Christmas at the Drive-In

Danica McKellar has done better work. Her second outing with GAC Family is not a strong one, despite the presence of Neal Bledsoe, whom she has worked with before, over at Hallmark.

If I were asked to describe 'Christmas at the Drive-In" in one word it would be 'formulaic'.

You can tick the boxes on this: small town. Teenage sweethearts. Important town location in danger of being destroyed. Said location (a drive-in, as you probably gathered from the title) being saved by the two protagonists and sparks fly along the way. Devious entity tries to stop it. Said entity is defeated. Protagonists fall in love.

This sort of movie has been done before and done better. Didn't seem to be all that much chemistry between the leads and the storyline was pretty weak.

Ah, it's Christmas time which means the occasional watch of the Danica McKellat Christmas movie since I was a fan of hers on the Wonder Years. I've actually found the ones on Hallmark to be a bit entertaining but his one (I know it's a different network) was by far the most boring and predictable of the bunch. Last year's wasn't much better, feels like her Christmas fare is going downhill. Christmas at the Drive In made zero sense for these two people to grow a relationship even with the lazy writing of having them been school mates. The relationship felt a bit forced and hopefully they find better writers for Danica's next Christmas adventure.

You get exactly what is expected - run of the mill formula, story, and production that's comfortable and bland - a good feeling filler of time that will make most any Lifetime or Hallmark watcher very happy. The actors had a fair amount of personality and chemistry. I personally tuned in because I've seen a number of other Danica McKellar Christmas projects over the years - so it's kind of tradition! Everyone did a decent job except with the graphics people and continuity - at one point the drive-in screen displays -

"Come Join Our Caralers Tonight!"

No - seriously. Uh Oh. Someone can't spell carolers!!!!!

It was quite a distraction from the movie.

Back to which - they wrote a mind numbing "twist" resolution to wrap up every loose end in one shot during the last few fleeting minutes of the run. BAM - it was over! That's how these things always go though. Would it be so hard to leave the formula behind and be a little more creative? Unfortunately the execs have to rubber stamp projects - and if it doesn't fit their mold, it becomes too frightening to green light. This one's worth a watch for an easy going holiday film.

It's not that this movie is offensively bad, it just would be fully forgettable, were it not for the improbable premise: fight for saving a "historic drive-in" over jobs for regular folk? Where the supposed antagonist is for no reason made to help his rival?

However, it was refreshing that there were no cartoon bad guys as such. And I liked both of the leads and enjoyed watching them. It just didn't seem believable they would be a couple: one with that bad boy energy and the other one rather wholesome. Sure, sometimes the whole opposites attract situation creates great sizzle, but here the leads felt more like bickering and bantering siblings.

One big issue for me is that I enjoy, nay, demand beautiful visual and set design in Christmas movies - somehow this just wasn't visually very impressive. It was a bit bland a little unwarm, and e.g. The shop with Christmas decors looked more like a Goodwill store.

So: if you're looking for sumptuous Christmas movie with fiery romantic chemistry, keep on driving.

I often say that this kind of movie does not deal well with reality. This premise is one of the more ridiculous in that way that I can remember. So let's try to get over it.

Now the premise is that two old high school flames have to work together on a Christmas (sort of) project. That is one of the more common ones. In other words, the story is just a platform to allow a romance to develop.

There is some decent dialogue including some funny lines. The acting is good. Based on the set-up, the lead protagonists should be about as antagonistic as they could be. While there is some residual friction over business matters and personal history, they get awfully friendly awfully fast and soon the friction turns to nostalgia. Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe do have very good chemistry.

There are some little mysteries that unveil later in the movie. Early on, both Sadie and Holden tell their side of their breakup in high school, but it's obvious that something is missing. About half way through we learn more about both backstories since high school.

I said let's try to get over it. Unfortunately, the movie keeps bringing the ridiculous premise up, like rubbing it in the viewer's face. It is central to the story all the way through. And the miracle is even more ridiculous. I really wish the premise hadn't been so stupid. I might have been able to see this as a slightly above average movie despite being entrenched in overused tropes and with no real surprises. But as is, the ridiculous story just takes away too much.