The 5-Year Christmas Party

Movies like this where the story only progresses at successive Christmas meetings have one strike against them to start for me. I think this movie really captures why. The lead couple just doesn't seem right together. A relationship needs to fill in between times, not have gaps. People change over a year and you can't really know a person only at certain seasons, especially Christmas. In short, I just can't buy that they really love each other. There are too many red flags about the future.

Having said that, the story, as it is, is well done. Mostly Kate Findley. I find her to be unique. She brings life to her character no matter what is going on in the character's story. The dialogue and events in this story are perfect for Kate. I can really picture this person, Alice, as a real person, crazy as she is.

This movie has a different approach than most Hallmark Christmas movie fare, and that alone makes it work a look, as it touches on the shaky relationship between two people who basicly only see either other once a year around Christmastime for a series of years.

The script writers went for sharp, smart dialogue and uncomfortable scenes, and they got that right.

Unfortunately, they created two characters with believable sexual tension, but, to me, unlikeable. The female lead in particular seems far too willing to ignore friends, as she ghosts two of them over the course of the movie, and eventually he ghosts her too, after going to California to make a movie. These are not people I'd make part of my life.

I'm not sorry we watched it, but it won't bear a second time through.

Loved it. An endearing story and one we haven't seen from hallmark before. Love the two leads, acting and chemistry was on point. Also I appreciate Hallmark reaching a bit of a younger audience with this movie and the lead actors being on the younger side. The story was cute, relatable and not trope-y or like a classic hallmark. As a former theater kid, they nailed the vibe. The time lapse element of the story was creative and even though you knew Alice and Max would get together it still keeps you intrigued to see how it will all unfold. This will definitely be one that I watch again and again!

This one was highly anticipated and I really wanted to love it since Last year's Katie Findlay's Christmas movie was one of the best. But this one was boring. Some decent writing and acting but the chemistry was just not there at all. I could not believe that these two were so in love to make this drag over the span of five years.

They just gave me friends vibes all along.

My rating is mostly due to Katie's great acting like always and Hallmark's attempt at a fresh original plot.

To anyone reading this, go enjoy Sealed with a List from last year. Some serious chemistry going on in that one.

6.1 stars.

What are they doing? They obviously are attracted to each other for many years now. But whenever they get together, it becomes awkward. And it's not a normal awkward, its a weird awkward, which makes the movie 10 times weirder, which is why it's difficult to be able to feel any familiarity with the characters at all.

So basically, the unorthodox behavior ruins any possibility of this movie being entertaining. That's the only way I can describe this strange relationship.

And I don't think I've ever met anyone in real life who would sabotage something good the way these guys do. There's no sense, no logic no nothing to indicate why she does what she does.

His character is just playing along with her charade, because he likes her so much that he feels he has to fit into her alien social paradigm.

The acting is great, but this woman's character is cringe unapproachable...meh.