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Designing Christmas (2022) -

I liked the different take on the standard formula, although I would usually avoid the type of programme that they were replicating. Also, because of the nature of the story, it wasn't exactly Christmassy, more just set at Christmas, as if making it a seasonal film was an afterthought.

I didn't see the friendship between Pablo, played by Marco Grazzini and Stella (Jessica Szohr) moving on to anything romantic. Their relationship didn't lend itself to that and it seemed like they felt pressured in to it for the sake of those around them.

It might almost have been more believable if he had consoled and fallen for Jack, her actual boyfriend in the film, to whom Stella was actually a bit of a b!tch and not really that fair.

I wasn't keen on Stella at all to be honest, she had a very harsh look that didn't help endear her to me or make me feel that I wanted her to find love. Perhaps it was just resting b!tch face and she was actually really nice though?

The first kiss that the two leads had was very out of the blue and confused me, because there had been so little suggestion that it was going to happen at all. I was like "What? Where did that come from?", because they'd only really been bickering up until that point.

So on the whole I wasn't that enamoured by this one, despite the fact that Pablo was very cute. The film did lose points for not showing him at least topless and it lost more points for the terrible Christmas Tree. Where did they find it????? At the dump from the previous December? It was so dead!

Not one that I will probably watch again.

4.50/10.

This movie makes soooo much more sense if you watch Love it or List it; the show starring writer Hillary Farr. Hillary and costar David have always had this on screen chemistry with her co star and many fans wondered if they ever had any off screen romance.

Now this movie comes out about a designer who falls in love with a contractor on an HGTV style show called Home Sweet Home which has a logo that's strikingly similar to her shows logo. Also in the beginning of the movie they use Stella's house in the show... which literally happened in real life.

There are so many parallels in the movie to ignore. This movie is an hour and a half long confession that we long suspected.

And we thank her for it.

Kinda obsessed not gonna lie! I don't understand the low ratings, this movie was too good for its own good!! I'm gonna need a sequel, call it Designing Christmas Wedding and follow it up with Designing A Christmas Baby lolll It was like 80% watching a Parks & Rec style mockumentary of a home improvement show, which I wanna say I would watch! Hulu get on it! Just use the same exact cast, but bring in some comedy writers and turn it into a much needed ode to Parks & Rec. There's natural drama from each home renovation, plus the stuff between the main characters. I loved this movie, the cinematography, YES, the cinematography was even good!! I'll be rewatching for sure :)

This movie appeared on HGTV for 2022 Christmas season. I suspect I am not alone in expecting that it would have some authenticity in the house flipping theme. The opening scenes reinforced that feeling I got a look at what appeared to be exactly what would go on behind the scenes in such a reality show and I assume it was more or less authentic. Some of the closing scenes played just like one of those shows. Thus the "different".

There were two aspects of the story. I was deeply disappointed that the movie departed from reality so much in the flipping side of the story. The biggest obstacle in the story was based on an impossibility. No house can be sold without an inspection and no true inspection would have missed this obstacle. There were other elements that seemed unrealistic regarding this aspect of the story.

The relationship side of the story was pretty much typical for a Christmas movie. Stella is engaged and they plan to have the wedding on the finale of the show. Unfortunately, few fiancés in this kind of movie are more obviously wrong for the prospective bride.

In the early part of the movie, the sparring between Stella and Pablo reflect great chemistry between Jessica Szohr and Marco Grazzini but then as we see their relationship play out, that chemistry disappears. I think some of that was body chemistry.

In general, I thought the acting was poor to fair. The dialogue had some good moments especially in their sparring.

Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for Designing Christmas.

Story: 1.25/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.75/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Enjoyment: 1.25/2

Total 6.50/10

If I were being honest, which I always am, I'd say this movie doesn't deserve the six-and-a-half out of ten ratings. In my heart, it felt more like a five. However, when I came to scoring in the divisions, well, I was surprised. There are a few reasons for my astonishment - The main one is the story.

Though the narrative is solid and well thought out, the characterisations are strange. I loved the dynamic decorating duo being thrust together in a last-ditch attempt to save their flagging show. The concept of forcing the female lead of the programme to reluctantly "Do-Over" her newly bought property and then hold her wedding there was inspired. Sadly, it falls apart as you realise her engagement is orientated more to business than love, especially where her fiance is concerned. This twist could've been utilised better, making for a stronger film. But the relationship between the couple, Stella and Jack never quite amount to romanticness for the viewer. They appear to be a couple of wet fish. In Jack's case, I'd have to say an effervescent wet fish. And that's just the start of the relationship problems. Stella and her Co-Star Pablo, who you know will be the love interest, have zero chemistry. When they appear on camera for their show, they have the standardised sarcastic needle-joke banter - one says something to needle the other, while the other replies with a joke - and this follows the pair off-screen. And while amusing to watch, it's not heart-warming nor romantic. And there's the problem: A romance without romance. Granted, a lot of actual relationships don't possess too much romance, even in the beginning. However, the characters are too light and carefree to be realistic, and this juxtaposition made the story less believable for me. Either make it romanticised or realistic. But the mixing of the two doesn't work in Designing Christmas.

Luckily for the audience, the director is on point and makes up for most of the story's flaws. There's a superb lightness to the scenes: And they capture a pleasant heart-warming atmosphere throughout. He includes some decent compositions, whilst his use of lighting is subtle, yet near-perfect. The direction, unlike the script, is practically flawless.

The cast is excellent. I have seen Marco Grazzini in a few movies, and he never fails to entertain and deliver the goods. He was lucky enough for Jessica Szohr to play Stella opposite his Pablo. Szohr surprised me. I had read a couple of reviews that said she was too harsh looking, and though she is certainly that with her chiselled features, she possesses a softness and beauty that breaks through whenever she smiles. But it's her acting skills I'm interested in, and I'm pleased to say that Szohr entertained me superbly, being as robust and as talented as her co-star. It's a shame the chemistry wasn't there, and the writer couldn't make their pairing more believable. The one person in the cast who could've dialled down their performance a notch or two was Mykee Selkin as Jack. Overall, he's okay in his role. However, there are a few places where you think he shouldn't have had the three expressos before his scene as he gets a tad Hammy the Squirrel from "Over The Hedge".

In the end, Designing Christmas is a good story idea constructed poorly, which is superbly filmed and well-enacted. Should there be very little on, I suggest Designing Christmas would be a good one-watch movie to fill your time. Though, I don't recommend missing anything else to watch this one - unless it's a DC Comics Movie.

Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.

Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.