Dial S for Santa

7.2 stars.

Not a bad film, although the reviews are in the cellar, which doesn't totally make sense. There are a bunch of slow parts and the mystery is very mild, but it's still endearing overall. The main female is in 'Virgin River' and she does well in a lead role, however she seemed to have lost weight for the role (pounds that she does not have to spare). First of all, judging body size, there is thin, and then there's what appears to be toothpick emaciated thin. She is a few pounds above a "starving artist". For the love of food, eat something. I'm not shaming, it's just not healthy looking. Anyways, back to the film. The main guy, a policeman, he's fresh and not too shabby an actor. He seems new to this whole family Christmas sort of film industry, but he'll do just fine. The mystery caught me off guard. Great misdirection. The romance is lacking, we don't get any gratification until literally the very end. Like literally, zero romance, a very miniscule buildup and all through the film it's no tension and very little focus on attraction. With 20 seconds left in the story, they are still friends, he proceeds to say he likes her a lot, she reciprocates, they kiss and the credits roll. I suspect that's the source of the low ratings.

Not a bad story line but the main character Lana is one of the worse Hallmark actors I have watched. She is so fake and has little to no range of emotion or abilities on her face, body or voice. The support actors were pretty good just a shame that the main female actor was just so bad it took away from what the others were providing in the characters. I premise of the movie and the town or neighbouring store owners coming together and all getting along. Not much more to say on the movie just hoping to not see the actor in any other Hallmark movies or if so. Get her a great acting coach to help her.

While the story is cute I found Lana to be annoying. I don't care if you lost your dad years ago during Christmas time, that's no reason to be a rude b*tch to your mother, interfere and insert yourself where you have been explicitly told not to, and crush the belief of an eight-year-old child.

The actress playing the role of Lana also didn't help things. She's a bit stiff or something was off in general. The had no facial expressions it was like she was emotionally detached, either reading her lines, or only rotely reciting memorized lines with no feelings... somehow her face couldn't match the emotions of the time. The one scene where she wakes up with a fully PERFECT face of make-up and lipstick is also annoying, lol. Not even realistic, not that movies that are just for "fun" have to be realistic, but something things should.

I do get "loss" having an affect on a person for longer than just a year, but her attitude just made her an unlikable character. Her mother is doing everything she can to accommodate Lana, yet Lana still behaves like a 12-year-old that doesn't get her way and has a tantrum when she doesn't like that other people have moved on.

I knew who was the culprit pretty early on as it seemed kind of obvious to me.

Overall, it was mostly a cute distraction, but one of those seen it once was enough movies.

I am a connoisseur of Christmas Movies. This one had a great premise and was an enjoyable watch for the most part but I do have one criticism and I really don't like having to say this but all of the actors were wonderful except the primary actress playing Lana. She had the acting ability, depth of character, and personality of a wet sock. She seemed to have one look on her face at all times as if her face was frozen, one monotone delivery for pretty much every scene and I was bored to tears by her acting. Now, that said I will say that I am sure I could not have done better and as I said I really don't like to be this negative but I also don't want to shower praise where none is warranted. Maybe in a different part she would be better but not this one. As I said the rest of the cast delivered a thoroughly enjoyable experience and the writers did a great job delivering something unique. I love a good whodunnit with a Christmas twist. They should definitely utilize the actor who played Nick in more leading mens rolls. I also liked the Santa. He was a subtle Santa and had the right aura for the roll.

These movies are a particular guilty pleasure for me. There are few that I haven't seen. The stories vary only a little but I always manage to enjoy the comfort in that, while doing various Christmas tasks or just enjoying a fire.

Unfortunately I found this one painful, not due to the story but the acting of the main character. I haven't seen her in other films. She definitely needs more experience and training before taking on a leading role like this. She was very stiff and not at all like the usual calibre for this type of film. I usually at least manage to feel some connection to, or affection for the main character but this actress' monotone and flat delivery made this impossible.