Une seconde chance pour Noël

First of all, I enjoyed this movie. I've seen it now three times, and it's not a great movie (are any of these Christmas movies "great?"); it falls far behind "Christmas Kiss" and "A Perfect Christmas List" and about even with "Back to Christmas."

Still, it a nice cast - George Wendt is interesting as the ghostly cab driver, and Marla of course gives her all, which is very much indeed. So for the cast and story, I'd recommend it.

On the other hand, the direction is unimaginative (drab, actually) and the editing draws several scenes out way too long. It's as if they felt they had to hit us over the head with emotional tug, or didn't really have sufficient scenes written to fill in the length.

I do want to say that I have to thank Hallmark for helping to finance and distribute these films, and ION for running them also. It's much better watching than a lot of other junk the TV stations offer.

I love Marla Sokoloff, and the cast is all nicely chosen here, but the script and the directing just leave something to be desired. The entire affair feels gauzy, which isn't a surprise for a Hallmark movie, but underneath that there should still be some substance. In this case it just feels like they started with a mood they wanted to create and half-heartedly filled in whatever would produce that mood, without working much on details like whether any of it made sense. (Lots of it does, but there are some head-scratchers too.)

Honestly, it felt like a sleepwalk, emotionally. The key revelations which play a central part in the story barely made any emotional impact at all on the people involved. So the chance for some real acting to intrude on our gauze-fest was mostly wasted -- just about entirely wasted, in the case of the revelation about the past history of the main characters. Shame.

Still, it wasn't a bad way to spend a little time, if you like this kind of sappy movie. There are some fun moments, and I never get tired of watching Marla. 5/10 for me.

It's not the worst 'Groundhog Day' at Christmas that I've seen, but I probably only stuck with it for so long, because Chris Carmack is just lovely. At the beginning of the film you definitely don't feel that he should be lumbered with the absolute cow that the lead female is, but after a few times of repeating the same day over and over, she starts to realise that she is not actually very nice and needs to change her ways. At that point she becomes bearable, but still not good enough for Chris in my opinion.

The supporting cast all play their parts as I would imagine they are directed to do, but they mostly seem to be quite exaggerated and annoying. Think 'American Pie' characters!

It's nice to see that Catherine Hicks is still getting work after she ran away to space with Captain Kirk and some Whales. She plays the Mum nicely here. It's also good to see Norm (George Wendt) although he's not looking too healthy. Perhaps he shouldn't have frequented Cheers quite so often? Hopefully he has a good doctor.

The film isn't hideous to get through like some of them, but you can certainly put up your tree at the same time without missing too much. Alternatively just forward the middle bit where she's still learning how to be good and skip to the getting it right bit.

Marla Solokoff is so good here. The character is pleasant enough most of the time, but eventually she is really nice. But I liked her best when she was having a good time, knowing she would not gain weight or have to pay for huge purchases on her (former) company's credit card, or spend time in jail. Her efforts to improve herself and get her man are really enjoyable.

The cab driver is well played by George Wendt (who has several roles),

Chris Carmack is good enough, and he even sings, but not well enough for me to believe he will be a big country star.

Catherine Hicks does a great job as Rebecca's mom.

There is plenty of good Christmas music, but also a lot of what I consider junk.

This is no masterpiece but it is a pleasant and even funny fantasy for the holidays.

Am not somebody who hates Christmas or has a bias against made for television Christmas films. The complete opposite on both counts and have made that clear more than once and will continue to do so if necessary (though am refraining as much as possible from reiterating too much). The premise did sound quite interesting and seemed like it was trying to do something a little different. So watched 'A Christmas Wedding Date' with the intent to like it.

Sadly, there are just too many flaws with 'A Christmas Wedding Date' for me to do that. It's not entirely terrible and has a few good things, but there is a lot wrong with it and it is another film where the worst of the bad things are executed pretty terribly. A case of a pretty decent premise not done anywhere near enough with and with mediocre at best execution. Am usually, or at least there is the attempt to be, a balanced and encouraging person when reviewing films, television etc. But 'A Christmas Wedding Date' is one of those films where it is not always easy to take that attitude.

There are a few good things. Marla Sokoloff gives her absolute all without over-acting, did find her character too excessively mean but Sokoloff injects a lot of passion and also some poignancy later on. Catherine Hicks is also good and makes much out of too little to do. George Wendt intrigues.

Did think too that there were pleasant moments in the soundtrack.

Unfortunately, 'A Christmas Wedding Date' has a lot wrong. Chris Carmack to me was incredibly bland and doesn't look at ease in his incredibly sketchy and too perfect role. The characters are too caricaturish with one or two character traits at best and most are poorly used, mostly underused. Most of the supporting cast are forgettable from having so little to work with and a few add nothing to the story.

It's a film that also doesn't look particularly good, with especially cheap editing. The script has an awkward flow and is often cheesy and at times melodramatic. The story suffers from tedious pacing, excessively vague character motivations, a lot of contrivance and nothing being surprising, could see the ending from miles away.

Concluding, weak. 3/10.