Un Natale non proprio regale

This is a familiar genre for Hallmark. There's a historical kingdom or castle who really does it up big for Christmas, but things are not exactly on the up-and-up. In this go around a journalist shows up trying to get an interview with a Count. Honestly, I can't even remember the name of the place, not that it's critical to the story. Brooke D'Orsay (who I'll always remember from Royal Pains) plays our journalist, who isn't entirely honest about why she's there. She's great as usual. The royals scheme too by trotting out Will Kemp, who might be the best looking groundskeeper in all the land, to play the never-been-seen Count. This movie works, but it doesn't break any new ground. The ending is rather cringy, but not a giant surprise.

I always look forward to a Hallmark movie with Will Kemp, but I must say this one was disappointing. I think Will Kemp was great, but there is absolutely NO chemistry between him and Brooke D'Orsay (who I must admit is not one of my favorite Hallmark actresses although I have nothing against her). The story has nothing romantic to it, I don't get why Charlotte and Adam would actually fall in love. It makes no sense, they're just lying to each other all the time, they want different things and are not above using each other to get it. And yet I actually found the story very flat : no great romantic moment, no great enmity eather. I so wanted to like this movie !

Well, it was a clever movie and the opposite of the Prince and the Pauper. It liked something. I don't know if it was chemistry, costuming, writing, or the sets. But it was lacking something and all I could focus on at the ball scene was that that green dress was begging for a necklace!!!

Their costuming department is seriously lacking, I've seen that multiple times in multiple movies. Give the women some proper respectable jewelry!

I do enjoy these Hallmark movies because they are so predictable and therefore easy on my anxiety as they always have a good ending but as I said, previously, this one lacked something. Creativity maybe? I'm not sure.

I adore the leads, Will Kemp and Brooke D'Orsay, just didn't think this one worked. I DVR'd this and unfortunately found myself fast forwarding through many parts.

It didn't delve into the community, except for his mum's cafe. To be honest Brooke's character really got on my nerves, even Will behaved a bit like a moron.

The scenery in parts was quite magnificent and while the story seemed to be a little different, it was in the end boringly the same.

It's not the worst, but certainly not one of the best. Thankfully no prerequisite snowball fights that erupt out of nowhere. Good for a watch if you haven't yet seen. But not one I'll watch again.

This is probably the best role that I've ever seen Brooke D'Orsay in. It allowed her the widest range of situations and emotions that she portrayed perfectly without being forced to portray a two-dimensional character. This was also a wonderful screenplay for the other actors. The fake counts mother, and several of the other performers had excellent roles for revealing performances. I'd mention their names but their names aren't currently available. The plot is unusual, So don't expect it to be totally predictable. But it is Hallmark and it will leave you feeling good. So kudos to a really great cast performance.