Somehow, someone let this little sleeper out because, lately, a lot of movies have morales that don't ring true. And producers ask themselves why their projects don't become classics, or even make much money. This movie may never bring in the latter, but I was thoroughly impressed by its truths.
You have the white lady telling our heroine: if you're messing around with a person who is married, no matter how unmarried he may seem, you're asking for trouble. Now who says that in movies anymore? Not enough people.
Then you've got the spoiled wife admirably played by the still amazing Lynn Whitfield who warns our heroine. I was kind of surprised our heroine took her up on a directive; I might have been more trusting. But this was faster. The dialogue explaining the distancing between couples is emotional but didn't leave me having to figure out over coffee with someone afterward what everyone was feeling, why, if it made sense, etc. It was spelled out which, again, is unusual and welcome.
About the biggest failure if you could call it that is that the kitchens, in which, for some reason, much of the action takes place ... maybe that was cost-effective ... look pretty much alike; maybe the filmmakers set up among model homes and just walked from one to another. The same wrought iron candelabra shows up on everyone's kitchen counter. There must have been a sale at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
The level of forgiveness and self-forgiveness here may surprise you but I think you'll like the decision-making. By the way, the men are tasty. For the romantic among you who like to snuggle and watch your favorite Christmas movies, this could be a good addition to your repertoire.
