Everything Christmas

This is the story of two friends, one a skeptic and one Christmas crazy. The Christmas crazy one, Lori-Jo 'LJ', who is played by Cindy Busby, lost her grandmother four years ago and is determined this year to keep a promise that she made to her by visiting the town of Yuletide Springs. The town celebrates Christmas all year round, but LJ plans to hang a Christmas tree ornament she made together with her grandmother on the public Christmas tree in the town square on Christmas Eve. This practice has a tradition of making wishes come true. LJ is so serious about completing this promise that she quits her job when her boss reneged on her time off and convinces her best friend...the doubting Thomas, Viktoria 'Tory', yo come with her on the road trip. Along the way they have car trouble and meet Zack, Jason and a man named Chris Kringle. A series of amazing miracles or illusions occur leading the two couples to question whether Chris Kringle is the real Santa...Turing the most hardened skeptic into a believer.

I loved the infectious love for Christmas shared by LJ and Zach and how perfect the two couples were for each other, but that is where my love ends. This was kind of a middle of the road Hallmark holiday romance, that I probably won't be recommending to any but the most hardcore hallmark fans.

Truly the best part of this Hallmark holiday romance is the Kris Kringle played by George Masswohl, he was fantastic! I even liked his hair.

I watched this movie the other day, and I have to admit I was not impressed.

Part of the problem may be that we watch so many of them, there is a natural tendency to compare them to others. If they were just stand alone movies, we might like them fine.

Part of the problem may be that it was a Cindy Busby movie. She's never been one of my favorites.

But I think the biggest problem for me was reducing Cory Sevier, so brilliant as the grinchy stroke victim in Noel Next Door, into a guy who just grins and says "Me too!" about 40 times.

The story about a road trip where two girls keep running into the same two guys and maybe Santa Claus was a little flimsy to say the least. Supporting cast was so-so, although the Santa and the pastor were good.

Others may enjoy this, I'm sure I'll get thumbs down, but for me it's a pass.

Here we have two girls on a road trip who keep running into ..... Santa Claus? Well, Kris Kringle, anyway.

He continues to detour the two girls in a way that might have been creepy if you didn't have the comfort of knowing you're in a Hallmark movie.

The two girls keep running into and traveling with the same two guys, one of whom, Cory Sevier, was in one of our favorites from last year, Noel Next Door. He was great in that movie, but was given much less to work with here.

Separately, each of the parts of this movie are charming and friendly. Placed end to end, they don't make a compelling story.

Cindy Busby's character was so over the top that I didn't know how she functioned. Like she wasn't believable as an actual person. I know she's not usually most viewers cup of tea, but I've always liked her. I didn't like her in this. She couldn't pull off this type of character. She works better as a downbeat character with a touch surliness. Other annoyances: Her disruptive singing while at work and then encouraging her friend to quit her job just because she had was awful.

I also found the movie so boring. The only thing that made it bearable was Katherine Barrell who will always be Officer Nicole Haught to me.

As a connoisseur of Hallmark movies, I especially enjoy Christmas storylines that tug on my emotions, by illustrating the spirit of thoughtful giving. Some of their holiday movies empasize the romance, while others, it's the "journey". To me, "Everything Christmas" is nothing original - there's a redundant storyline, ie. Big-city protagonists leaving on a road-trip to a snowy, small-town, steeped in Holiday tradition. Nor, is it about the quality of the acting, or magnetism I sense between the love interest(s). At times, there are exciting Hallmark casts that will influence my desire to watch, more than the teaser storyline (Corey Sevier, here). Although, Cindy Busby doesn't usually draw my interest in romance themes, here she was a believably reminiscent (teary-eyed) woman. But, I found myself more entranced by an unfamiliar actor portraying Kris - his mystique (ie. An illusionist) and his aura as the true Santa. There was nothing surprising with the twists in his "illusions", but each one creatively tied-in as a true gift of the heart. The romances really weren't the core, or excitement, of this film, and I didn't feel the storyline built up any tension to warrant a "final kiss". Definitely, a feel-good watch, not for a kiss, but one I would recommend to lead-off in sparking your Christmas spirit, say after Thanksgiving dinner...