Merry Matrimony

This movie inspired me to do my first review as it was so bad I had to write about it. While it's undoubtedly the worst rom com I have ever seen (and I've seen quite a few) it does have the perfect combination of poor acting, predictable and cliche writing and most of all insincerity that make for some unintended laughs.

The main character Brie is a career (and Christmas)-obsessed woman looking to become a partner in her marketing/advertising company. Of course she has a quirky, less attractive and loyal best friend as a sidekick. In a twist of fate, Brie ends up working together with her photographer ex-boyfriend who she had at one point hoped to marry and well you can guess the rest...

Many many rom coms are predictable, and this I don't mind - this is why a lot of people like them, they are dependable when you just want to see a nice little story with a happy ending. But in this movie, it's almost like the characters themselves don't believe this story - my 5-year-old self playing with barbie dolls could've mastered a similar level of acting. And that would probably be more interesting to watch.

I feel that this movie is a lesson in bad movies.

Random note: I was amused by how the main characters said when they were flower shopping that they can be more creative that having poinsettias for a Christmas wedding photoshoot, and then you see the final scenes where they have filled the set for the photoshoot with...poinsettias. It's like the people who made this movie weren't paying any attention at all.

A party planner's boyfriend leaves for Europe. Years later they reunite on a project. Of course you know what will happen. Most hallmark movies are predictable so the fun is seeing how things evolve. Unfortunately it's kind of too obvious and strained from the start. By the time they get together you kind of want to change channels.

Jessica Lowndes is pretty in a Megan Fox way. So she isn't quite right for this kind of sweet Hallmark romance Christmas movie. She is better as the bad girl as in a Mother's Nightmare. Also she is too pretty to be dumped. The actor Christopher Russell is a bit mannequin like just grinning and not showing much range.

One of the many Hallmark movies that are produced for holiday viewing but this one is not worth your time.

Brie, an advertising executive, lands her dream assignment organizing the perfect Christmas wedding for a fashion magazine. If she succeeds, she will make partner at her firm. The only catch is that she unknowingly has been paired up with a certain high powered fashion photographer who just happens to be her estranged ex- boyfriend. Stars Jessica Lowndes and Christopher Russell

The two nice looking leads however in this film they don't have chemistry and your your not rooting for them. One of the main reasons you are not rooting for is because the plot is weak. There also enough plot holes to drive a truck through.

This film is family safe but EVERYONE who watches this will be bored.

Am not saying that with malice. Hallmark Christmas films do have a tendency more often than not to be very predictable, cliched, very cheesy, too schmaltzy and over-scored. There have been many times where they have also been very cute, warm hearted, heartfelt, charming and appealingly acted. Really did want for 'Merry Matrimony' to be all of those latter adjectives, as Hallmark have shown quite a number of times that they can make watchable films.

Which sadly 'Merry Matrimony' is not one of, the complete opposite. It has a couple good things and is not quite down there with the very worst Hallmark Christmas films, though it was close. It is said with regret though that to me 'Merry Matrimony' was pretty much all of the negative adjectives mentioned above complete with bad acting pretty much all round and characters not worth caring for. Very little works here and the worst aspects are awful.

'Merry Matrimony' has some lovely scenery and decorations and is attractively photographed.

Sadly that is pretty much it for the good things. The acting all round is very bad. Jessica Lowndes does not look comfortable and has very little expression in her performance and Christopher Russell is far too introverted and looks and sounds half-asleep the entire time. Their chemistry is non-existent, the two look so indifferent and under-rehearsed when together and there is just nothing to the relationship. The rest of the cast are a mix of very stiff or overripe.

The characters are shallow ciphers and little more than typical Hallmark cliches with no variation, and none of them are believably developed or likeable. The direction throughout is as indifferent as the lead chemistry and is at best leaden. The music is, as can be the case with Hallmark, intrusive and there is nothing memorable to it. When it comes to the dialogue, it is very awkward in flow and there is no heart to it.

Both the cheese and sentiment go overboard, and because of disliking the characters so much there was nothing in 'Merry Matrimony' to connect with emotionally. The story is not much of one at all for most of the length, much of the first portion is endless and pointless filler and what there is of the story is very dull and makes no sense. The ending feels too rushed and too tidy.

On the whole, very poor and a long way from merry. 2/10.

I suffered through this movie twice, because I missed most of the first hour the first time it was on. I really didn't miss much. Where does Hallmark Channel find their actors/actresses? The ones in this movie were horrible, stiff, and the lead actor looked like he was reading cue cards half the time! He made no eye contact with other people in his scenes and was looking off in the distance during most of his time on screen.

Hallmark Channel should have given ALL of the performers in this movie free acting lessons. Save yourself two hours of your life and skip this show.