#Xmas

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.

When I say this movie is very different, I don't mean it dodged ALL of the normal Christmas movie tropes. It didn't. In fact, this is the SECOND script this season to feature a local business with a fake online profile. However, this one was MUCH better done than the first one we saw.

Most of this style of plot are take-offs on Barbara Stanwick's old standard, Christmas in Connecticut.

First of all, we had many audible chuckles and one laugh out loud moment. The dialogue between the sisters is clever and surprising. Clare Bowen's portrayal of a worried, uncomfortable, neurotic female lead is entertaining, convincing, and funny. Her takes in response to certain situations and dialogue are constantly amusing. A movie with lines this smart and funny is worth your time, and we'll be watching it again in coming years.

We only started watching because of Brant Daughtery. Finally Hallmark gets a good leading guy for a holiday movie, but leaves him mostly in the background. Astoria and Portland Oregon are not places that have snow (Astoria has an average of less than 1/4 inch of snow a year.) The premise of the movie is untruths, is this the new standard for Hallmark? Lies upon lies and too many to keep track of. Definitely full of family drama with bad family dynamics. Not sure it makes the best Christmas movie, but better than most Hallmark has done this year overall. Hope they decide to do more films with Brant.

I guess it merits praise for not being as bad as it could've been.

Given the obvious, I was not expecting '#Xmas' to pack any sort of punch - that title is an immediate red flag. Though, to be fair, it's actually an averagely fine festive flick for television. I will say that I did enjoy Clare Bowen in the lead role, nothing special granted but she's likeable.

Brant Daugherty leads the rest of the cast OK, Lillian Doucet-Roche and Sebastian Stewart are alright too - even if their supposedly split relationship was a tad too one-sided against Doucet-Roche's character in my opinion.

Overall, I think the film is just a little bit too forgettable - like, I don't dislike it but what really actually happens? Nothing memorable, unfortunately.

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.