#Natal

We live in a society that rewards lying and cheating. But I really don't like most movies that are based on characters who lie and cheat to get ahead. Aside from the ethical questions, it's always really cringey when they get found out, and they always do get found out. At least the fake date movies involve characters who, arguably, don't hurt anybody other than family, and are ostensibly set up to prevent family criticism (or allow grandma to think everything is fine).

But here, somebody who told the truth didn't make it in the competition because Jen posted a fake video entry that got picked instead. Ironically, everything else that Jen says in her videos is usually quite "genuine" and it seemed possible that she could have made it to the final 20 and final 10 and maybe even the final 3 by being completely honest.

But having gone down the wrong path, with sales in her struggling business going up, Jen asks rhetorically:

"Why do I think this is going to spiral out of control to my detriment?"

Because it will.

And, for much of the movie, we are forced to watch Clare Bowen (effectively) make Emily look like the most miserable and emotionality distraught person on the planet. She constantly looks like she's seen a ghost or just watched her ice cream fall on to the sidewalk. I get it; she's really damaged by the loss of her dad when she was a child and by her resentment of a mom who looked for love elsewhere and wasn't there for her. And she's guilt ridden over the fake life she's living. But watching that nonstop pain, angst and anxiety is not the most enjoyable experience. Especially when stretched out over the better part of two hours.

I kept waiting and wishing that she would just let loose and enjoy Max who, inexplicably, has loved her for years. It's Hallmark, so everyone knows where they will end up, but in a good movie, as in life, the focus should be on the journey not the destination. Here, the journey was painful.

I did like watching Anna Van Hooft, who played Emily's sister and business partner Ali. I'd like to see her in more Hallmark movies and maybe even in a lead role.

I grade Hallmark on a curve, but I can see why I never saw any commercials or trailers for this movie.

I love Hallmark movies. I watch ALL of them. This is one of the worst movies in their 2022 catalog because of the character of Jen and the actress who plays her. She is one of the most unlikable female leads and sadly one of the worst actresses. Jen does nothing except wallow in self pity and act like her life is terrible. She is so mean to her mother, and to Max, played by the charming Brant Doughtery. I literally liked every character in this movie except Jen and she is so one dimensional. Maybe it was the writing, maybe it was the actress, maybe both. By the end of the movie I cringed at every gesture and vocal inflection she made. I cannot recommend this one.

This movie is very social media based, even the opening credits, which is clever and annoying in equal measures ... but I had to give up when they crept about to not wake the baby, whilst jabbering away at each other in loud voices. Like the internet, there were so many words swirling around, most with no real meaning. I'm sure the movie probably gets better, but there was too much setting the social media feel and not enough connecting with reality for me to get into it. In a way that felt fake, but sadly it happens too much in life - all to often we get so distracted by the digital world and forget what's going on right around us.

When I say this movie is very different, I don't mean it dodged ALL of the normal Christmas movie tropes. It didn't. In fact, this is the SECOND script this season to feature a local business with a fake online profile. However, this one was MUCH better done than the first one we saw.

Most of this style of plot are take-offs on Barbara Stanwick's old standard, Christmas in Connecticut.

First of all, we had many audible chuckles and one laugh out loud moment. The dialogue between the sisters is clever and surprising. Clare Bowen's portrayal of a worried, uncomfortable, neurotic female lead is entertaining, convincing, and funny. Her takes in response to certain situations and dialogue are constantly amusing. A movie with lines this smart and funny is worth your time, and we'll be watching it again in coming years.

Usually I can't stand these types of Christmas movies, but this one actually has a decent script and two leads with...chemistry? Gasp. Not only that but they had personalities and showed realistic signs of human quirks. To top it all off, it wasn't a story about a rich person going back to a small town and learning to love to build snowmen or something, it actually had an interesting storyline. Maybe I'm a fan of home decor instagram, but I'm also a fan of the concept that home decor influencers can be full of hot patootie at times.

A+ transaction IMO.

OH and that baby better be a paid actor, because it tried to steal the scene a few times.