Merry Ex-Mas

OK--it's true, this is one of the worst Christmas TV movies ever-- HOWEVER--you need to watch it because it boasts a hilarious supporting performance by Jodi Lyn O' Keefe. She is crazy good in EVERY scene she is in, playing a self-absorbed lawyer who is so over the top awful we end up loving her despite her deplorable nature. In fact, she is one of the only characters in the story that rings true--she never lets up, doesn't "get all gooey at the end because it's Christmas". I will not even mention the story, because it's incredibly bad, and only Ernie Hudson provides any hint of enthusiasm for his role. It's all Jodi here- you have to see her crummy yet cute character to believe it. The producers should make a sequel of sorts, a better movie using her bad Amanda character here--just don't have her go all good in the end, please.

Nonsensical story full of ridiculous situations that weren't funny. Inane dialogue that isn't the least bit funny. Universally bad acting. It seemed like the actors were merely coasting. Inconsistent half-effort Irish accent.

Even if all of that weren't true, the movie fails in one of the most important aspects to an enjoyable Christmas/romance movie - none of the characters were particularly likeable, not even the protagonists.

Other than being a deadline and some snowy weather, Christmas wasn't even a factor.

This sounds like a sour-grapes review, but it's not. Bear in mind that I have reviewed over 1,000 movies, the vast majority Christmas and/or romance. I happen to like Kristy Swanson most of the time.

How did such a good cast make such an awful movie? No only did I not care about the characters, I actually disliked everyone of them. There is also what could possibly be the most dreadful Irish accent I have ever heard (yes it IS worse than Brad Pitt's in Snatch) The scene where the obnoxious brat of a daughter is eating crisps with her mouth open made me want to slap her. Such a shame there is no zero star option, this film is dreadful. On the plus side, the driver of the limo was nice.

My advice would be Don't Bother!

As I watched, I was consistently surprised by the truly awful acting, writing and directing. I kept wondering, "who read this awful screenplay and said, 'Yes, let's make this film!'?" The leading character is tossed out by his wife over a misunderstanding and she never lets him explain or hears him out. She proves, at every turn, to be an absolute clueless, selfish obnoxious b*&%!... yet this guy - who has plenty of other options keeps pining for her. I personally don't know anyone that thick and stupid, which makes the plot so ridiculous. Add to that her c-you-next-Tuesday mother and a horrid child and I couldn't help but wonder how big of a jerk this character is to want them back. The ex-wife's boyfriend character is SO bad, the performance is simply .embarrassing. Several characters are trying to get to Mammoth Mtn., a CA ski resort that's closed by a snow storm. They actually end up using dog sleds to get there! Seriously??? As if you can just order those up for on-demand transportation in CA? This is SO bad it should be used as a how-not-to example at UCLA film-school.

Julie Nicholson's review was spot on. Maybe even too nice.