La Plus Belle Fête de Noël

7.7 stars.

Yet another Christmas movie that I've not had the opportunity to view. I've watched hundreds of Hallmark Christmas movies and yet they have not aired this one in the past few years. It's possible that I missed it, but I recorded every Christmas movie for two years straight, and this one didn't show up. So it required a search of all Christmas movies on Hallmark+ and eventually this popped up.

What I particularly like about it is the chemistry between the leads. He seems like a rascal at first, and she a snooty perfectionist. But gradually, he is able to whittle away at her defenses, and she turns out to be a kind and beautiful soul. And he's not so bad after all. Together they plan a nutcracker themed party that is out of this world.

I'm not absolutely certain why many people are not fans of this film. Perhaps it is a bit too formulaic. But this came out in 2014. I'm thinking maybe it was a bit ahead of its time. Suffice it to say it's quite entertaining and the leads have great chemistry. What else do you need?

I'm not a big fan of movies about event planners, and this is one of those trying to tell you that not being able to throw a certain Christmas party seems like the end of the world. However, actors are good and have some chemistry. Both main characters have another love interest, but luckily there's no big drama regarding this issue. It falls between decent Hallmark productions, but you can easily guess that it's been a few years since it came out. Today's holiday movies don't feel so pushy and overall are more entertaining.

This movie chose to spend a lot of time on adversity as faced by Jennie. That alone makes it a little different from all those other ones that give us 90% cheer and eggnog and adversity is just a very brief pause in the action.

I wish Nick hadn't made me hate him so much in the very early part. I mean, I really hated him, and Aunt Petra too. I think this is a case where the leopard changes his spots a little too unrealistically.

Meanwhile, Jennie, as portrayed by Torrey DeVitto, seems too insecure and too easily shaken to be realistic to think herself as Petra's heir. She also changes her spots, so as to become all courageous.

My biggest problem, though, was that they didn't sell me on the blooming romance. From where I sat, it looked too much like Jennie changed her whole attitude toward Nick based on one tender, caring gesture. She might have begun to respect his imagination prior to that, but that's not romance. They didn't have a lot of positive screen time. Steve Lund, as Nick, at least show signs of being drawn to Jennie a little more gradually.

In broad strokes, the story was entertaining. We can see some of the general things that are coming in the story, but getting there is not as predictable.

******Christmas Cliché #1 Main Character Name is Nick****** ******Christmas Cliché #2 Two Leads are Adversary's That Fall In Love****** ******Christmas Cliché #3 A Happy Ending******

However the film is still worth watching

"Best Christmas Party Ever"

With the holiday season at hand, a young party planner Jennie Stanton (Torrey DeVitto) learns that her boss, Petra (Linda Thorson), will be retiring after Christmas and hopes she will be left in charge of Petra's Parties, New York's premiere event planning service. Jennie's hopes fade when Petra's charming and handsome nephew, Nick (Steve Lund), arrives on the scene and Petra announces that he will take over the business. She is none to happy but you can figure out what is going to happen.

My only main complaint about this film was that it is suppose to be Christmas time but every time they have an skyline shot of New York there is no snow and it seems to be Summertime!

The acting in this is fine and the story line works. I give major points to this film because they do not make Nick's girlfriend a jealous woman. This was a major plus in my book.

Family safe but in general kids will be bored but adults will like this one!

Now would I watch this one again? "Yes I will".

It is strange to define it as bad Christmas movie. Not exactly for the Hallmark status of story or for not so convincing acting but for a sort of magic. After many variations of Christmas, from different perspectives , a film about maker of parties is not a incorrect idea and it is just nice the ball of events, romance and good intentions, the work of Sean McCann and Linda Thornson and Kathie Imrie, So, just fine.Crowded, off course. But fine.