Holidaze

15 August 2014. A twist in the traditional Christmas themed romantic comedy, set during Thanksgiving with a high powered corporate woman charged with making sure a big box store gets approved by the City Council in her hometown. This enhanced version of It's a Wonderful Life, but in a more lighted, fluffy way creates a wonderful dreamlike "what if" scenario that has an extended ending, like an extra present. More family oriented for the holidays than Jennifer Love Hewitt's more comedy-drama of "If Only" (2004) alternative life scenario or not quite as brilliant as "Sliding Doors" (1998) or Slip Stream (2007) surrealistic enterprise with Anthony Hopkins, Holidaze offers up an extended entertaining experience enjoyable for the whole family.

In the usual tradition of Christmas TV movies, the heroine of Holidaze is too consumed with surface attractions and needs to learn her lesson. Jennie Garth, beautiful and with an adorable spunk that helps make her likable, is a corporate big-wig who hasn't been home in ages. She comes back for a business deal, but when she bumps her head and passes out, her world changes. All of a sudden, she finds herself married to her high school sweetheart and running a coffee shop in her hometown!

Jennie and her love interest Cameron Mathison have a natural chemistry together; it's easy to believe they have a history and belong together. In these types of movies, the romantic leads often bicker and have nothing in common, and while that is still the case in Holidaze, the audience can still feel a pull between them. The rest of the story—a potential corporate takeover—isn't particularly compelling, so the fact that the romance is makes this a delightful holiday flick. Plus, it takes place in the days after Thanksgiving, so you can watch this one early on in the season before your Christmas cookies are even baked!

There were three main reasons for wanting to see 'Holidaze'. Am a big fan of Christmas and have been watching many Christmas films from Hallmark and Lifetime as a quest for the past three or four years. Second was for the concept, which is not a novel one (the alternate universe 'Sliding Doors'-like concept having been done before and since) but is fascinating and lends itself well to Christmas films. Third was for the always watchable Cameron Mathison.

'Holidaze' though could have gone either way in execution and was a little worried about how it would execute a concept as good as this. It could either be charming, light hearted and undemanding fun, or too predictable, contrived and far fetched. Luckily, 'Holidaze' is in the former category and is a lot better than its current rating suggests. The execution is not great or perfect, but to me this was fun and charming with a good deal to like.

Am going to start with what didn't quite work. Will agree that the corporate stuff wasn't particularly compelling and slowed the film down sometimes, as well as being a bit too serious.

It takes a bit of time to find its footing pace-wise, where the story is not so eventful or energetic. The ending is a bit too predictable and neat.

On the other hand, 'Holidaze' does do a lot right. It looks attractive enough. The scenery is both rustic and festive and the photography doesn't look rushed or drab, quite beautiful actually. The music doesn't come over as too melodramatic while still having some presence. The direction is suitably sympathetic on the most part while taking a little time to find its feet. The dialogue doesn't go overboard on the cheese and sugar and is suitably light hearted without being silly, sparkling with the two leads when together.

While the story is uneven, with it being at its weakest with the corporate elements, it does come to life when the leads are together and in the more personal scenes. With there being a lot of heart-warming charm and cuteness, without there being too much of the latter. The characters interest and are worth investing in, not being too perfect or having flaws too exaggerated, which was refreshing after seeing a few films with distastefully over the top unpleasant characters that you are meant to root for. Garth and Matthison are both well cast and engaging, particularly Garth. Support is solid.

Concluding, nice film as long as a classic is not expected. 7/10.

The actors in the movie Holidaze, especially Jennie Garth, did a fantastic job, showcasing their talent and skill. It's cute, funny, Christmasy and interesting to watch. It's never boring.

I don't understand why the movie, Holidaze, cannot be watched on the Freeform app, especially during the holidays. The app frequently broadcasts older movies from ABC Family, like Angry Angel another equally good movie which was also broadcasted in ABC Family. I hope the rights holder will allow us to watch the movie again by redistributing it through a streaming app or at least let us rent it. Otherwise, it's lost forever and so many people enjoy it! Just read through the comments on this page.

This is a film that can't make up its mind if it wants to be a revamped remake of "Groundhog Day" or an attack on corporate America. A high flying corporate executive is sent to her hometown to tear down its Olde Worlde Charme and replace it with a modern hypermarket or some such. Naturally the natives don't like the idea, especially the small shopkeepers.

Lured to the home of the man she left behind, she falls down the stairs in a freak accident, and when she wakes up not only are the two of them married but she has never left.

No sooner has she come round to her new reality, albeit with great difficulty, than she suffers another accident and the process is reversed.

As comedies go, this isn't bad, neither is the soundtrack, and the finale proves that not all capitalists are bad, or maybe that big business needs a woman's touch.