A Christmas Melody

6/10 - she might be able to sing, but Mariah Carey cannot act to save her life

Don't get me wrong, I love all Christmas shows, Mariah Carey and Lacey Chabert, but the closeups of Mariah were starting to freak me out. Was she pregnant while filming? That might make sense. Aside from the freaky head shots, I enjoyed this show.

I've followed Lacey in many, if not all, of the movies she has made for Hallmark and have enjoyed every one of them. Mariah's music worked well in this movie and it didn't disappoint. The young girl who played Emily was a cutie. I can't wait to see more of her on Hallmark in the future.

Although, the plots are the same on the Christmas shows, I don't mind and will continue watching the Hallmark channel for years to come.

So Mariah directed this movie, which is no small feat. Her acting is really bad, which is surprising, because she is actually really good in "Precious." The best part of the movie, though, is that Mariah clearly shot all of her scenes separately from all the other actors. All of her acting is done in close up shots with special lighting and camera filters to make her look like a glamorous movie star. When the camera cuts to the other actor in the scene with her, they look like they're in a totally different movie. It's such a typical Mariah diva move to make sure she looks different and better than everyone else.

''A Christmas Melody'' is a new Hallmark Channel's movie. Fashion designer Kristin Parson (Lacey Chabert) sells her house in LA, and with her daughter, she is coming home, in town, where she used to live as a child. In Silver Falls, Ohio, she meets a music teacher Danny Collier (Brennan Elliott), who had a crash on her, since they were a kids. Now, Danny is Emiliy's (Fina Strazza) teacher.

It's a nice movie. Mariah Carey, as a director did a good job. I really love Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott, think that they were amazing. Fina Strazza is a surprise for me.

At the end, nice movie, with very good actors.

Hallmark knows how to make the best Christmas movies. This is no exception. Apparently directed by Mariah Carey, I expected this to be disastrous but was very pleasantly surprised! Carey even had a role in the film, which was entertaining as I'm about 98 percent sure she intentionally tries to act as badly as she possibly can. No one can be that bad. No one. Also FOLGER'S CLASSIC ROAST.

Lacey Chabert plays Kristin, a single mother whose dreams of being a famous designer went up in smoke in Los Angeles. Admitting failure, she packs up herself and her daughter Emily and they drive back to Silver Falls, Ohio where she grew up. Although both struggled to adjust at the very beginning, they obviously overcome that thanks to the help of her Aunt Sarah and Danny, the cute music teacher who helps Emily break out of her shell.

Highlights:

• Hallmark has a knack of finding the best child actors to portray these kids and this one did not disappoint. Fina Strazza is a tremendous little actress and if she should choose to continue, will make a big name for herself someday.
• Brennan Elliott. I love him so much. I love any movie he is in.
• Always love Kathy Najimy! She plays the same offbeat kooky character she does in every film, but she does it well.
• FOLGER'S CLASSIC ROAST (kind of awesome how they didn't even attempt to make their product placement a tiny bit subtle)
• The Santa dancing scene. Who can't not smile while watching him?

As long as you aren't expecting an award-winning flick and just watch it for what it is, a heartwarming cheerful holiday movie, I think you'd be happy you watched it. Definitely recommend!