Escapade princière

Every once in a while, the usual Cinderella genre gets a new twist, so if you're tired of an average, common young woman falling for a royal prince, check out Once Upon a Holiday. In this one, an average, common young man falls for a princess!

Briana Evigan is a royal princess visiting New York, and she's pretty tired of the rules and schedules, so she runs away from her assistants and guardians to see what life is like as a regular person. This isn't exactly Roman Holiday, but it's the same basic concept. Paul Campbell is the non-royal person she meets, but unlike Gregory Peck, he's not a journalist vying for a story about her. He really doesn't know who she is, and he thinks they're just two people experiencing holiday magic.

Not to sound like a snob, but if Hallmark had cast another of their actresses, I would have like this movie much better. Briana was very pretty, but she didn't for one minute seem like a royal princess. Her speech and mannerisms were very contemporary and common. Paul was a total cutie, so if you can get past a princess who doesn't seem like a princess, you'll definitely be rooting for her to snag the guy. He's not only sweet and cute, but he does lots of good deeds that show her a good example. Next up, check him out in either A Godwink Christmas or Window Wonderland!

This rating and some of the review is probably going to sound like it has been written by somebody who hates Christmas and criticises anything Hallmark and festive. Far from the truth on all counts. Have seen some surprisingly good Hallmark films, festive and overall, and have liked some of the Christmas films seen recently from this year because they succeeded in charming the viewer and warming the heart regardless of the cliches and formulaic storytelling.

'Once Upon a Holiday' is not one of the best of my recent Christmas film viewings seen as such a fan of Christmas and needing some serious distracting from health woes. Neither is it one of the worst. Somewhere in the solid middle if anything. It is certainly watchable and much better than the basic plotline looks like on the page, with some things noticeably done quite well. 'Once Upon a Holiday' is also not a great film either, with some obvious flaws that are as noticeable as the good things. So not a must see but far from a must avoid as well.

Will start with 'Once Upon a Holiday's' good things. It is nicely photographed and has a quite magical atmosphere in its best parts. Always love nostalgic festive soundtracks, and 'Once Upon a Holiday' is no exception to that. There is nothing mean-spirited about it, it is generally very charming and it does warm the heart enough.

Did like the nice subtle humour present in the film, there is an easy-going chemistry and Paul Campbell is a very likeable male lead. Greg Evigan is the standout in a more than serviceable supporting cast.

For all those good things, 'Once Upon a Holiday' does have debits too. Briana Evigan really doesn't fit her role, the voice and attitude sounded and felt all wrong and like the role needed somebody more at ease and looked and sounded younger. The dialogue has its moments but really could have done with more energy and too much is very forced and cheesy. The location never looked authentic and at times had a cheap look.

Predictability is inevitable in festive Hallmark films, but the predictability here was excessive with at times contrived situations and stereotypical characters and the pace was like the dialogue, more energy was needed. The ending was cute but quite pat.

Summing up, watchable but not great. 5/10

It sounds like something Hallmark's done before: a young royal away from home during Christmas meets normal person and falls in love---but this one actually felt...right. Paul Campbell's light humor brings us a mildly-magical holiday movie we really can't resist. Simple jokes reflect back upon a golden heart, revealing all he wants is make sure she's where she needs to be. After all, she's the only happy Holiday he knows ;) It's an easy story, no breakups, no unnecessary drama, no tears, as it all wraps up neatly in a perfectly cozy Christmas way. And with Briana Evigan gracefully doing her part as a princess with a passion for photography. It'd be shame, though, if she never got her camera back. With all those blurred photos of random NY buildings..

Quite enjoyable.

A princess eludes her handlers to have some time for herself and meets a man who helps her in more ways than she originally imagines.

Worth a view!

What a nice surprise! I sat down with my Cat and some Cabernet and let roll. Sure, there have been countless Christmas movies in 2015 and I didn't expect to like this as much but I did. Early on it pulled me in and there is no shortage of (spoiler) a Princess and Commoner hooking up. Yet this took a mature and believable route. Nothing overhanded. Nothing unbelievable (as TV goes). The big reveal was actually subtle and loving! In short I really did enjoy this film! In the middle I actually said to myself out loud- "This is a good movie"! Which doesn't happen very often and I take note when it does. That and I wrote a whole better review before Firefox dumped it before I could post it! D'Ohhh!