A Great North Christmas

Despite being a feel-good festive film, the layers of backstory sadness add more depth than many movies. For different reasons, Christmas hasn't been the happiest of times for me, so I like to see how characters navigate difficult memories that make for unhappy holidays. To balance that, there's a few advent adventures in stunning snowy settings that lift the mood, despite the realistic mini mishaps. Numerous subplots occur throughout the picture - some are just one-offs whilst others are revisited and developed, so it is good to watch the whole show, even if some may find it a bit slow early on. Ultimately, there's a lot packed in.

Lovely views but the two lead actors were dire, particularly the lead man oh dear the dialogue was stilted and didn't flow at all.

The scenery was the only plus side, non of the actors could produce a decent, well delivered sentence, whether that was due to the absolutely atrocious dialogue or just an appalling storyline, I'm not sure. The story didn't flow, there was no chemistry between anyone and the whole thing seemed to be an amateur and very low budget affair.

Were there any plus points? The scenery for one, it was free of fake snow and the husky growling at the leading lady, which seemed to allow the lead male to improvise a little. Just avoid this film.

Beautiful setting, all the reasons why I'm attracted to Christmas movies all year round. Initially the lead characters seemed slightly weak. Maybe not so convincing or even likeable. Not sure I was convinced by the chemistry between them. At times the acting was a little awkward and lacked lustre. Which detract from the main reason why I enjoy viewing Christmas films. But eventually they both began to grow on me. Through the backstory of the grief and saddest. Surrounding around the festive season this for me did feel real enough. Worked my way through it and came out the other end still thirsty for more festive viewing.

The dialogue, the direction, the acting, the cinematography, the sound design that had dialogue constantly dropping to sub-audible, the plot hole-ridden script, it's all atrocious. The only fun to be had in this film is in mocking it or making several drinking games out of it. Just remember to hand your keys to a designated driver before you try the latter.

I knew it was going to be unsalvageable by the first 15 minutes, when the dialogue had been established as so stilted, it could moonlight as a circus tall man. By the end, my wife was saying not even mocking it was doing the trick, she just wanted it to end, already. Which it did, abruptly, with several loose plot threads left frustratingly unresolved.

The only reason I didn't rate it lower is because the sled dogs in the movie don't deserve it, they were just having fun in the snow.

Lead male character is a pathetic, selfish, loser. No way the female lead or anyone else could fall for for him. The writers, unfortunately left him no room for redemption. Her falling for him in the end was totally unbelievable. Also, the lead male actor was stiff and did not seem to have the capability to exhibit emotions. I gave it a chance because because some movies find a way to save it in the end. This one did not. The male lead characters sad, pathetic, selfish character persisted to the end. I will be vary leery of watching anything else written by these writers; I believe the writers are the ones mainly responsible for this films low rating and are definitely responsible for my my extremely low raring..