Christmas à la Mode

The movie was fine, but we had to put the captions on to understand the actors. Turn down the music!!!!!!

Not that bad, but not all that enjoyable either.

'Christmas a la Mode' is your basic, standard made-for-TV festive film. Katie Leclerc and Ryan Cooper are cute together, though none of the support cast stand out. The plot is a solid if cliché-filled one, I will say they tie it together well enough.

Once again we have the family business being squeezed by big business....but also a prodigal sister too. Big business is actually rather ethical throughout this rendition, but the sister is an over-the-top antagonist. Our leads fall into the ubiquitous slow-burn romance once again, but since this is Lifetime, not Hallmark, I was disappointed the romance elements were so hesitant and G-rated. The leads were featured in another series called Confessions. While a much grittier, darker drama, the same leads' romance was much more intense and palpable. However, for a fluff piece movie, their acting was still engaging and we get our somewhat surprise happy ending.

'Christmas a La Mode' had one of those premises that actually didn't excite me all that much. It sounded very thin on the ground and like one of those films where everything was going to be obvious from the get go all the way through to the end. It is one of those premises that has been done quite a few times before and done quite conventionally each time. Saw it anyway, being such a big fan of Christmas and because of seeing a number of Lifetime/Hallmark etc. Christmas films overtime.

My somewhat indifferent feelings on the premise has sadly not changed all that much since watching 'Christmas a La Mode', with its execution of it being pretty much what it sounded like reading the basic synopsis. It isn't a terrible film, there are moments and good things, but there is not much really that is great either and some things are downright badly executed. There are certainly far worse Christmas films around, also far better.

There are good things here in 'Christmas a La Mode'. The best thing about it for me was Ryan Cooper, who came over as charming and sympathetic and his character was easily the easiest to warm to. Katie Leclerc also fared well and gives it her all, she didn't overdo the role and it didn't sound like she was just reading the lines. Did like them together and it was clear that they cared for each other.

Visually, 'Christmas a La Mode' looks attractive with some lovely scenery complemented without any signs of drabness or garishness by the photography. There are a few sweet moments here and there.

However, do agree with those that found the music too constant and too loud and it was neither interesting or appealing music. It balances poorly with the dialogue, which is also nothing to write home about due to the overload of cheese and over-sentiment. Also agree with those that found the character of Dorothy insufferably irritating and her last minute character change far too unrealistically abrupt. Jennifer Ellis overacted the character in my view too.

Found the story paper thin, with a pretty uneventful first half, and dully paced on the whole. While also hastily and too patly wrapping things up at the end. Generally it lacked charm and heart, with too little to it, and pretty much everything was obvious well before they happened. Only the two leads are good when it comes to the acting, everybody else overacts or is forgettable with none of their characters being interesting. The direction is workmanlike at best.

Overall, lacklustre but with moments. 4/10

You could summarize the entire movie, along with predicting the ending, from the previews that were shown on the network constantly prior to the premiere. There was one small piece that supported the token outcome and most people will figure it out as soon as the vehicle for that piece is introduced.

I have never liked the save-the-family-business/farm trope. It's tolerable if it stays in the background. But Emily expended 10 times as much effort and emotion on saving the farm as she did on Charlie.

Many Christmas movies have thin plot lines. They back it up and fill out the movie with likeable characters and chemistry between the leads. One character was likeable. The other character might generate sympathy for her cause, and maybe respect for perseverance, but I wouldn't want to spend time with her, much less date her. That's OK, because I wouldn't call anything they did dating. Besides cutting down a tree, and arguing, much of their time together was spent with other characters like her mother and/or sister.

This didn't need to be a Christmas movie. It could have easily been Fourth of July given the apple pie ice cream. There were several references to Santa figurines, and this could have led to an interesting subplot, but it didn't happen. They didn't need them. There were no Christmas Carols, snow ball fights or other common traditions.