The 5-Year Christmas Party

This movie has a different approach than most Hallmark Christmas movie fare, and that alone makes it work a look, as it touches on the shaky relationship between two people who basicly only see either other once a year around Christmastime for a series of years.

The script writers went for sharp, smart dialogue and uncomfortable scenes, and they got that right.

Unfortunately, they created two characters with believable sexual tension, but, to me, unlikeable. The female lead in particular seems far too willing to ignore friends, as she ghosts two of them over the course of the movie, and eventually he ghosts her too, after going to California to make a movie. These are not people I'd make part of my life.

I'm not sorry we watched it, but it won't bear a second time through.

The acting of the main character (Alice) was really bad, unreliable, lifeless and ruined the film. Max's acting was significantly better and managed to cover up Alice's acting a bit but didn't lift the film. Sometimes the quality of an actor has a big impact on the quality of the film and in this case, unfortunately, the effect was not good. Besides, it was also quite sloppy and it felt like the attempt to be clever made the film more boring. I love watching Christmas movies and I don't have high demands, but this movie was particularly disappointing. I barely managed to finish it. It was a complete waste of time. Not recommended.

Truly the WORST movie i have ever seen. Awful acting- no chemistry whatsoever. The script was terrible and the story line wasn't good or believable. I would never recommend this to anyone i remotely like. Truly the absolute worst. I hope i never have to see a commercial or watch anything like it ever again. The styling was also terrible, hideous outfits. Not once did i feel butterflies like i normally do with these movies. I just felt frustrated and disappointed. Do NOT waste your time if you are considering. Truly wish i could get those 2 hours of my life back. Usually a big fan of hallmark, this one let me down.

This one was highly anticipated and I really wanted to love it since Last year's Katie Findlay's Christmas movie was one of the best. But this one was boring. Some decent writing and acting but the chemistry was just not there at all. I could not believe that these two were so in love to make this drag over the span of five years.

They just gave me friends vibes all along.

My rating is mostly due to Katie's great acting like always and Hallmark's attempt at a fresh original plot.

To anyone reading this, go enjoy Sealed with a List from last year. Some serious chemistry going on in that one.

Movies like this where the story only progresses at successive Christmas meetings have one strike against them to start for me. I think this movie really captures why. The lead couple just doesn't seem right together. A relationship needs to fill in between times, not have gaps. People change over a year and you can't really know a person only at certain seasons, especially Christmas. In short, I just can't buy that they really love each other. There are too many red flags about the future.

Having said that, the story, as it is, is well done. Mostly Kate Findley. I find her to be unique. She brings life to her character no matter what is going on in the character's story. The dialogue and events in this story are perfect for Kate. I can really picture this person, Alice, as a real person, crazy as she is.