More Than I Wished For

Have been on a roll watching Hallmark/Lifetime etc Christmas films for a few years now. It has been an interesting and worthwhile endeavour, though a very inconsistent one. There was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with pretty much all the films seen. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. The former being obvious in most luckily.

'More than I Wished For' (which is the more appropriate title in my view than 'A Fiance for Christmas' as it is not very Christmassy in feel) is one of the Christmas films in the former category. 2021 was very hit and miss for Christmas films and for Lifetime, but 'More than I Wished For' is somewhere around high middle in ranking on its own terms and if you don't mind that it would pass more for a film set in Summer than at Christmas time. Good to know that others liked it too, though can understand if anybody isn't crazy about it.

Will agree that Marie Osmond is far too hammy and it did not gel with the film very well, even when it was more farcical she felt too over the top.

Did find the ending too neat and on the too hasty side. And that the comedy could have been toned down more, in quality though not placement. It did at times become too over-egged and forced, especially when more farcical.

On the other hand, there is a good deal to like about 'More than I Wished For'. Did like the two leads a lot, particularly Amanda Payton who is very charming with no signs of overplaying or looking bored. Adam Gregory is easy going and subtly charismatic and the two looked at ease together in a romance that was very sweet but not too much so. Most of the supporting cast are fine and the same goes for the characters, with only Osmond's being annoying.

Production values are pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. The music didn't sound over-bearing or like there was too much, which can be a common issue with Lifetime. The dialogue has flow and doesn't get too cheesy or too schmaltzy. The story on the whole is light hearted and heart warming.

Nice film if not mind blowing. 7/10.

This is a very enjoyable version of the fake fiancé trope thanks mostly to plenty of wit and humor in the script and the acting of Amanda Payton. She is adorable and hilarious. When the sweet tooth inflicted obstetrician stuffs a whole cookie in her mouth with her eyes daring the fake fiancé to say anything, I was sold.

Amanda opens a private make believe wedding gift registry for some retail therapy. When it becomes public all of her friends, coworkers, boss, and mother think our workaholic too busy to date heroine is engaged and act accordingly with unrestrained joy and a bridal shower. Her mother even remodels a spare room into a nursery. As one thing leads to another and she feels too trapped to confess the truth and is forced to recruit the handsome brother of a patient into being her fake fiancé. Even her future career rests on not revealing her lie. Romance and hilarity ensue as Sawyer "I wanna marry this dough" and the agreeable Landon become more and more entangled.

Unfortunately, Adam Gregory as Landon is too passive and not up to the task of keeping pace with the force of nature that is Amanda Payton in her role as Sawyer. He is conventionally handsome and just plain conventional, bringing nothing to the table other than his too perfect looks. There is no spark or chemistry although Amanda gives it her all. Marie Osmond is way over-the-top as the high-strung flakey Mom, totally unbelievable as a respected anthropologist, but she is funny. Will someone please tell her to get her hair out of her face though?

We have all seen a fake fiancé movie. Pretty standard. This one starts rather oddly when Sawyer's friend convinces her to make a bridal registry on a lark. A first date leads to Landon taking on the role. The story is not so much the focus as how much fun all misunderstandings and near misses while Sawyer tries to figure out how to deal with everything. Several are quite clever. Amanda Payton has excellent timing and does quite well with the role.

Payton and Adam Gregory have great chemistry. The dialogue is good. There are some great lines. The Anthropologist angle provides a few good ones. The acting is good. Basically, the whole thing is well done.

Both Landon and Sawyer seem to good to be true as characters.

The last part of the movie after the reveal is not quite as sparkling as the rest, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

The original title, "More than I wish for" seems more appropriate. This movie has nothing to do with Christmas. If the story had been set at Labor Day time, it would not change a iota. It's another spin on the "fake fiancee" theme, where the reasons for needing a fake fiancee are becoming increasingly more outlandish. In this one, it appears whoever knows the lead character, Sawyer, cannot live unless she is engaged, and just a hint this may be happening becomes reason for a 4th of July- like celebration. Hence, you may guess the emotions in the story are far overplayed. The tone keeps wavering between serious and farcical, not necessarily at the most suitable moment. The psychology of the action keeps swinging from cheesy to childish, with occasional charming moments. The mother, Marie Osmond, acts so over the top to suggest a case of severe mental regression. With some caveats, I find Amanda Payton likeable and I really wanted to like the movie. The more I think about it, though, the less I can. Whether it is a case of bad casting, poor acting, a senseless script, or all combined, the result is a mostly forgettable show.

You would think two well-educated people would not get themselves into a web of lies about being engaged. That is what happened in this movie. Nothing new here except for the ending which did not have the couple living happily ever after. The movie just ended. There was no chemistry between the leads. The supporting cast did a reasonable job of keeping the story going except for Marie Osmond who was the bold and brassy mother of the female lead.

Her acting was overly theatrical, and not really funny. It is not her fault, the script was not really funny or touching.

It was your standard TV holiday movie. Skip this movie and do something that will leave you feeling good.