Une merveilleuse journée

Figured this TV Film was going to be the typical Christmas Story and since I like Rob Lowe, I decided to give it a try and was completely surprised through out the entire film. Rob Lowe (Robert Harlan) gets fired from his job and then decides to try his hand at writing a book with the constant encouragement of his wife Paget Brewster (Allyson Harlan). All of a sudden Robert's life changes completely and so does his soul, so to speak. The rest of the story will make us all face up to the fact that we sometimes focus too much on material things and neglect just plain Love to our neighbors and family. This has the makings of being a great Christmas tradition for all families to watch and enjoy and take good heed to the story which is revealed to us in this Wonderful TV Film. Enjoy every year.

Rob Harlan (Rob Lowe) was expecting a promotion but gets laid off from his 15 year radio sales job. He is encouraged by his wife (Paget Brewster) to finish his novel. The book, A Perfect Day, is a heart-wrenching story inspired by his wife and her father. They grow disillusioned with the piling rejections, and then they are surprised by book agent Camille Bailey (Frances Conroy). The success of the book slowly drives a wedge in their marriage. A mysterious stranger (Christopher Lloyd) warns him over and over again.

I don't like Rob Harlan and that starts right from the beginning. I have grown more hesitant about Rob Lowe as a public figure over the years but this is mostly about this character. He's selfish even in the beginning. I don't love the wife either but she has other people in her mind. I do get the idea of adapting A Christmas Carol into a modern story but then the twist goes off the rails. It could have been a simple clunky morality tale but even that is taken away by the final twist. It's not good but at least, it could have been functional.

"A Perfect Day" is another drama with a Christmas setting that has a different plot. It's a very good one, with some interesting twists. The screenplay is a little awkward, but what earns this film such a low rating is the acting. Some of the cast are quite good, and others are passable. But the lead role of Rob Harlan is, frankly, terrible.

I have seen other films with Rob Lowe and some are very good. He seems to specialize in or go for roles in which he plays a bad guy who reforms. Not in the civil or criminal sense, but in the work-obsessed husband and/or neglectful father sense. In most such films, he plays a know-it-all mate and father who gradually comes to his senses after some encounters with other people.

But in this film, Lowe seems overly negative and a real sourpuss. His wise guy persona and flippant attitude at times just paint him as a guy one has a hard time believing really loves his wife and daughter. Then, when he hits it big, he continues his sourpuss persona along with a very wooden performance.

The guy just has no life or spark that makes his character believable in any mode. He surely did much better in other films, but he turns this one into a forgettable waste of time. My five stars are mostly for some very good acting by a few of the cast, and one superb job by Paget Brewster as his wife, Allyson.

If Lowe or any other actor had put his heart and soul into the lead role in this movie, it would have made it a memorable repeat film for the Christmas season. But, as it is, this is one holiday film that one can skip without missing anything.

I always like Christmas themed films and had enjoyed Rob Lowe's Sam Seaborn in The West Wing so had high hopes for this film.

For the first hour or so it's a decent film. We've seen the concept of a small town writer getting a hit and becoming famous only to lose his family lots of times before but for the most part it's an enjoyable plot with Lowe giving a good performance and Paget Brewster stealing every scene from him.

But then the change happens. It gets dark, it gets twisted and grim which for a Christmas film you don't need. The ending is trite and rushed leaving you wondering why you cared for these characters in the first place. I can see why the writers felt that it needed to shake the film up a bit but this was far too much.

Not bad for a made-for-TV- Lifetime Christmas movie, although in saying that there's nothing outstanding or new here either. Rob Lowe makes this worth watching however and I enjoyed the beginning where he's an out of work, struggling author who ends up digging ditches to support his family.

As the story goes on Rob's first book becomes a blockbuster and he hits the big time, going out on an endless book tour complete with a new ego, groupies and a progressive case of neglect for his family.

With the introduction of Christopher Lloyd's mysterious angel/conscience character, the plot lost my interest a bit and ultimately, as interesting as that idea was it was never fully fleshed out so that in the end you're left saying what!? Based on a novel by Richard Paul Evans. 12.24.13