Everything Christmas

The characters took us on an arduous trip to a few Christmas towns where the ultimate payoff was for Cindy Busby to place her dead grandmother's ornament on the town Christmas tree - and the tree looked like it was decorated with toilet paper. Because who doesn't want to take a beloved ornament and leave it behind in a town you'll never see again. Santa did the usual annoying habit of inserting ho-ho-ho's into every sentence he spoke. The friend's new boyfriend sometimes appeared as though he could not hide his disdain that he was actually trapped in this movie and physically he was too small to fit the friend's stature. There were too many demands of the viewer to use willing suspension of disbelief to get through most of the scenes. None of the characters were charming or engaging or delightful enough to keep the viewer interested. Feel free to skip this one - you won't miss anything.

Everything Christmas was a real mixed bag for me. I thought it started out quite well with the over the top Christmas loving Busby and her level-headed friend played by Katherine Barrell on a buddy road trip to the town of Yuletide Springs. They break down and shortly after are helped by a man who resembles Santa in body and spirit. From there are a series of coincidences and almost magical experiences that lead them to believe that he might be the real thing. Oh, and of course there is romance for the both of them.

Unfortunately, after a good start with some legitimate laughs provided mostly by Barrell, it starts becoming more and more bland and predictable. I've pretty much liked Busby but here she comes across almost like a child going on and on about "believing," etc. Etc.

I thought Barrell pretty much stole the show, and George Masswohl provided solid support as the continually appearing Kris. The biggest disappointment was Corey Sevier who was the major love interest but didn't say or do much of anything. He was always just staring googly-eyed at Busby and was basically just a bubble-brain. The other male love interest wasn't a whole lot better.

Kind of a head scratcher and somewhat of a lost opportunity.

This is the story of two friends, one a skeptic and one Christmas crazy. The Christmas crazy one, Lori-Jo 'LJ', who is played by Cindy Busby, lost her grandmother four years ago and is determined this year to keep a promise that she made to her by visiting the town of Yuletide Springs. The town celebrates Christmas all year round, but LJ plans to hang a Christmas tree ornament she made together with her grandmother on the public Christmas tree in the town square on Christmas Eve. This practice has a tradition of making wishes come true. LJ is so serious about completing this promise that she quits her job when her boss reneged on her time off and convinces her best friend...the doubting Thomas, Viktoria 'Tory', yo come with her on the road trip. Along the way they have car trouble and meet Zack, Jason and a man named Chris Kringle. A series of amazing miracles or illusions occur leading the two couples to question whether Chris Kringle is the real Santa...Turing the most hardened skeptic into a believer.

I loved the infectious love for Christmas shared by LJ and Zach and how perfect the two couples were for each other, but that is where my love ends. This was kind of a middle of the road Hallmark holiday romance, that I probably won't be recommending to any but the most hardcore hallmark fans.

Truly the best part of this Hallmark holiday romance is the Kris Kringle played by George Masswohl, he was fantastic! I even liked his hair.

Here we have two girls on a road trip who keep running into ..... Santa Claus? Well, Kris Kringle, anyway.

He continues to detour the two girls in a way that might have been creepy if you didn't have the comfort of knowing you're in a Hallmark movie.

The two girls keep running into and traveling with the same two guys, one of whom, Cory Sevier, was in one of our favorites from last year, Noel Next Door. He was great in that movie, but was given much less to work with here.

Separately, each of the parts of this movie are charming and friendly. Placed end to end, they don't make a compelling story.

Cindy Busby's character was so over the top that I didn't know how she functioned. Like she wasn't believable as an actual person. I know she's not usually most viewers cup of tea, but I've always liked her. I didn't like her in this. She couldn't pull off this type of character. She works better as a downbeat character with a touch surliness. Other annoyances: Her disruptive singing while at work and then encouraging her friend to quit her job just because she had was awful.

I also found the movie so boring. The only thing that made it bearable was Katherine Barrell who will always be Officer Nicole Haught to me.