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For a modern christmas movie, I found the movie to be enjoyable. The emotions put in the movie was done well and proves that hallmark doesn't have to be the channel for holiday films. ION, you did a good one.

I have been watching a ton of Christmas movies. This is the 2nd one this week, (the other one was on Freeform), this one is from ION. that just had to inject a dig against conservatives and politics into it. The main character has a vision board. No problem. What is a problem is it mostly featured photos of 0bama and his family! What the heck is that? This did not even fit the movie AT ALL. And they show it multiple times in the movie. It of course had the words, "compassion" over one set of 0bama photos, and then "Happy Family" and so forth. It was out of place and an obvious "statement". Hey movie makers, leave politics out of your freaking holiday movies. Take a breath and just make a story without bringing in your own political agenda. The movie was okay. Where did they film this? It looked like they filmed it in some Santa's Village somewhere. It moved along at a nice clip and I found it enjoyable. I have seen some true stinkers this year, and this is not one of them.

I tend to binge Christmas movies starting around the end of November. So through the years I've seen quite a few. But around 90% of the 'TV' movies have no likeable characters, bratty, whiny, or overly sweet children, a**hole boyfriends, clueless parents, etc. But this one has one or two. Ava (The Christmas Elf) & sometimes her two helpers. I generally do not like characters that are cheery all of the time but Ava was a bit different. Not a bad Christmas movie.

Rent An Elf (2018) -

I had a strong feeling that I had tried to watch this one before and turned it off. I probably shouldn't have bothered with it this time either, but it was okay I suppose.

I did feel that it was very forced and saturated in sap though and while it was full of Christmas activities it was hard to believe that it was set during the season, because the weather was a bit too sunny and cheerful.

And the ending actually made three of my teeth fall out, because it was so sickly.

There seemed to be a lot of supposition from both of the leading characters and many obstacles that got in their way too. As a result it came across a tad contrived and unbelievable, no one could be that unsure or untrusting surely?

Sean Patrick Thomas was fine in the role of Liam, but I couldn't believe that he had ever been attracted to his ex wife, Jojo (Nicholle Tom), because she was so vile and they had clearly never had anything in common. She was completely stupid and one of the most irritating characters I've ever seen on screen.

Ava (Kim Shaw) was okay, but a bit basic and immature for Liam too and it would probably have been more suitable for her to get together with her friend Jimmy (Luke Jones), which would have made a different story at least, if she had realised that she'd had what she needed all along, due to Liam's influence.

Jimmy was overly special though and quite an exaggerated character, but then so were the the parents, who were actually far too much.

And even the village Santa Claus (Armand LeSage) tried too hard, not to mention Liam's boss (Rod Sweitzer), who was a complete idiot too.

It really was only the leads and the son, Nathan (Yohance Biagas Bey & Zakai Biagas Bey) that were bearable.

If the others hadn't all been so excessive, the whole film could have been a lot better.

However, I actually got on better with the Nana character Catherine played by Debbi Morgan, even though it's usually the Mother/Grandmother characters that suck, but she was genuine and feisty, without being too catty and I liked that.

If I had turned it off before, I could understand why, but having persevered with it this time I didn't feel too much as if my time had been lost. It will be highly unlikely that I will watch it again though.

4/10.

I'm all for job creation schemes and giving struggling actors a break from serving at tables and bars, but please Hallmark & other production customers that put out this sugary, schmaltz, have respect for them them and give them a script worthy of their talent and ambitions!