A Holiday Boyfriend

Suspenful! Will the cowboy kill them all at Christmas? Can't argue with other reviewers here but I'd actually recommend this film because it's so freaking odd. If you sat down to watch this movie you couldn't be expecting anything but holiday schmaltz anyway so give it a watch. Trust me... you've not seen anything like it 😂. I have never before seen not heard of any of these actors and it's unlikely I ever will again. If Harlequin Romance was ever a movie? This is it. I wonder if any of this cast thought it was their big break? Hope not. If you're a budding filmmaker watch this flick for it's lessons in mistakes not to make.

Usually these fims are either formulaic or badly done ego trips. This film, written and directed by the star, had some weaknesses in writing, but the plot was not contrived, the story developed reasonably, and the performances were (generally) excellent. The dynamic between the female friends was honest and natural. The male lead was a little stiff, but may have been written that way. I watched it to see what a woman-driven genre film could accomplish. Olivia Dunkley stepped beyond her stunt woman, action hero default to deliver an entertaining look at contemporary dating.

I love Christmas movies...they are happy and jolly and positive, but this one....oh my! Horrible acting...horrible writing...and horrible settings.

Jacob is terrible. I cringe when he is around the MC. Arrogant, rude, bad actor, sarcastic, demanding, scared to smile and scary when he tries to smile, and looks and acts like he is going to kill her! I want to slap him and her to smarten up! He called her woman :( and she let him! He thinks he's the best thing in life, but he is so wrong!

Better writing would have helped this poor excuse for a movie.

Sorry.

Don't waste your time with this one.

Yeah ... this movie is NOT award-worthy fare ... BUT ... there are cute moments in this QUIRKY-infested sort'a rom-com ... that hits on some not-often-covered relationship snafus people encounter ... but most don't talk about. The female-trio is almost high-schooli'ish (why ARE these women *friends*!?!). Matt Merchant delivers a very complicated performance of a clearly very complicated person. Michelle was the MOST normal persona + wrote+sang a decent closing song. You will neither harm nor exercise your brain with this one ... but it is definitely worth the time if you're in for some exceedingly light fare. As the credits show - this one got by with a lotta help from the writer/director's family+friends.

People usually fall into two camps. those who love Hallmark rom-coms and those who hate Hallmark rom-coms! I am more or less indifferent, but the wife loves these things and roped me into watching this last night. I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised. There is nothing new or surprising here, but it was engaging, hit all of the Christmas rom-com tropes and made me smile in the right places, I think! I can honestly say that I enjoyed it more than most of the movies that Hollywood thinks we all want to see around Christmas.