this movie in particular. Meghan seems to smile at some strange times, like when she discovered, after a flat, her friend has no spare. And how did she know that since the trunk was supposed to be full of luggage and she didn't even move some around to look? Later, John comes by and offers the women a ride into town, asks if he can get their luggage, and twenty seconds later gets back in his truck and has noticeably failed to move any luggage.
Everything in town was the same old "wonderful stuff" ... egg nogg tasting, street carolers who almost whispered the lyrics as the mains walked by them, and OH GOODY, the prospect of the town's signature BAKING CONTEST! Gee!
I think the final sloppy direction that threw me was the incredible disappearing cupcake. The cupcake shop lady gives John a bag and Meghan a single cupcake, which she holds in her hand as they start to leave the shop. By the way, they don't pay. Then, when they emerge onto the sidewalk, he has his bag but the cupcake mysteriously disappears! Did she trash it in defiance of having been shamed into the bake-off? Sadly, we'll never know, because very soon after that we nuked this boring mess.
Everyone is sickly sweet and overly perky and that would make you more nauseated than the over-iced cupcake, if you could ever get it to your mouth before it vanished into thin air.
Sadly, those movies were ten years ago and nine years ago respectively, and while Mehgan is still a beautiful 42, at 49, it doesn't look like the 40s have been kind to John. They chose wardrobe to hide his weight, and he had to comb some permed hair WAY forward to hide the onset of male pattern baldness.
Here's a problem, they either need to write scripts which fit some of the middle-aged actors, or simply use younger players. Presenting these actors as "young love" belies believability. I mean, those two might well have gone through two divorces by now.
Then there was this movie in particular. Meghan seems to smile at some strange times, like when she discovered, after a flat, her friend has no spare. And how did she know that since the trunk was supposed to be full of luggage and she didn't even move some around to look? Later, John comes by and offers the women a ride into town, asks if he can get their luggage, and twenty seconds later gets back in his truck and has noticeably failed to move any luggage.
Everything in town was the same old "wonderful stuff" ... egg nogg tasting, street carolers who almost whispered the lyrics as the mains walked by them, and OH GOODY, the prospect of the town's signature BAKING CONTEST! Gee!
I think the final sloppy direction that threw me was the incredible disappearing cupcake. The cupcake shop lady gives John a bag and Meghan a single cupcake, which she holds in her hand as they start to leave the shop. By the way, they don't pay. Then, when they emerge onto the sidewalk, he has his bag but the cupcake mysteriously disappears! Did she trash it in defiance of having been shamed into the bake-off? Sadly, we'll never know, because very soon after that we nuked this boring mess.
Everyone is sickly sweet and overly perky and that would make you more nauseated than the over-iced cupcake, if you could ever get it to your mouth before it vanished into thin air.
- VetteRanger
- 30 nov. 2024
- Permalien
I almost never leave reviews, but this is one that I couldn't leave without comment: Those strings doing nothing but straight beats- Why did this happen at least twice? (I'm not rewatching to double check) It gave a tension that was out of place in a Christmas movie and the specific scenes.
I know what I'm getting myself into when I start a Hallmark Christmas movie, but I at least expect for the background to stay in the background! Most of the time, background music is forgettable for me, but not in this one, and certainly not for good reason.
And the final scene was the worst of all! What was in the fire? Pop Rocks? It was the loudest fire I've ever heard!
I know what I'm getting myself into when I start a Hallmark Christmas movie, but I at least expect for the background to stay in the background! Most of the time, background music is forgettable for me, but not in this one, and certainly not for good reason.
And the final scene was the worst of all! What was in the fire? Pop Rocks? It was the loudest fire I've ever heard!
- dolfingurl88
- 14 déc. 2024
- Permalien
7.3 stars.
I felt my experience with this film was just slightly above average. Along the lines of Hallmark films it was not quite good enough to meet my expectations for a fully engaging experience. There are good parts, but it was quite slow otherwise.
I like all the actors and I thought they did their best and much of it was fun and exciting and there was so much potential, but it just fell flat over and over again. I don't know if it was the Director or the script, but something was stalled.
They needed to restart this one, and give it a kick, maybe some of that black coffee that she desired over the sickly sweet syrupy stuff, would give it a jumpstart in this wonderful fake fairytale Christmas town. You might really like this one, so give it a shot, but it's not quite my cup of tea.
I felt my experience with this film was just slightly above average. Along the lines of Hallmark films it was not quite good enough to meet my expectations for a fully engaging experience. There are good parts, but it was quite slow otherwise.
I like all the actors and I thought they did their best and much of it was fun and exciting and there was so much potential, but it just fell flat over and over again. I don't know if it was the Director or the script, but something was stalled.
They needed to restart this one, and give it a kick, maybe some of that black coffee that she desired over the sickly sweet syrupy stuff, would give it a jumpstart in this wonderful fake fairytale Christmas town. You might really like this one, so give it a shot, but it's not quite my cup of tea.
Why has no one mentioned the age gap of the supporting characters? I can't find Lindura's actual age, but in the film she looks like 20 and her love interest looks 70. I thought their initial interaction was maybe two people who thought they could be long lost father/daughter.
I don't know if I can finish the entire movie or I might just have to skip to the end. We all know Hallmark movies are far fetched and just meant to be feel good movies at Christmas, but just seems off. I like the main characters in other movies I've seen, and I know they're married in real life so maybe that's why they seemed like they got too comfortable too soon. Being a guest at "Christmas land" you'd think there would be activities for her to be doing rather than spending alone time 24/7 with him.
I don't know if I can finish the entire movie or I might just have to skip to the end. We all know Hallmark movies are far fetched and just meant to be feel good movies at Christmas, but just seems off. I like the main characters in other movies I've seen, and I know they're married in real life so maybe that's why they seemed like they got too comfortable too soon. Being a guest at "Christmas land" you'd think there would be activities for her to be doing rather than spending alone time 24/7 with him.
We absolutely 💯 loved this movie.
It was so magical n natural.
The main stars Meghan n John are a real.life couple.
They are both gorgeous!
I have watched them in their other series too.
Someone mentioned here their looks lol They are a beautiful couple in their 40s with 3 small kids.
I don't think their looks matter to make a fun movie by the way.
How mean to poke at movie stars looks n wardrobe when no one in real life is perfect.
They are amazing stars, really down to earth n humble.
Meghan's smile is beautiful, she's always happy n John too in their other series.
It makes me happy.
These movies are made to getaway from everyday life n just relax.
So much violence in the world that we need not pick on others.
Just enjoy n spread the cheer!
The movie stars work hard to bring these to us juggling their real life n families.
It was so magical n natural.
The main stars Meghan n John are a real.life couple.
They are both gorgeous!
I have watched them in their other series too.
Someone mentioned here their looks lol They are a beautiful couple in their 40s with 3 small kids.
I don't think their looks matter to make a fun movie by the way.
How mean to poke at movie stars looks n wardrobe when no one in real life is perfect.
They are amazing stars, really down to earth n humble.
Meghan's smile is beautiful, she's always happy n John too in their other series.
It makes me happy.
These movies are made to getaway from everyday life n just relax.
So much violence in the world that we need not pick on others.
Just enjoy n spread the cheer!
The movie stars work hard to bring these to us juggling their real life n families.
- husna_athan
- 30 nov. 2024
- Permalien
Or is it AI? Seriously, you bury body mics under wool turtlenecks and you need a human to use EQ, or you get unlistenable mud like this. Look no further than scene 1. Lindura is cute and vivacious, but she is a motormouth who mumbles, and you can't tell me you understood a word she said without CC turned on, or, until her final scene where she wasn't wearing a scarf. Forget the age difference creepiness which was omfg bad. Forget the amount of exposition needed up front to construct the hokum at the heart of this. Forget the barrels of fake snow for the scenes shot on a blazing hot day in July. Forget the truckloads of garland and ribbon in the lady's kitchen, including the garland wrapped around THE OVEN. This movie sums up what Hallmark has now reliably become, a parody of itself, creating packaged characters in packaged settings. And the story, the plot, makes no sense and does not matter.
- MarkSchultzCAS
- 11 déc. 2024
- Permalien
We have Charlie Hudson and Joe Donovan. If the movie had Rex it would be ideal!
John Reardon gets to act with his real life wife Meghan Ory, so the chemistry is already there.
Its your typical Hallmark Christmas movie, but to me this was extra special seeing Charlie Hudson and Joe Donovan together in different roles. Nothing really out of the norm here. Typical plot line, but still entertaining.
Man I wish this had Rex in it.
The best friend is a treat to watch with her over the top Christmas spirit, which I love.
Beautiful scenery, and a great way to spend 90 minutes.
Again I wish Rex was in this.
John Reardon gets to act with his real life wife Meghan Ory, so the chemistry is already there.
Its your typical Hallmark Christmas movie, but to me this was extra special seeing Charlie Hudson and Joe Donovan together in different roles. Nothing really out of the norm here. Typical plot line, but still entertaining.
Man I wish this had Rex in it.
The best friend is a treat to watch with her over the top Christmas spirit, which I love.
Beautiful scenery, and a great way to spend 90 minutes.
Again I wish Rex was in this.
The 2024 movie "Believe in Christmas" from director Christie Will Wolf found its way to my 2024 Christmas movie marathon. Sure, I had never heard about it, but that hardly mattered, as I do enjoy watching movies I am unfamiliar with. But I can't claim that I harbored the biggest of expectations to the movie, as the movie's cover was rather generic, even for a Christmas movie. But of course, it is not really fair to judge a movie by its cover alone.
I have to say that writers Maggie Dallen, Anne-Marie Meyer and Christie Will Wolf collectively only managed to churn out a script and storyline that was taken straight from the how-to-write-a-sappy-Christmas-movie guidebook. But hey, if you enjoy archetypical sappy and campy Christmas movies, then you're in for a treat here. If you sit down to watch the movie as a casual viewer, as I did, then you're not really in for a particularly memorable viewing experience. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that "Believe in Christmas" is a bad movie, not at all. It was just formulaic and generic.
The only face on the cast list that I was familiar with was leading actress Meghan Ory. It should be noted, though, that the acting performances in the movie were fair.
"Believe in Christmas" is not a movie that will ever get a second playing on my screen. It just simply wasn't outstanding in a vast sea of similar movies out there. And it didn't have the contents to be a Christmas classic.
My rating of director Christie Will Wolf's 2024 movie "Believe in Christmas" lands on a four out of ten stars.
I have to say that writers Maggie Dallen, Anne-Marie Meyer and Christie Will Wolf collectively only managed to churn out a script and storyline that was taken straight from the how-to-write-a-sappy-Christmas-movie guidebook. But hey, if you enjoy archetypical sappy and campy Christmas movies, then you're in for a treat here. If you sit down to watch the movie as a casual viewer, as I did, then you're not really in for a particularly memorable viewing experience. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that "Believe in Christmas" is a bad movie, not at all. It was just formulaic and generic.
The only face on the cast list that I was familiar with was leading actress Meghan Ory. It should be noted, though, that the acting performances in the movie were fair.
"Believe in Christmas" is not a movie that will ever get a second playing on my screen. It just simply wasn't outstanding in a vast sea of similar movies out there. And it didn't have the contents to be a Christmas classic.
My rating of director Christie Will Wolf's 2024 movie "Believe in Christmas" lands on a four out of ten stars.
- paul_m_haakonsen
- 16 déc. 2024
- Permalien
This was bad from the get-go and totally devoid of any soul or charm. The writing was absolutely ridiculous and annoying. The whole premise was a bore to be honest since all Hallmark and related movies exist in Christmasland. It's not like this makes it more appealing. Nothing about the leads or the story seems realistic, relatable, or original. The main character is of course reluctant to go to this magical place and we're supposed to root for her to go. The story is just so convenient and staged that there wasn't any point in watching it other than suffering through the absurd dialogue and lame attempts at humor.
- jroyals-04341
- 6 déc. 2024
- Permalien
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! It was fun seeing the real-life husband-and-wife as the leads, which I knew from their other shows and movies, being together for the first time as leads. I liked the references to Hallmark staples in their movies, the premise of a show within a movie, and the different little touches. The secondary characters did well keeping the premise going and didn't really give anything away. Not sure where this was filmed but at times it looked like the actors were in a winter setting. For me, John Reardon and Meghan Ory were delightful, and adding his boss from Hudson and Rex was a nice bonus!
Very well done.
Very well done.
- teamalamar-32662
- 24 déc. 2024
- Permalien
Former foster kid and big city girl Beatrice Thompson (Meghan Ory) gets convinced by her best friend Emilia Rhodes (Lindura) to spend the holidays in Christmasland. While in this Christmas loving town Emilia convinces Beatrice that the town can't be this perfect...that the people are paid actors and are creating a Hallmark-like holiday romance experience for the two of them...only unbeknownst to Beatrice, she was identified early as a Christmas Grinch and put on a different path. That path includes a real tour of Christmasland from their inn keeper Carol's son Ethan Crane (John Reardon).
I actually enjoyed this Hallmark holiday romance and it was nice to see a real-life couple in the lead role. Their chemistry was easy and effortless, which was really comforting and believable. The story was a little different for a Hallmark holiday romance in that it poked fun of the genre a bit, it was cute and endearing instead of awkward and I liked the moment when Ethan promises Beatrice can ask anything and he will tell her the truth. I loved the honesty.
The town was super Christmas-y and I like the skeptic approach, but foster kid or not it's hard to believe an adult has never decorated a Christmas tree. I think Christmas fans and romantics will really enjoy this one.
I actually enjoyed this Hallmark holiday romance and it was nice to see a real-life couple in the lead role. Their chemistry was easy and effortless, which was really comforting and believable. The story was a little different for a Hallmark holiday romance in that it poked fun of the genre a bit, it was cute and endearing instead of awkward and I liked the moment when Ethan promises Beatrice can ask anything and he will tell her the truth. I loved the honesty.
The town was super Christmas-y and I like the skeptic approach, but foster kid or not it's hard to believe an adult has never decorated a Christmas tree. I think Christmas fans and romantics will really enjoy this one.