Fit for Christmas

I suggested to my wife we watch this together and share a little holiday romantic time. How bad could it be? Thirty minutes into it she asks "Isn't there a football game on?" Channel changed. We knew it was going to be cheesy and that is what you expect in a Hallmark style holiday movie. But, this was stale even for the tried and true 'finding love at Christmas' formula. Perhaps, the writers should try something a little different? This plot has been tried in so many variations that it is hard to create anything original or fresh. On the bright side, the venue looked great. I find it hard to believe that it wasn't a tourist destination already.

Save the fitness center from big time developer. Audrey flees NYC after a boyfriend fight and failed business. The boyfriend won't give up and dangles a good job opportunity back in NY. The lead couple crashes into each other and they exchange unpleasantries. Of course, he is the developer's son. Though the fundraiser project is a bit on the unusual side.

Amanda Kloots brings a lot of energy, maybe a bit too much, to the part of Audrey. She and Paul Greene have good chemistry, but the sparring part of the relationship continues past halfway in the movie. The other acting is good. The script is decent with some funny moments even if most of it is filled with the usual Christmas activities and contests and too much of the checklist "you like him".

Overall, this story is more of the usual stuff with no great highs or lows or surprises. It appeared originally in primetime on a legacy network where it is a little different from their norm, but it would get totally lost amid all the similar movies shown on the 24/7 Christmas movie networks like Hallmark and Lifetime.

While I've enjoyed countless Christmas movies featuring Paul Greene, I'm afraid this one has got to be one of the watch-and-forget Christmas movies of 2022. I find Griffin (Paul's character) to be very off-putting and sometimes downright condescending toward Audrey (Amanda Kloots), and despite all the charm from Paul and bubbly energy coming from Amanda, watching the two of them getting together just felt off to me. The story sends an usual message to impressionable people out there: that it is totally OK for men to bully and mansplain things to women as long as they are charming and women would still fall for them. The fact that the best friend kept hinting just how good looking Griffin was (we get it) the whole time only made the romantic direction of the movie felt even more forced and unnatural. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Hallmark Christmas movies and all the actors and actresses that have tirelessly put out hundreds of feel-good movies for us year after year, but this one really should've been shelved or at least rewritten before it was green-lit in the first place.

Apparently, I am in the minority but I did not love this movie. While like many, I am a fan of both Amanda and Paul, I found the swing in Audrey's personality from over-the-top bubbly fitness instructor to hostile Griffin hater just too much, and not realistic - particularly in the opening scenes. I also found some of the fitness segments a bit frantic. Perhaps some of this is over-acting or just the nature of a quickly made film with minimal re-takes. Hoping all the holiday moviemakers will move on soon from the same old save the (fill-in the blank) trope. There must be creativity out there. This one - like many others this season - was formulaic.

One of the better hallmark romantic comedy's Amanda Koots was an excellent choice for the lead. Great chemistry between two leads also no distractions with other characters. Almost felt like the original hallmark movies were done. Just an good old fashion Christmas movie. Not overdone no hitting you over the head. Enjoyable movie.

Supporting characters were just that good supporting cast. But the best part is Amanda Koots. I was pleasantly surprised by her actong OK and how much she jelled with the lead. In addition no hidden messages by hallmark or characters this was. Refreshing movie and much better typical rom coms.