Orgulho, Preconceito e Azevinho

This was a perfectly serviceable Hallmark Christmas movie starring their queen Lacey Chabert. However, honestly, the movie loses a star for sticking the Pride & Prejudice label on it, when it had no business doing so. Aside from the character names ("Darcy Fitzwilliam", lol), the movie had absolutely zero to do with Jane Austen's novel. They would have done better to give her a different last name, title the movie something else and call it a day. If they'd done so, it would've rated a solid 5 stars from me.

The only bizarre detail remains ...the title. Jane Austen novel is missing in this case and the title is only a pretext for a decent romance, with few nice scenes, with expected twist and the decision who, always, remains unrealistic. It is an ordinary Hallmark recipe Christmas film . Not great but far to be bad acting, a nice Fitzwilliam family and a sort of seductive darcy. So, just nice.

These two are adorable! Luke and Darcy are childhood debate partners that had a healthy rivalry in their youth and meet after a long absence. The Sparks still fly as this handsome couple help Darcy's mom put on a charity event which was dumped on her at the last minute. Luke is a great listener and helps Darcy work through her New York work issues. Meanwhile, Luke is a chef who has just purchased his first restaurant and donates his catering to the charity event. The build up is great...there is a fun on-going joke about mistletoe and how can a couple go wrong with "jingle bells" as there song. Cute, cute, cute!

This one was a pretty solid effort which kept my interest. it was somewhat multifaceted with some interesting corporate politics along with the usual city girl v. small town Christmas. I liked the pairing of Lacey Chabert with Brendan Penny. Lacey is a solid actress, and with this one, she seems to have tamed, a bit, her nervous giggle tick that she seems to have developed in later years. I liked her family, especially Sherry, who was one of the stars in one of my favorite Hallmark-like romances, This Matter of Marriage, which was actually produced by Harlequin. It was great to see her again. This one did feature the usual boring boyfriend, but it was refreshing that she really just let him go and didn't hem and haw about it.

Like another Hallmark movie this year, I think it is pretty shameless to try to reel in Jane Austen fans, with the title of the movie, while not incorporating any of the themes in the actual plot or character. It's too bad, because the role reversal of the heroine taking the Darcy role, and the hero taking the Elizabeth Bennett role could have been great. i don't recall that that gimmick has ever been done before. Would have been pretty interesting.

More and more I just don't think these girls are good enough for these guys, that are so perfect it's untrue. Brendan Penny is hot and you just couldn't be so mean to a guy as charming and funny as him, especially with those smiley eyes. This modern 'Independent Woman' thing is getting a bit tired now. I'm all for girl power, but there's strength and there's just being unfriendly. Why can't everyone just be nice regardless of gender and relinquish their issues. It would be nice to see a Christmas romance where both of them are sorted and have no problems with control or past relationships. Just let the love flow man!

I sidetracked a tad there. This film has all of the usual seasonal fun as well as the romantic element. Her brother's cute and even the ex isn't too shabby. There's a loving family too.

I assume that there are comparisons to be made to Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' (No Mistletoe), but I have neither read nor viewed it, so I can't tell. I know there's a Darcy in it, which is the lead's name, but it could be a version of a Barbara Cartland or a Mills & Boon novel for all I know?

Not a terrible story at all and Brendan will just win you over with that lovely choochy face.