Un Noël sous les projecteurs

2018 was rather up and down when it came to Hallmark's Christmas output. There were winners, such as 'Marrying Father Christmas', 'Once Upon a Christmas Miracle' and 'Christmas Bells are Ringing'. There were also misfires, namely 'Christmas at Graceland', 'A Gingerbread Romance' and 'Last Vermont Christmas'. Most ranged between average and pretty good. 'Entertaining Christmas' did sound quite charming despite not being particularly big on Jodie Swetin.

'Entertaining Christmas' for me is not quite one of the winners of the 2018 batch, but it is closer to that than the misfires categories. It is one of the pretty good outings with many great things that make it close to being one of the best of the batch, but it is let down by a few things that were not developed enough and a couple of the story flaws found a lot in Hallmark's Christmas offerings. Not a great film, but definitely worth watching. 'Entertaining Christmas' is also one of not many films where Swetin was one of its best aspects, so that was a nice surprise.

As said, a lot is good here. It is very professionally filmed and the locations look lovely too, sure the snow effects are artificial but that has been done far worse in other Hallmark films. Some of the soundtrack has a nice nostalgia and captures the festive spirit quite nicely. Swetin is a very likeable and charming female lead and after seeing so many female lead characters in Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas films recently that have exaggerated and over-emphasised character flaws it was great to have one that was easy to root for. While having problems with his character, Brendan Fehr does a good job with what he has and what there is of their chemistry when it features is sweet enough.

None of the supporting cast bored or irritated and while they are not meaty the characters at least felt real. The script is not too cheesy or schmaltzy and the flow isn't awkward. The story has maturity with a mature subject matter done quite movingly, while also having a charming light-heartedness and not coming over as too serious.

Did think however that the central relationship was underused and wasn't developed enough, there is chemistry but the actual romance in the story felt too like the writers had forgotten about it until quite late into the writing stages. While Fehr is good in his role, John as a character felt underwritten and has too little to do.

The story is a bit too more of the same, with not enough freshness to typical material. There could have been a little less of the scoring which intruded at times, while having moments.

Overall, pretty good. 6/10.

Jodie Sweetin as Candace (really...that's the name chosen...gag!) the heir apparent to "Martha Stewartesque" empire. Except Candace is not a perfect crafty princess. Cute enough..but they go over the top with a few of the tongue in cheek moments.

Review Date 5/14/2019

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

This is a modern day version of "Christmas in Connecticut". This is however has non of the charm or characters that has made ""Christmas in Connecticut" endure.

In this film a modern day life style guru (Think Martha Stewart) announces her retirement. She wants her daughter to "Take over the company" once she leaves. The board however has its doubts. Unknown to them the daughter can not do anything right. The daughter not a fraud but her own gifts are being set aside.

The daughter gets a chance to prove herself to the board that she is capable of handling the company. In a small town a little girl wrote a letter wanting to have a perfect Christmas Party for her returning dad who happens to be a veteran.

Of course you know where this film is heading and so that makes this film taxing to watch at times. The love story you see coming a mile away and there is nothing original that happens in this film that has been covered in superior films.

The film is watchable but you will forget the film once the credits are over.

Jodie Sweetin plays Candace Livingston, the daughter of an American cooking/author/crafting legend - Liz Livingston. She is due to take overt he family business and as a little introduction to it, goes to a small town(it is always a small town) to help a young girl prepare to welcome her father home from his tour of duty(there is always a father or mother in the army). The only problem is Candace is pretty rubbish at all the things her mother is brilliant at, she takes after her father and is good with finance and organisation and being a really good person, kind of everything you need to run a business that doesn't involve cookery or crafting!

The little girl's Uncle has escaped from Roswell, sorry is Roswell's Brendan Fehr, and his day job, when he is not being an awesome Uncle is the town's news reporter. A reporter who is suddenly close to an pretending to be someone she is not, I do not know where this could be heading! Oh of course we do, but Hallmark is not there to shock or surprise us, it is there to give us nice Christmas films and this one looks good, Jodie Sweetin is a charismatic heroine, who is extremely likeable, just like her character. Brendan Fehr is still Michael from Roswell, but we all want Michael to have a happy ending don't we!

A cheery and happy Hallmark movie as our star tries to not be found out and our reporter faces a mini crisis when he finds out. But seriously, like he is going to ruin his loves future! That wouldn't be a Hallmark film, it is more Christmas Hammer Horror if he does that!

Sorry to deliver a not so favorable reveiw during the holiday season.

However-No chemistry between main actors. Secondary cast save the production. They were great. A good story wasted on actors that could not carry the story.

Hallmark please make better casting choices.