The Naughty List

There's nothing to like. Tacky storyline, predictable plot, un-amusing actors and feeble attempts at Christmas-afying already 'done' tropes like 'can't lie' and 'make him love me'. Unless you're 12 and love the idea of love at Christmas, give this a miss. If you're on the couch desperate for something to watch, invest your time reading the back of a shampoo bottle instead.

This film is definitely aimed at a younger film audience, based on its secondary story and the cast as a whole. It does deliver to some degree, but is almost a complete rip off of another story about the 12 wishes of Christmas or something like that.

The lead guy is cute in his way and the bonus with him is that you could use his ears to pick up satellite wherever you are. I always liked having something to hold on to. Vanessa (Sugar Motta from 'Glee') actually does a great job in the lead female role, it's just a shame that the story and directing don't support her to show her full potential. It's not a serious story. The 'Boyfriend' Rod, is a terrible actor. The best friend is one of those annoying millennials that takes a selfie every five minutes and Morgan Fairchild would not be my first choice as Mrs Kringle, she can't even smile properly with all that work she's had done! So overall, not a great supporting cast, maybe that's why Vanessa Lengies? shines?

I might watch it again in a few years time, so I'm not saying it's awful, but it's easier to pick faults than to see the good things. Oh yeah, I've just remembered, she has a great wardrobe in it, some lovely dresses.

A traditional "Be Careful What You Wish For" story set at Christmas.

A little magic. Not the normal holiday plot. Vanessa Lengies is perfect in this role.

Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for A Date By Christmas Eve.

Story: 1.50/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.00/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2

Total 6.25/10

If you wanna fall in love by Christmas Eve, well, there's an app for that! And the thanks for that incredible software go to Julie McNiven, who stole the idea from her colleague Chelsea Simms. But Chelsea doesn't need to worry, some people know about the injustice. One of whom is Mrs Kringle, who bestows Chelsea's app with a smidgen of Elfen Santa Magic - The glamour to award Christmas gifts to nudge people back onto the Nice List. But of course, with great power comes blah, blah, blah. You know the given gifts will return to her double and triple fold. And luckily for the viewer, the writer and director, Jake Helgren, utilises these to add humour, unveil truths, and build characterisations: It's one reason the story works so well. Helgren is an outstanding scribe. He develops fascinating characters and gives them witty and heartfelt dialogue. I especially adored the segment where Rod, Chelsea's beau, proposes to her because of the gift she bestowed upon him. It works brilliantly, not just because of the writing, but all the performers are on point, their delivery is spot on for the comedic elements, and Helgren's cinematography adds the cherry to the icing on Rod's proposal cake.

As I stated, the acting is excellent, and all the performers deliver their portrayals flawlessly. It's a shame that a few characters are a tad on the stereotypical side, but the actors and actresses make up for their conventionality. For example, Rod is Mr Perfect, but Taylor Frey adds a slight campiness and overcooks the character to raise laughs, and it works. Plus, it was nice to see Morgan Fairchild again, this time as Mrs Kringle - she looks great for her age.

Though Helgren films the story in a predominantly conventional style, he adds the odd pleasing composition and subtly different camera angles. The more pedestrian filming allows the performers to shine and the story to unfold. However, I would've liked a little more of the heart-warming atmosphere, which comes and goes.

But, as it stands, A Date For Christmas Eve was a highly entertaining pleasure to watch. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend the movie for your viewing pleasure this season of goodwill.

Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.

Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.

This review probably sounds like it comes from somebody that loves hating on Lifetime Christmas films. That couldn't be further from the truth, this is coming from somebody who aims to be encouraging with their reviewing and is mostly generous. Have actually said quite a number of times that Lifetime showed a lot of times that they had a good film in them, although there was a lot of average and less output too. This review is not coming from a Scrooge either, my adoration of Christmas is probably well known by now.

2019 was very hit and miss for Lifetime's Christmas output, very like their previous years. 2020 was also hit and miss for them too, Christmas and overall. Some were pleasantly well above average and others were mediocre at best. Very like their output in general as indicated in the above paragraph. To me, 'A Date by Christmas Eve' (alternate title 'The Naughty List') is one of their worst from that year. Not unwatchable but very weak, compensated by the two lead performances but doesn't have much else going for it.

Am going to get the good things out of the way. As said, 'A Date by Christmas Eve' is saved from unwatchability by the above decent and actually quite appealing lead performances of Vanessa Lengies and Evan Williams. Lengies is suitably perky and Williams is a sensitive and charming partner. Their chemistry comes over as very genuine and amiable, looking at ease with each other.

Did think that the scenery is quite nice.

Otherwise, 'A Date by Christmas Eve' has nothing really to recommend it. The rest of the acting is poor, especially from a truly obnoxious Taylor Frey. Morgan Fairchild looks ill at ease too. None of the supporting characters engaged or appealed, especially the obligatory boyfriend stereotype that often in Christmas films comes over as too much of a jerk and very unpleasant. Which is exactly how the character of Rod comes over. Apart from the scenery, the film doesn't look too great. Too drab and like it was made in haste.

Mostly the music is forgettable at best and has no personality. The script is too cheesy and schmaltzy, constantly sounding awkward and the story is excessively dull, due to trying to pad out half an hour's worth of content to feature length, and has an overload of credulity straining moments that makes it ridiculous. The film feels too thin, has very little warm or charm and has an ending that is obvious from the start.

In conclusion, weak. 3/10.