The Holiday Train

I wasn't expecting much. Cindy Busby in some of her last movies has been quite annoying. There was a little overacting in some parts. Chad Michael Murray's last movies that I watched were terrible. This movie either had a better writer, director or the actors just got better. The leads had chemistry. Even with some of the usual plots, it was handled as adults without the games and added 'drama'.

My hubby loved watching the trains. This show was somewhat different with the trains & their meanings to the town and the family. It wasn't just a boy meets girl show. Good storyline, fun show.

My only complaint is that Cindy Busby is so perky & annoying - almost to the point of appearing fake. No one is that happy & energetic all the time.

This movie was pretty good. I love watching Lifetime Christmas movies; most of them are pretty similar...some are unbearable to even watch.. The basic plot of the movie is the same overall concept as the other Christmas movies on Lifetime (as expected), but it has an all around different 'theme' (for lack of a better word). The acting is better in this movie than most other Lifetime Christmas. All in all, it's a cute and heartfelt movie to watch-it is worth watching, in my opinion.

Workaholic Danielle ( Can we get a Hallmark heroine who is kinda lazy just one time?) is taking her son home for Christmas to experience the holiday the way she did when she was a child with all of the bells and whistles, including the town's famous holiday train. At the last minute, her boss lays a project on her that she can work on through her vacation. She briefly stands up to him but when he frowns at her, she caves. When will we have a female employee who is a shining star for the company not give up her power and submit to the boss's unreasonable demands? In this case though, she is not struggling with the project throughout the movie casting a pall on the family time and celebrations. She pretty much knocks out the project right away and we move on to the important stuff. How refreshing!

Dani is as energetic at home as she is at work and when she learns the Holiday Train which her late Dad took the lead on for the town is kaput, she is determined to set it back on track (no pun intended). To that end she gets together with Chad Michael Murray who repairs her Dad's Lionel train she found in the attic. He is a train enthusiast as well as a hobby shop owner. CMM is as lazy and disorganized as Dani is efficient and hardworking. He's also a little grumpy and a slob. ("Sorry, It's the maid's day off." "Are you sure she isn't hiding under all that stuff?") His business is suffering (surprise surprise) possibly because he leaves his store open with no one on the floor while he is in the back room repairing stuff with headphones on so he can't hear if he has any customers who might would want to buy something but more likely just steal it and he would never know the difference. But opposites attract. Danielle whips his business into shape in no time with a website and a human presence minding the store. CMM embarks on restoring the holiday train and romance ensues, despite some competition from the frisky flower shop owner next door.

Cindy was well cast as the peppy smiley Dani and I liked the pairing with laidback CMM who can do "scruffy" like nobody's business. Cindy looked great as did the actress who played her Mom who had a little promise of romance of her own.

Expectations were somewhat mixed for 'The Holiday Train'. Chad Michael Murray to me has come on quite a lot since his teenage heartthrob sort of roles in his earlier career, he's not been great in everything but he has been watchable more often than not. Will confess to not being a fan of Cindy Busby, she has a real tendency to play unlikeable characters that are very similar to each other and her approach to the characters are similar too. The concept was quite nice and Lifetime did have some worthwhile ones in 2021, 'Christmas Movie Magic' springing to mind.

'The Holiday Train' is definitely one of the worthwhile 2021 Lifetime films for me. 2021 was very hit and miss for Christmas films and for Lifetime, but 'The Holiday Train' is one of the better ones. Can see why some will not like it and it does have issues that stop it from being a classic (never expect a classic with this company), but there was the expectation of it being a pleasant enough watch at least and to me it succeeded at that absolutely. Can see why others liked it as well.

It is agreed absolutely that Busby does overdo the perkiness and borders on being too hyper in places. The story is formulaic and holds few surprises, one can see the too convenient ending (even when knowing what to expect but secretly hoping that it would do something different) from some way off.

Did think that it was a little bit of a slow starter, complete with some pretty ropey dialogue.

However, a lot is good about 'The Holiday Train'. Busby, despite some issues, is less annoying than usual and gives one of her better 2021 performances as she does have a lot of charming moments. Did like the laid back, easy going confidence of Murray and the two have genuine chemistry that does have a sweetly romantic vibe. Kate Trotter is classy support, with zest and sympathetic edge. Callum Shoniker is cute and not too cutesy or bratty. The characters on the whole were worth connecting with, though Busby's hyperactivity did make her character not easy to warm to to begin with.

Production values are pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Loved the trains, that were like their own characters. The dialogue has flow and doesn't get too cheesy or too schmaltzy generally once the film got going. The story on the whole is light hearted and heart warming.

Nice film if not mind blowing. 7/10.