Un Natale inaspettato

Many times, the small screen imitates the big screen. For Hallmark's take on Christmas with the Kranks, check out the new release, Haul Out the Holly. And no, before you start cringing, the heroine's name isn't Holly. Lacey Chabert plays Emily, a woman who returns to the sanctuary of her childhood home to heal from a break-up over Christmas. Only, her parents have taken off on a spontaneous Florida vacation and have refused to stay behind to lend emotional support. At first, I thought they knew their daughter so well, their abandonment was one giant "recovery plan": by making her focus on the Christmas spirit, she'd forget about her broken heart and find herself. But no, they just went on vacation. Another plot point I found confusing: if Lacey wanted to be left alone over the holiday and not get immersed in cheer and festivities, why did she return to her small hometown that has an entire HOA dedicated to Christmas decorations and traditions? Did she really think she pass December by without a wreath or tree?

Haul Out the Holly has a very modern style of humor, so not everyone will be laughing until their sides hurt. The under-30 crowd probably will, as it has a theme that's very popular with the "young folks": make fun of rich, white people. Set in a wealthy Utah suburb, the bulk of the humor is dedicated to poking fun of HOA rules and the strictness of "Christmas cheer quotas". One woman bursts into hysterical sobs when she wins a cookie contest, one man measures the height of a nutcracker to see if it's up to the neighborhood standards, and there's a "Team Kringle" secret society that comes with a Santa hat, striped walkie talkie, and underground initiation.

If you're laughing at those little examples, you'll love this movie. If you've ever lived among a strict HOA and found it ridiculous, you'll be glad to release some tension and laugh at your former (or current) neighbors. I was very happy to see some familiar faces in the supporting cast. While everyone will look forward to "Ned Ryerson" (Stephen Tobolowsky) playing one of the gung-ho neighbors, I was thrilled to recognize Walter Platz, whom I watch every year in one of my favorite Hallmarks, Switched for Christmas. Honestly, he was the highlight of the movie for me. Give this over-the-top Christmas comedy a try, especially if you're watching it with your adult children who will probably love it.

With Candace Cameron Brure dumping Hallmark, Lacey Chabert apparently takes over the title of Queen of the Hallmark Christmas movies, and if this is any indication, then let her reign carry on for awhile. Chabert has never seemed more relaxed playing a Christmas character and is really quite funny and good here. She is ably assisted by a fine supporting cast, particularly Wes Brown and the wonderful Melissa Peterman, both of whom are also very funny. The witty, sometimes hilarious, script is a benefit, too, but it only works because Chabert and the others are just so good in playing their parts. Nicely done and one film that will make you feel good during the holidays.

Watching this as I'm searching to buy a home & this movie reinforces,my hate for HOA or similar associations.

Imagine paying a mortgage/owning a home & dealing with a person or association,way more annoying than a landlord.

No thanks! Why do people choose this? Unless an association is formed after your an owner,but still why agree to such things.

Being ticketed for holiday standards not being followed? This movie actually gave me anxiety,wasn't almost anything cute about it.

Look at Naughty or Nice & even Christmas with the Kranks,dealt with neighbor issues but in a comedic way.. This movie went in an unhealthy direction,calling it satire still doesn't excuse it.

Oh sure many feel an HOA is useful from preventing nearby Sandford & Son type homes,but bullying a person that doesn't follow Stepford protocol is ridiculous.. I have ran across many HOA communities that only allow D. I. N. K-Double Income No Kid,that's a whole other level of crazy to avoid.

Sure it was a bit different storyline & acting like the houses over the top,but nothing worth watching again.

Casting was ok & cinematography,is always decent.

I love Hallmark movies. And I think we can all agree that Lacey Chabert is now the undisputed Queen of Hallmark movies. And Wes Brown is one of their most handsome and likable stars.

But this movie was like watching upside down Hallmark, especially given all the great Hallmark Christmas movies that I've recently watched:

Family for Christmas (with Lacey in a much better movie); Three Wise Men and a Baby; Next Stop Christmas; The Royal Nanny; Ghosts of Christmas Always; Christmas By Starlight; On the 12th Date of Christmas; Just in Time for Christmas; The Christmas Secret; Lights, Camera, Christmas; and Christmas at the Golden Dragon

Emily's boyfriend was a bit of a caricature, but I was ready to get past that and into the rest of the movie. But then we get a flashback of little Emily's parents preventing her from opening presents on Christmas morning because they need to go work at the carnival??? What? That's not comedy, that's just really messed up. Strike 2

And then Emily is invited by her parents to come spend Christmas at home, only to have them pack up and leave the moment she gets there. What??? Strike 3

At this point, I was thinking the movie was intended to be some sort of satire or farce or something (the trailer made it seem like it would be funny), but I wasn't finding it funny- just annoying. But I thought that at least Emily seemed normal. She was understandably incredulous at seeing both her parents leave the way they did. And when her childhood friend Jared came by to start applying weird HOA rules, she pushed back. Good for her. So I stuck with it.

But then Jared came over again, in stalker mode, crawling around her deck. What?? And then he issued some sort of silly violation that required her, as punishment, to spend two hours helping the neighbors set up their decorations. And, for some reason, she agreed.

All this after she made it perfectly clear that she just wanted to chill during the holidays.

This is where my hope for a movie turnaround began to evaporate, especially when Emily starting going along with the HOA planning which, aside from being creepy and obsessive, seemed a little late (it was supposedly just one week before Christmas). A community this bonkers over decorations would have been prepping right after Halloween. I almost turned it off, but I almost never turn off a Hallmark movie. So I kept watching and hoped, somewhat desperately that, like so many Hallmark movies, Emily would wake up from this nightmare, and realize it was all just a bad dream. But no.

There have been several Hallmark movies that, unfortunately, seem to celebrate over the top competitive decorating (Making Spirits Bright comes to mind). Those kinds of movies seem to miss the Spirit of Christmas. And this movie was the antithesis of what I've come to love about Hallmark which normally celebrates love, family, kindness, helping others, good values, a fulfilling career, and a HEALTHY sense of community. As a lawyer, I've been involved in a lot of litigation involving HOAs which are often torn apart by discord. It can really get ugly. This was an unpleasant reminder of the kind of control freaks who sometimes take control of HOAs.

The movie did have some interesting aspects and better moments. For example, I loved the shout out to the classic Notting Hill ("I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy...")

Eventually, Emily and Jared had some fun banter halfway through with some fun jokes about Nickelback and Creed

Pamela bragged about having a "Phd in arts and crafts and a minor in scrapbooking".

One of my favorite Hallmark stars Kristopher Polaha showed up and bragged about telling his unfiltered daughter "see something, say something". And I liked his daughter's answer to "have you been naughty or nice?"- "A little bit of both"

But the rest? Ugh.

At first it was fun to see Stephen Tobolowsky, who played Ned Ryerson in the classic Groundhog Day, playing another Ned in this movie (points for that). Ned asked to use rebar for one of the styrofoam snowmen, which were obviously fake (more so than they usually are). I kinda liked that. But his character was more often an over the top joke who talked about wanting to build a retractable roof so he could grow a 60 foot tree in his living room. Huh?

Hallmark knows how to make funny movies, as this year's big hit Three Wise Men and a Baby demonstrates. But Paul Campbell can't write all their movies. This was a disappointment for me, especially given how likable the 2 leads are. But as they said in The 12th Date of Christmas, "they can't all be winners".

I think some low reviews are from viewers who took this movie way too seriously. It's supposed to be over-the-top and almost satire. Hallmark movies need to be approached with the proper attitude, especially the Holiday offerings. Don't expect award winning plots or acting. Sit back and just enjoy.

Wes Brown is funny, who knew? He is adorable in this movie. Lacey is charming as always. And Melissa Peterman, whom I usually loath, was also funny and made me almost like her.

So no, it's not Oscar worthy. But it is a fun romp. If all the little details aren't picked to shreds, examined, and found lacking by the plot police.