Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays

5/10 - unlikable male lead and an average plot made this one a one-watch-and-done

This sequel isn't because it jumps to completely different people with a completely different story.

For a movie that relies on so many themes that have been used way too often, it has some moments that aren't derivative but a lot of what is unique has to do with Graceland. I was especially irritated with how much the controlling father-vs-the-spontaneous-nanny theme was exactly like several other movies, including some not around Christmas.

Adrian Grenier doesn't seem like he is good at warm romantic. It sure didn't seem like there was much chemistry between Grenier and Kaitlin Doubleday. I think Doubleday did her part and certainly did well as a high energy and engaging person.

The story lacks any serious conflict and the only tension is Harper's job search and Owen's business deal (which I never really understood), neither conflict being earth shaking. In general terms the outcome is predictable and there aren't any surprises along the way.

Then there's music and soundtrack. The soundtrack has several Elvis songs and the movie ends with a couple of musical performances. One was Doubleday singing Home for the Holidays with some backup from the kids. Her performance is enjoyable enough, but not really concert worthy. Chase Bryant does a short and not particularly Elvis-like Blue Christmas and then provides background to conversations that advance the movie.

Unfortunately, those conversations just don't seem authentic. Likewise the outcomes don't seem reasonable. In at least one case, it involves what would be a total personality change which I just don't buy.

Overall, I like musical performances in movies if the actors have some talent. The Elvis background will be a plus for some and not for others. The story is without sparkle as is the acting. For a romance, this was one in which I really didn't care that much because it wasn't that great. 6 stars may be generous, but then I didn't find anything that was an overwhelming turn off and good music always raises my ratings.

Despite the title, 'Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays' bears no correlation to 'Christmas at Graceland' with Kellie Pickler, with a different cast and story. So nothing here that connects other than the title, although it is not a sequel it is very easy to be misled (being somebody who was before watching) and think that it would be. Expectations were not high, with it being another premise that didn't excite me and being somebody that didn't like the Pickler 'Christmas at Graceland' at all.

The good news is that 'Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays' was a little better than expected and is an improvement over the Pickler 'Christmas at Graceland'. There are similar problems here and problems of its own, but at least the acting is better especially and nobody here is on the same level of bad as Pickler. For me though, it still wasn't a particularly good film and doesn't do enough with fairly familiar territory.

'Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holiday's' best aspect is the production values. The scenery is truly lovely and near-magical and the camera work captures it beautifully. Very clear that those behind the camera loved the scenery. Some of the music is nostalgic and catchy.

Kaitlin Doubleday is immensely engaging and likeable, here is a female lead character that is not hard to root for, is interesting and with no negative characteristics over-emphasised if at times a little too perfect.

Less good is Adrian Grenier, whose performance lacks warmth and charm and his character was too overboard-stiff and took ages to remotely get behind. Do agree completely that there is no chemistry between him and Doubleday, they never looked as though they liked each other let alone in love and the relationship is bland and underdeveloped. The supporting cast fail to register in underwritten and sketchy roles, the only one that is memorable is Priscilla Presley and sadly that's not in a good way. She never looked comfortable and looked ill.

Faring just as badly are the script and story. The script is cheese and awkwardness personified, with the cutesiness going into overload and there is just no depth whatsoever to it. The story is incredibly predictable, complete with the customary too obvious and neat ending, and far too slight for the running time. Meaning that the film crawls along at a dull pace and that atmospherically it is very bland, with very little charm or heart, adds further to that. The direction is pedestrian and while the music is good on its own it's used too much and has some random placement.

Overall, pretty lacklustre and lacked grace. 4/10

The people at Hallmark/Lifetime/Whoever got permission to use Graceland, so they're going to make the most of it. I'm not sure why they're trying to make it seem like a sequel to the Wes Brown film though, as the only connection is the location.

Some might call this 'The Sound Of Music Christmas At Graceland' as all it needs is some Nazi's and it might as well be the same script, with an overly organised father and regimented kids who hire a Nanny that changes all of that. This includes getting them all to sing around the piano in clothes made from curtains. Ok so the bit about the clothes isn't true, but these kids have sung together and learned the harmonies way before this woman ever turned up. They're just a bit too good. Eventually they have to escape over the border, that's not true either, but the leads have to decide what's really important to them both and work together to make the best Christmas for the kids and see what might happen between them.

The lead guy is just not right for me. I loved him in 'The Devil Wears Prada' and I've heard good things about him in 'Entourage'. Maybe it was his incredibly off putting haircut that made him seem off, but he was out of place in my eyes.

Overall, we've seen this story done before and better, but it's definitely not the worst of these films that I've seen.

Feel good movie....flows well....likable characters.....makes Memphis look like a Winter wonderland which it is not but overall enjoyable.