The Flight Before Christmas

Starring Amy/Blossom (Big Bang Theory & Blossom) Mr. Awesome (Chuck), Carl Otis Winslow, Harriette Winslow (Family Matters), and Lou Loomis (Caddyshack). I mean... Starring Mayim Bialik, Ryan McPartlin, and even Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters), Jo Marie Payton, and Brian Doyle-Murray.

Short Synopsis: Two strangers share a room at a bed-and-breakfast when an unexpected snowstorm delays their flight on Christmas Eve.

My Thoughts: First, props for showing this shot at the beginning. It's not just Staples Center here, home of the Kings and Lakers (and the Globetrotters), but it also has an Outdoor Ice Skating Rink (my favorites)!

Second, props to the casting involved. A lot of actors from shows (and movies) that I really loved.

"Of course I can book a cross-country flight the day before Christmas Eve, with less than a day's notice. It's called "power of positive thinking."

And low and behold, the "Last Minute Flights" prices is more than her rent! No surprise there. And Mayim was able to make that whole situation a little funny too.

But enough of all that nonsense with the flights, because it's Mr. Awesome time. My Grandpa and I are fans of the show Chuck, so we know Michael (McPartlin) as Mr. Captain Awesome. He played the dream-guy in that show, and once again plays a dream-guy in this movie too. I don't think he'll ever escape being Mr. Awesome (although Zachary Levi is doing pretty good).

His role as Michael Nolan is a pretty likable on IMO. And he has a really nice smile too.

And from there, everything gets wrapped up into a Christmas Detour, only a lot better!!! I really didn't like Hallmark's Christmas Detour. Lifetime was able to use a somewhat similar story-line and make it 10 times better in my opinion (IMO).

Plus, I really wouldn't mind sharing a hotel with Mr. Awesome too.

Now I won't go on and compare the Hallmark movie to this Lifetime movie. If you're curious about the comparison, this Yahoo TV, Mandi Bierly (Deputy Editor) did it perfectly I thought. And they even agree with Mr. Awesome being better Eye-Candy than Paul Greene in a robe in a Christmas Detour.

I really think The Flight Before Christmas was better because of the actors, and a better script. And I liked really liked this movie (my grandpa liked it too).

The lead actors are both my favorites. And I know Paul McPartlin is his name, but my grandpa and I just know him as Mr. Captain Awesome from our favorite show, Chuck. I grew up watching Blossom (and Family Matters), and love Mayim as Amy in the Big Bang Theory!

And as for the ending... there was a Happily Ever After. But at least it wasn't one of those insta-love things where they say that they love each other after a couple days (Christmas Detour). Nope. It took them a little more realistic time to declare their love.

Delightful romantic Christmas movie with Mayim Bialik and Ryan McPartlin making the most of a formulaic plot. The story here has Mayim's character dumped by her boyfriend right before she's supposed to move in with him, while Ryan is about to propose to his girlfriend for all the wrong reasons. Fate (in the form of a vaguely Santa-esque Brian Doyle Murray) brings the two together as they try to make it to their respective destinations for Christmas. Familiar TV movie tropes follow: winter weather grounds all flights, couple is forced to share a room, couple gets advice from older married couple that has been together for centuries, and so on. As I said, it's pretty formulaic in most respects but what makes it work so well is the chemistry and likability of the leads. Yes, that's right, Blossom and Captain Awesome actually have great chemistry. Who knew?

Major points for whoever cast Mayim Bialik in the lead. She doesn't look or act like the female leads in these things usually look and act. I'm not someone who typically cries foul about diversity in TV and movies but I will admit it's nice to see a leading lady who isn't your standard size four perky WASP. Ryan, yes, is a little more of the norm for these things (though he does an exceptionally good job being more than just the 'hunky prize'). The highlight of the movie for many will be the reunion of Reginald VelJohnson and Jo Marie Payton, the loving parents from Family Matters. They play the older couple that I mentioned before and steal every scene they're in. If there's no other reason you might check this out, you should for them. Children of the '90s get their nostalgia's worth in this one, with Blossom and the Winslows representing well.

If you enjoy made-for-TV Christmas movies, I see no reason you won't like this one. It's got heart and humor and (surprisingly) well-written characters. That it was made for Lifetime and not the king of Christmas movies, Hallmark, is all the more impressive. Glad to see Lifetime can make more than misandric thrillers and cheesy soaps.

So you know how this is going to go. The main girl character was going to be moving in with her boyfriend for xmas but he dumps her. Even worse, she no longer has a home because her old one has been relet to someone else. She gets the bright idea to hop a plane home for x-mas at the last moment but she isn't in a great mood. Ok sure, but the problem is two fold... the actress is not exactly a supermodel and she is insanely unpleasant. Even a supermodel would be unattractive under these circumstances. She meets someone at the airport and, shocker, they don't get along. No real reason for this other than the woman taking her feelings out on him. Eventually they have to share a hotel room due the plane being diverted and they fall in love. The thing is.. it is hard to believe. It isn't just that, as others have noted the female is a 5 and the male is an 11, there is just no real reason for them to fall for each other, especially in light of how nasty she was at the start. It kind of seems like a rebound relationship. Just skip it.

I watch a lot of these with my wife. We know the formula and this one follows it also.

But, Mayim is not the typical female lead and that's a good thing.

Two people meet on a flight from LA back East. She has recently been dumped and he is an a long distance relationship. But of course romance ensues.

The dialog is a bit more interesting than the usual Christmas TV movie. There seems to be a subtle message about compatibility of personality over looks. " This is Mayim Bialik's movie. For fans of "Big Bang Theory" where she plays Amy Farrah Fowler - it's a treat to see her. Usually Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas movies don't feature lead romantic actresses who look like or are shaped like her. It's nice to see someone like her leading this type of movie. Ryan McPartlin of "Chuck" is a good enough comedic actor to make his role believable.

If you are going to watch one Xmas movie this year this is a good choice.