Operation Mistletoe

I am glad to see Nick Bateman back. His character is always soft spoken, and likeable. However, not liking the hair style in this one much. Jen Lilley is always good, usually the over emotional lady but this one thankfully not to the extreme. Noted she was one of the executive producers. The story is the usual, boy-girl senior year crush, boy or girl goes away, comes back years later, both now single, maybe maybe not a kid in tow. Either a meddling mother or sister. In this case sister. However, this meddling was creative and liked the brother angle. No kid this time. How come the female lead who stays home is a decorator, writer, gift store owner, radio station announcer. Why not a successful home town lawyer, financial analyst, banker. Looking forward to more Nick Bateman movies.

We watched the first 15 minutes hoping that the volume of the music would reduce. We couldn't even hear the dialogue because of the volume of the music. Then for a few minutes, the music went away while someone was on the phone. Then the scene went back to the small town and the music returned, as loud as before.

So unless a person is willing to read closed captions, it isn't possible to watch the movie, not being able to hear what the main characters are saying.

It looked like the kind of movie that I really enjoy so I hope eventually the music can be corrected. It was a premiere show on CW station so I surprised at this problem.

Aside from some recent efforts of GAC Family, Jen Lilley has always delivered reliable performances in Christmas movies for Hallmark.

I was going to steer clear of this one, thinking it was a GAC movie, where production values are generally a few levels below Lifetime and Hallmark...but this is a Hulu product, from Brad Krevoy, whose movies are generally pretty good, so I figured I'd give it a go.

"Operation Mistletoe" is just fine. It's not destined to be a classic of the genre, and isn't as good as many of the 2024 raft of holiday movies released, but it's a pleasant way to pass ninety or so minutes.

Lilley is good, and her opposite number Nick Bateman has his moments, too. Nice sets, too.

The problem with this movie is what plagues most films, a terrible script. There is nothing original in this Christmas rom-com, all the writers had to do was watch a bunch of Hallmark movies and copy every cliche. Have an attractive couple, add nostalgia for the past and relatives lost, throw in flashbacks to confuse viewers and have a lot of talk about Christmas traditions. There are many very fine movies that take place during Christmas, that don't have a cliched obsession with the season.

Jen Lilly is a known quantity, she's appeared in many films and always delivers a good performance. Why did the producers or director keep Nick Bateman in a white shirt, tie and jeans? The supporting cast are ok.

This was a pleasant enough movie with nothing really special. Pretty, intelligent girl with a good job dating a man we aren't supposed to like, introduction of a good looking successful man who would be ideal, and villain who threatens to ruin the holiday.

Unlike in so many movies, the ideal couple doesn't start out bickering. No, they knew each other and like each other, so the question is whether they can become a real couple again. There is a meddling best friend who stands out from the rest of the cast but still isn't that special.

And the villain isn't obviously a villain. There is a plot that will potentially destroy something that makes this ideal Christmas town not so ideal. But no one is truly evil here.

Lots of pretty decorations and a gorgeous old house that is one of the centers of Christmas celebration. The girls wear pretty clothes.

I am told Spectrum upgraded me without my permission without charging me more and I could watch Hallmark or Lifetime. I don't even have time. I saw this on The CW.

I don't recall anything that keeps this from being family friendly.

My one objection is the Motown style Christmas music. To me that sounds contemporary and I want nothing that sounds like it was recorded after 1960, or even Chuck Berry. There is plenty of background music that is fine and can't even really be heard.

If you watch many of these movies, I find nothing to make this any more special than the others, unless you like them all. But it's pleasant enough if you plan to watch a few.