32 reviews
Protagonist has all kinds of choices as far as female companionship, but chooses the ditzy one. Yikes! I would have rejected her right away and yielded to the charms of one of the numerous older predatory women who clearly wanted him and figured he would be easily trained.
- michaelthompsonmcgill
- Dec 25, 2011
- Permalink
It was not easy telling whether 'Christmas Mail' was going to be good or whether it was going to be bad when first hearing of it, reading the plot synopsis and seeing the advertising. The story did sound interesting if not with much to make it unique and it didn't look too bad. Even the mixed response to the film didn't put me off and actually made me intrigued, to see which side of liked it or hated it my opinion would fall on (hoping leaning towards like).
Watching 'Christmas Mail' as part of the Christmas film quest that has been happening for the past three years (something that was very much necessary after a tough time), it was for me on neither extreme of brilliant or terrible and found myself neither loving or hating it. If anything my opinion is somewhere in between and am actually pretty conflicted on what my stance is. With there being a fair share of good things but also an equal number of things that didn't work. Can totally understand the mixed response here.
'Christmas Mail' does have good things. Ashley Scott is engaging enough in her role, though her character could have been better developed. AJ Buckley is easy going and likeable as the more interesting and likeable character. The supporting cast are solid. The chemistry between Scott and Buckley was sweet.
The film is limited in setting but is pleasingly filmed at least. The music had an affectionate festive atmosphere and had me smiling and humming along, as good music should do. There are moments that amuse, true the humour is very exaggerated but it was still fun and easy to take when aware of the exaggeration being intentional, and others that are quite sweet. The first half is charming and engages.
Less engaging was the final third in particular, where things got rather contrived and silly. Also found that it did lose quite a bit of energy from thinning out, while also finding the main revelation poorly done with a barely discernible and unintentionally creepy phone voice and the ending feels too neat and anti-climactic.
Some of the dialogue is awkward and has too much cheese and schmaltz and the film could have done a lot more with developing Scott's character, who comes over as too childish and naive and not much else with her motivations too vague at best. Some of the editing looked sloppy.
In conclusion, hit and miss but watchable. 5/10.
Watching 'Christmas Mail' as part of the Christmas film quest that has been happening for the past three years (something that was very much necessary after a tough time), it was for me on neither extreme of brilliant or terrible and found myself neither loving or hating it. If anything my opinion is somewhere in between and am actually pretty conflicted on what my stance is. With there being a fair share of good things but also an equal number of things that didn't work. Can totally understand the mixed response here.
'Christmas Mail' does have good things. Ashley Scott is engaging enough in her role, though her character could have been better developed. AJ Buckley is easy going and likeable as the more interesting and likeable character. The supporting cast are solid. The chemistry between Scott and Buckley was sweet.
The film is limited in setting but is pleasingly filmed at least. The music had an affectionate festive atmosphere and had me smiling and humming along, as good music should do. There are moments that amuse, true the humour is very exaggerated but it was still fun and easy to take when aware of the exaggeration being intentional, and others that are quite sweet. The first half is charming and engages.
Less engaging was the final third in particular, where things got rather contrived and silly. Also found that it did lose quite a bit of energy from thinning out, while also finding the main revelation poorly done with a barely discernible and unintentionally creepy phone voice and the ending feels too neat and anti-climactic.
Some of the dialogue is awkward and has too much cheese and schmaltz and the film could have done a lot more with developing Scott's character, who comes over as too childish and naive and not much else with her motivations too vague at best. Some of the editing looked sloppy.
In conclusion, hit and miss but watchable. 5/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 2, 2022
- Permalink
Matt (AJ Buckley) is a postman and takes care of his niece. He has a demanding route for his postal deliveries but things brighten up when he meets bubbly Kristi (Ashley Scott) sent on a special assignment as a 'Santa Writer' whose job is to respond to letters addressed to the North Pole.
Kristi is a natural replying to the letters but the local post office boss is far from happy about Kristi and thinks Kristi has been sent by corporate headquarters to spy on him. He forces Matt to spy on her.
This is an amiable film, rather light on plot and the acting is a bit hammy. The leads are likable enough and it is hinted that Kristi might be Santa's daughter and really is from the North Pole. The climax is rather flat though but it makes for pleasant undemanding viewing.
Kristi is a natural replying to the letters but the local post office boss is far from happy about Kristi and thinks Kristi has been sent by corporate headquarters to spy on him. He forces Matt to spy on her.
This is an amiable film, rather light on plot and the acting is a bit hammy. The leads are likable enough and it is hinted that Kristi might be Santa's daughter and really is from the North Pole. The climax is rather flat though but it makes for pleasant undemanding viewing.
- Prismark10
- Dec 7, 2017
- Permalink
The acting is HORRIBLE! It's like they just found people on the street and handed them a piece of paper and said "HERE SAY THIS!". The music is weirdly mixed. The editing is laughably bad. The characters are cliché and make me uncomfortable. It's like the actors look like they're being held at gunpoint. Why does this exist.
- brodist-82568
- Dec 15, 2018
- Permalink
- foschefski-69319
- Apr 17, 2022
- Permalink
This movie should have been great. I loved the scenes with Ashley Scott. Great scenes with the lead actor AJ Buckley. Loved the supporting cast Lochlyn as boss, Rolanda as coworker and Piper as that 8 year old kid with the big eyes. The movie failed in not adequately presenting the story in a dramatic way. For example, the climax of the show which reveals who "Kristi North" really is, was done with a phone voice which you can barely understand. The writers and filming could have been more imaginative in letting the audience know some of the background information on the characters. Enjoyed the characters but the movie lacked that emotional connection- no surprise. When you see a scene where actors are all throwing sprinkles at each other, there is probably something wrong with the movie.
Worst acting ever, poor story, not funny, not really anything. The female lead , in my humble opinion, was scary - kind of so so bubbly and widecweird smile..... oh dear.
Pretty much everyone here can thank Drew Gooden for showing us this masterpiece. It's truly incredible.
- laurabethc1
- Feb 2, 2021
- Permalink
Tell Christmas Reviewer that maybe he gets reported for spoilers like his spoiler on this movie. Even so, I won't officially report him.
This movie has a silly sense of humor and so many things are exaggerated. As a result, if you don't take the movie in the intended spirit, it will be hard to enjoy it.
It is a fun movie and there is a cute romance. Kristie is very fun loving and yes a little silly.
This movie has a silly sense of humor and so many things are exaggerated. As a result, if you don't take the movie in the intended spirit, it will be hard to enjoy it.
It is a fun movie and there is a cute romance. Kristie is very fun loving and yes a little silly.
The movie had an interesting idea, but the main character was odd and it wasn't well explained why she was acting so childish and naive. The story was a bit boring too.
- PennyReviews
- Jan 16, 2020
- Permalink
Main character is single, adopts niece, and when attends a support group is asked "when was the last time you had sex".
- tamuctexas
- Nov 27, 2019
- Permalink
As a postal worker, I had to try this movie. It was a really simple plot...a sweet romantic story with a happy end. It won't win any awards, but I liked it. The lead actor and actress were cute in their roles, and the added "mystery" of who this new girl really was made it more interesting.
It clearly was filmed in a postal facility, but it was super-unrealistic. The lack of mail at Christmastime was astounding, and there were way too many other things to list. It made me laugh, though, and realism certainly isn't required, especially in a movie like this.
It clearly was filmed in a postal facility, but it was super-unrealistic. The lack of mail at Christmastime was astounding, and there were way too many other things to list. It made me laugh, though, and realism certainly isn't required, especially in a movie like this.
- GMGoodwrenchGirl
- Dec 21, 2019
- Permalink
My favorite part was when Drew Gooden played an epic guitar solo without moving his hands! 10/10
- cashr_number
- May 24, 2020
- Permalink
Guy has great love story. other characters wowing good. love little girl niece. script real funny. actor have so much chemistry. 10/10 would again watch.
- finnzbinnz
- Jul 31, 2019
- Permalink
This has got to be one of the greatest bad movies ever made, up there with The Room, Fateful Findings, and Troll 2. It is impossible to describe in writing, just go and watch this movie for yourself.
- admiralhackbar
- Nov 25, 2021
- Permalink
I have never laughed harder. thankyou drew gooden for showing me this masterpiece
- charlottemaxwell-72374
- Jan 3, 2021
- Permalink
I thought this was a really funny offbeat Christmas movie. The characters were offbeat, especially the mysterious one. The acting was good for what it was trying to accomplish - a cute, campy, funny Christmas movie. I found it to be a bit like the Office meets a Christmas movie. I'm glad it's still getting some airtime on Up.
The plot is amazing with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged. The romance aspect of the movie is also great and really highlights the ups and downs that life can take you on. I also could feel the bit a charm from the Christmas time setting... it just made me feel as though I were really there with them. This movie is so immersive that I was actually beginning to talk to the actors, giving them advice about what to do in a certain situation. Overall this movie was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it for anyone who needs a good Christmas time boost and a good laugh.
This film is a fantasy of sorts. A little girl who lost her parents is now living with her uncle. Her Uncle is a very nice and kind man who works at the post office.
Unknown to everyone is there is a woman who just arrived at the post office who is answering letters to Santa. She stumbles across one letter about a girl who is asking Santa to find her uncle a wife.
Now this film is not the greatest but it works. Its not everyone. You have to love romance. The cast does a good job and the film works.
This is a family safe film that I hope more people will discover!
Unknown to everyone is there is a woman who just arrived at the post office who is answering letters to Santa. She stumbles across one letter about a girl who is asking Santa to find her uncle a wife.
Now this film is not the greatest but it works. Its not everyone. You have to love romance. The cast does a good job and the film works.
This is a family safe film that I hope more people will discover!