#Xmas

While the entire story is not bad, Hallmark has a huge collection of christmas movies but many are so badly acted that you what a few minutes and then turn it off. This particular one - that actress went about as if she was under an electric shock. Terrible acting. Who is she? The guy I am familiar with and he was not bad. The actress who played her sister was far more likeable and jenu-ine and the character of a her mum was good but one bad actress can ruin it for all. Sometimes Hallmark movies are so over done it and this was one of them. It is a pity as the story was an interesting angle but I think they should have gone with another actress.

6.8 stars.

First, this movie is somewhat entertaining, and dramatic. The musical score is great, the atmosphere is good, the acting is good. There is not much romance, but for me it was enjoyable, mainly because I could connect with the characters. There are a bunch of wounded people in this story. She gets caught up in a small lie that blows up into a whole charade of cover up after cover up. Will she end up sabotaging what remains of her dwindling success?

How many of us relate to this movie? Probably a lot of us. This movie is about family baggage, and the struggles and trials that accompany a dysfunctional relationship with a parent. Our protagonist female has nothing but leftover shadows from her past, and this story is about her personal conflicts to overcome the darkness and come into the light. In spite of her misfortunes as a child, due to problems with her mother, she managed to follow her dream. She is a creator of artistic beauty, and owns a store with her sister which showcases her talents. In contrast are all of the past issues that haunt her and are a barrier to her taking the next steps toward self-fulfillment. Everyone around her sees her potential, but she can't see past her insecurities. Waiting just beyond the horizon is the opportunity of a lifetime, and a chance at great love.

This movie is very effective at displaying a dramatized version of many hurting and injured individuals in the world today, and I hope that narcissistic parents can fathom the destructive impact they have on their children. Emotional abuse creates narcissists, and narcissists proliferate emotional abuse. Listen to Dr. Phil and let us end this tragic cycle.

Usually I can't stand these types of Christmas movies, but this one actually has a decent script and two leads with...chemistry? Gasp. Not only that but they had personalities and showed realistic signs of human quirks. To top it all off, it wasn't a story about a rich person going back to a small town and learning to love to build snowmen or something, it actually had an interesting storyline. Maybe I'm a fan of home decor instagram, but I'm also a fan of the concept that home decor influencers can be full of hot patootie at times.

A+ transaction IMO.

OH and that baby better be a paid actor, because it tried to steal the scene a few times.

I love Hallmark movies. I watch ALL of them. This is one of the worst movies in their 2022 catalog because of the character of Jen and the actress who plays her. She is one of the most unlikable female leads and sadly one of the worst actresses. Jen does nothing except wallow in self pity and act like her life is terrible. She is so mean to her mother, and to Max, played by the charming Brant Doughtery. I literally liked every character in this movie except Jen and she is so one dimensional. Maybe it was the writing, maybe it was the actress, maybe both. By the end of the movie I cringed at every gesture and vocal inflection she made. I cannot recommend this one.

We live in a society that rewards lying and cheating. But I really don't like most movies that are based on characters who lie and cheat to get ahead. Aside from the ethical questions, it's always really cringey when they get found out, and they always do get found out. At least the fake date movies involve characters who, arguably, don't hurt anybody other than family, and are ostensibly set up to prevent family criticism (or allow grandma to think everything is fine).

But here, somebody who told the truth didn't make it in the competition because Jen posted a fake video entry that got picked instead. Ironically, everything else that Jen says in her videos is usually quite "genuine" and it seemed possible that she could have made it to the final 20 and final 10 and maybe even the final 3 by being completely honest.

But having gone down the wrong path, with sales in her struggling business going up, Jen asks rhetorically:

"Why do I think this is going to spiral out of control to my detriment?"

Because it will.

And, for much of the movie, we are forced to watch Clare Bowen (effectively) make Emily look like the most miserable and emotionality distraught person on the planet. She constantly looks like she's seen a ghost or just watched her ice cream fall on to the sidewalk. I get it; she's really damaged by the loss of her dad when she was a child and by her resentment of a mom who looked for love elsewhere and wasn't there for her. And she's guilt ridden over the fake life she's living. But watching that nonstop pain, angst and anxiety is not the most enjoyable experience. Especially when stretched out over the better part of two hours.

I kept waiting and wishing that she would just let loose and enjoy Max who, inexplicably, has loved her for years. It's Hallmark, so everyone knows where they will end up, but in a good movie, as in life, the focus should be on the journey not the destination. Here, the journey was painful.

I did like watching Anna Van Hooft, who played Emily's sister and business partner Ali. I'd like to see her in more Hallmark movies and maybe even in a lead role.

I grade Hallmark on a curve, but I can see why I never saw any commercials or trailers for this movie.