Wreathmaker Christmas

I was excited to watch the first Christmas movie of GAC's 2024 season, and was very let down with the result. I think the actors tried their best, but the writing was weak and trite, with all of the actors, basically playing tennis back-and-forth with their lines. Last year's GAC movies, for the most part, were extremely good. But good intentions are not good enough at this point. If they're going to compete with Hallmark, they need to have quality movies, and this definitely was not one of them. Also, I felt bad that Casey Elliott got stuck in this movie, after having done a nice job in his prior two movies with GAC. I'm not giving up though, hopeful that the next movie will be a good one.

This movie was a great typical romcom story. It was my favorite acting performance of Casey Elliott. His compassion was so natural. Most of the other actors were not quite top-notch, but decent. I love the making of the wreaths. Not sure why it was called wreaths and ribbons since it didn't give the bakery or the restaurant idea any influence in that title.

I appreciated that Casey's character didn't retaliate when kristen's character overheard only part of his conversation and as typical, took it the wrong way.

I loved the display of the nativities! That's such a great idea. And the stained glass windows were beautiful.

The script is what I will call pedestrian. By that I mean that the scenes and dialogue are the usual everyday kind of things. I don't watch movies to see just everyday things. While the story needs to seem real, I think it should have some things that stand out. Take Rebecca's backstory. Nothing stands out, it sounds like so many others. Jason's backstory that he wants his own restaurant is one of the more common ones. The dialogue is the same, no spark. Nor is there much humor.

Rebecca is nice enough, but again, not much that stands out. Jason is very nice which is central to the story. He is outgoing also. Maybe a bit too much of a people pleaser.

Friends and family are pushing really hard on the couple to be dating. This is normal for this genre, but when little else stands out in the story, this seems a bigger deal than it really is.

There isn't a much tension in the story beyond trying to get caught up. The conflict near the end is pretty common. It wasn't telegraphed but it wasn't surprising.

The acting is not good. Especially Wollett and Elliott seem like they are trying too hard. They just deliver their lines back and forth. Most of all there really isn't any chemistry. Jason's climatic appeal almost sounds like it belongs in a debate contest more than a rom/com.

This aired on Great American Family which is a faith based network. There were lines inserted here and there about prayer, but not much more than that.

A slow and uninspiring start gives way to something more once the two lead characters - Kristin Wollett's Rebecca and Casey Elliott's Jason - get to know each other better.

By the end, they had good chemistry, and it drove the film. The focus on Christmas wreaths was nice; something a little different from the norm.

You could see injury that forced Rebecca and Jason to work together coming from a mile away, but the grouchy neighbours to something more was pretty well handled.

Interestingly, there are two connections to tje "Destined at Christmas" movies from 2022 and 2023. Casey Elliott in the lead role and also writer/director Brittany Wiscombe.

Not many surprises, but a decent enough GAC Family offering. Casey Elliot seems to be a very popular male lead with that network. He does a solid job.

There aren't many movies where you felt bad for the male lead being stuck as the romantic partner of a complete dud. Kristin Wollett is not a good actress and the character is just plain unlikeable. Casey Elliott plays the kind, considerate neighbor trying to help out and be friendly. How he could fall for the milk toast control freak neighbor is hard to believe. Casey Elliott seems like a good actor and I will look for him in other productions. This one does not work, is boring, and you don't care if the girl keeps her shop or not. I am relatively new to this channel, I am hoping their other offerings are better.