Coupled Up for Christmas

I really liked this one. It is messy in places, but Canning and Rosner make it work. It was funny and sweet, and you're kept wondering where it is going, much of the time.

Also, the woman who plays Matilda, the impossibly-talented and selfless girlfriend, was kind of a discovery. I wouldn't mind seeing her in future GAF films.

Full disclosure: The set-up for this film was so confusing, we had to re-watch the first 20 minutes. Why were the main character's ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend at her house, getting fawned-over by her own family? If it was a ski lodge, why was her mother in the kitchen, burning gingerbread men? These questions do get answered, but it's not immediately clear that they are in a multi-family rented cabin.

Great American is really making strides with their Christmas movies, and in some ways they've caught and passed Hallmark. It's early yet, but this movie is better than anything Ive seen on Hallmark so far this year.

Sara Canning and Marcus Rosner play two people who love others, but in both cases the others have shown up with new love interests.

In a moment of desperation, they concoct a scheme to pose as a couple in the hopes that they will cause their loves to become jealous and reunite with them.

The resulting hijinks are humorous and warm and touching.

I had never seen Rosner play for laughs before, and he was great. Sara Canning was the perfect partner for him, as that's her forte.

In addition, the supporting casts are getting better, the writing is better, and if I may be forgiven saying so, the girls are getting more attractive.

I would definitely recommend this movie if you're in the mood for a light, traditional rom-com.

Eight.

Coupled Up For Christmas (2023) -

I felt that this film was another one where it was a shame that they didn't take the opportunity to change the formula, because I definitely didn't like Sara Canning as Tiffany and therefore didn't want her to end up with Peter (Marcus Rosner). She was conceited and stroppy and I felt that she would have been better with her original crush, Brett (Joe Perry) because I didn't really care much about him either.

Marcus Rosner, was very sexy - What a fantastic jawline and sparkly eyes and great hair, but I did think that his character of Peter would have been better with Brett's girlfriend Matilda (Jocelyn Chugg) or even Tiff's Sister Camille (Megan Tracz). The only thing that was clear was that he was never meant to get back with his Ex Loraine (Skye Macdonald).

So yeah, the whole story could have been a different direction for a change where Tiff and Peter might have helped each other to see that love was out there, but despite a feeling that it might be between them, they would ultimately end up with someone we hadn't expected or at least only suspected, leaving them as besties at the close of the film maybe?

If I'm honest I probably wouldn't have stuck with this one at all if it wasn't for Marcus. I'm easily distracted by a nice face and he was definitely the most natural acting of them all.

Sadly Matilda, although pretty, was not the best actor. And the Mother, Gale (Sue Huff) was a lot to take.

The story was all very silly right from the off and once again, as with so many that I've seen lately, the concept was a silly one to start with. The whole pretending to be a couple to make others jealous and realise what they're missing has always been a flawed idea in life and in film stories. I think you have to get it really right with more drama than comedy for it to work. This was sadly the too comedic extreme, while Peter was generally very serious. The balance was off and there was too much of the daft behaviour to hide the lies.

Other than that the big "Snow Ball" could have used some actual music because the dancing was odd without it.

And Marcus' white tie at the end was a glaringly bad wardrobe choice and while his hair was perfect everyone else's was not that good at all, like none of them had washed theirs in days.

In general it felt a bit childish, like an episode of 'Saved By The Bell' (1989 - 92) but with adult characters and no canned laughter. I could be tricked in to watching it again, because of Mr Rosner, but I don't think that I would actively seek this one out as long as I remember this review.

5.79/1000.

It does get kinda implausible at points but I liked the characters enough to overlook the story holes. Sara Canning is very good .male leads are okay but kinda typical..some good funny moments and some heart felt moments too .not much of a surprise ending but getting there was good.if you just want to be entertained it was good.acting from Canning nade it seem better than it should have been.as new Hallmark not as strong as some other newer releases but I enjoyed it.it was well made and chemistry of actors was very real I know people like those portrayed in movie lol so maybe that made it feel better .not classic but solid.

I'm grading on a curve, because you have to with these movies, but this is one of the more pleasant surprises I have encountered in a while, and one of the best of this Christmas season. Marcus Rosner is as relaxed and funny as I've seen him, and Sara Canning is great. Yes, the peripheral stuff is average, but there are a bunch of good moments between the two of them and the actress who plays Sara's character's sister. It starts slow but stick with it and you will enjoy a Hallmark movie that doesn't bother with all the idiotic moments that so many others for some bizarre reason feel the need to include.