Fir Crazy

Was a bit conflicted on whether to see 'Fir Crazy' (aka 'Oh Christmas Tree'), seen as part of a recent Christmas film quest started towards the end of last year and the reviewing is still ongoing and will be for a while yet. It sounded cute and heart-warming on paper and have seen a fair share of pleasant, inoffensive festive diversions recently. At the same time, it did not sound much different story-wise from other festive films, so there was the worry as to whether the film was going to feel stale and too safe.

It managed to be pretty much all of the above, indicative of me having something of a mixed view on the film (or slightly above that). It is a pleasant watch and does nothing to offend. A lot is done well here. Not much is particularly distinguished at the same time and there is not an awful lot special, so not a "head over heels in love" sort of film. While not doing anything particularly awfully, while there are flaws here other films do them a lot worse.

The good things will be started off with. The production values are pleasing on the eye, the scenery has an authentic Christmassy feel and the photography doesn't try to do too much while not being claustrophobic. The soundtrack is also suitably festive without being overpowering in volume or over-utilised.

Parts are amusing, parts are cute without being sugary and its good intentions are appreciated. There is a lot of charm here too. The characters are lacking in depth, but nobody irritates and they at least engaged. The acting is better than average, with Sarah Lancaster being an amiable lead. Colin Mochrie also makes a game effort as the "villain of the piece" and Eric Johnson likewise with the too little he has.

Now onto the negatives. The story is predictable and has nothing to set it apart, just being your standard Hallmark Christmas film. Some of it felt choppy, some dramatic transitions being abrupt. Too many of the character relationships are rushed and underdeveloped, making changes of heart too out of left field. Not just the central romance, which is particularly standard and could have done with more consistent chemistry too.

But particularly the Gary's Scrooge-like change of heart, the outcome almost feeling too out of nowhere when you don't really remember the stuff before it. Some of the dialogue can be cheesy and awkward and the ending did strike me as too convenient and too neatly wrapped up.

All in all, watchable but nothing special. 5/10

Elise (Sarah Lancaster) grew up with her family's business of selling Christmas trees. So now she's anti-Christmas. Not sure I understand that part of the plot. My dad was a carpenter and I don't hate hammers. Anyway, when Elise's father breaks his foot, she agrees to help out with the business. She's not a happy camper already because she lost her job and was dumped by her boyfriend. So now she has to do her least favorite thing in the world and a struggle with a grinchy CEO out to get rid of her family's Christmas tree lot doesn't help matters. At least she meets a cute guy (Eric Johnson). Soon she's feeling the holiday spirit in spite of herself.

Sarah Lancaster is very pretty and charming. Her smile lights up the screen. She does a lot for the part, which isn't written as very likable in the earliest scenes of the movie. Derek McGrath and Lynne Griffin are her perfect parents. Greg Calderone is the likable cousin that helps her run the lot. It was nice to see Eric Johnson. I remember him from the first season of Smallville way back when. He's got a good chemistry with Sarah. Their first date was pretty cute. Colin Mochrie is great as the Scrooge-like villain who isn't as bad as he seems. This is an upbeat and surprisingly funny TV movie. There are many other likable characters throughout, such as the happy married couple she meets or the little kids, one of whom says "Maybe you have relationship issues." Seasonal romcoms are pretty much my favorite and this one's good. It's nothing challenging but that's okay with me. It's all about the smiles and this one gives them.

Sarah Lancaster (as Elise) was the main character, she was in every scene and it was an enjoyable movie. The movie kept me fairly engaged the whole time. My wife did not enjoy the movie as much, but she was tired and to get the full value of the movie you had to stay alert. The best part of the movie was the story of how a couple valued their ornaments which were gotten at gift shops and how they represented times in their relationship. Elise liked this and when she received one such ornament at the end- it was perfect. I enjoyed seeing Derek McGrath as Elise dad (Dr Hebert on DOC) and loved how he would comment when Elise and her mom would talk about him like he wasn't there. Overall they did a good job and the story is taking place in New York City.

This film is about a woman who doesn't have happy memories of Christmas. Her childhood was spent on a tree lot in a New York Winter selling trees with her parents. Years later she finds herself back on the lot selling the trees for her parents after she loses her job.

Now the more things change the more they stay the same but this time she has to fight the owner of the store her tree lot is on because he thinks the lot is harming his business.

Cute story. Well meaning. Very Enjoyable.

HAPPY Holidays. Tis the season to be JOLLY. It's the most WONDERFUL time of the year. Really? Fully the first 1/3rd of this movie (commercial TV screen time 41 minutes) was a total downer. One bad thing after another. Pile on Elise. And there was more of it later in the movie.

Meanwhile, it really didn't seem like Elise and Darren spent much time together, and certainly not much alone time. Even then I would say the chemistry was just average. A lot of the screen time was either the unhappy corporate world, or grumpy Gary, or the tree lot.

Sarah Lancaster has a nice smile that she showed off plenty, but beyond that, she wasn't charismatic or energetic. Eric Johnson did the best he could with the screen time he had.

My point is this. It's clearly a Christmas movie and a romance one also. So it would be nice if the bulk of the movie was one or both, with a heavy dose leaning toward the romance side. That was not even close to how it worked out.

There is a really sweet scene when Elise delivers the tree to the pregnant couple. The couple describes their happiest Christmas moments and it definitely lightens things up. I found it to be the best scene in the movie.