Un Natale regale

Just finished watching it. It is a tad different. It's still a good story. About a charity director first meet an incognito prince, then gets embarrassed after being summoned to the castle to learn, see, that he is actually a prince. Funny part, she had to re-wrap the presents he tried, lol, to wrap on that first meeting. Everyone loves a very happy ever after, me included.

It's the time for fairy tales. Kids-at -heart love stories with princes or princesses. No point wondering why, in all of these far-away Kingdoms, everybody speak English and the plots are predictably repeated along the same theme. This time is Veronia, of which we only see a few angles around the royal palace and the palace interiors. The Prince, Brendan Fehr, appears a little uneasy in his role, maybe due to his efforts to speak with a British accent. Is it Amerish or Britican ? The American heroine, Jen Lilley, is, perhaps, a little too flirtacious in the attempt to create the impression of a real attraction. Yet, the entire production works well. The palace is impressively royal, the interiors are rich, all characters are essentially Christmas-nice, and kindness prevails in the core of the story. If you, righteously, feel it could have been done better, just see how much more horribly it could have been, when you try to watch "Christmas with a Crown", upcoming on Lifetime channel.

It was a great movie. Very beautiful atmosphere of love and kindness, caring and giving. I like when a movie has a message and it motivates you to do something good. Jen Lilley was just incredible in this movie.

Christmas and royalty is a combination that has been seen many times with Hallmark over the years, at least once Christmas-themed royal film every year. This formula has been executed with variable success, some being surprisingly good, some average and some really not worth bothering other than completest sake. Brendan Fehr is a very watchable actor and while Jen Lilley is very hit and miss for me some of her work has been good, but it has always been dependent on the character.

'Royally Wrapped for Christmas' is neither one of the best or worst Christmas/royal films from Hallmark, and is a long way from being either with their royal films in general (not all their royal films are centered around Christmas). On the whole, it was watchable with some good things. It also felt rather average with some not very well done aspects and not really anything exceptional. As far as Hallmark goes, one can do with far worse than 'Royally Wrapped for Christmas' but they have certainly done better.

The best thing about the film is Fehr, who has a subtle easy going charm with no signs of being forced. Fiona Reid is suitably dignified and disapproving. The scenery is beautifully picturesque and has a really festive feel and the castle interiors and exteriors are enough to make one want to stay there. The photography is suitably slick.

Music puts one into the festive mood and gives off a cosy nostalgia. There is some charm and genuine sweetness here.

Lilley however didn't do it for me here, she tries too hard and her character is too sickly perfect. It was like the writers were trying to not exaggerate any character flaws but instead went too far the other way of overdoing the positive aspects of the character to the extent it feels affected. Most of the cast overact and most of the characters are too cartoony and typical Hallmark cliches, with clearly fake accents galore, Fehr's being the only one to rise above that a little.

It is hard to deny too that 'Royally Wrapped for Christmas', even for trying to take it for what it is, is riddled with clichés, non-stop predictability and contrivance. It also feels far too easily resolved and too quickly as well. The script is awkward sounding and sounds very cheesy and schmaltzy.

Concluding, watchable but also very average. 5/10.

I'm not much of a fan of the "Royal" Christmas movies. I do love superheroes.

Lindsay is a true superhero. She doesn't fly like Supergirl. She can't deflect bullets like Wonder Woman. She doesn't have superstrength. But in the best traditions of those superheroes, Lindsay wants to change the world and her heart is almost big enough to do it.

First remember that rom/coms and Christmas movies often don't have much acquaintance with realism. They aren't supposed to. Especially so the "Royal" ones. So, if that's going to bother you, stay away from this movie. It probably pushes that envelope as much as any.

Lindsay doesn't have a selfish bone in her body. More than that, she understands as much or more than other movies' protagonists what the traditional movie sprit of Christ is. Lindsay wants to change the world by teaching orphans how much joy there is in giving. You see, orphans are lucky if they are in a position to receive one gift. They certainly don't have the resources to be giving them out right and left. So, what if Santa or whoever distributes gifts at the foundation gives them two? One to keep and one to give. (The grinch of realism tells me most of them will keep them both, but remember, we aren't supposed to care about realism.)

Meanwhile we have the prince and commoner story going also. It takes quite a bit of maneuvering by the writers to deal with the obvious cliche and predictability. But I have to give them credit. They walked that line better than most movies of this type. Most of those "that's blasphemy" moments which are usually ignored and done blatantly in the scripts are sidestepped instead.

This movie is verry upbeat. There's no mean antagonism between the leads on their first meeting. Her insult to him is said jokingly. The worst villain is the guy trying to take Lindsay's credit. Rival and mother have no meanness or arrogance.

For the circumstances, the acting is decent. There is real chemistry between Jen Lilly and Brendan Fehr (despite his fake royal accent). And there is a real Christmas message that comes through loud and clear. I might even start a tradition of giving two gifts at Christmas.

I've said it before - I love sappy.