Sincerely Christmas

In this case, nice defines more the themes than the story itself. From single father and the connection father - son , complicated by different perspectives about happy relation to the retired artist and the young woman convincing him to be again on scene , to her parents and the way to be with them to, sure, the magic North Star and a wish becoming true with not pleasant consequences. I liked the performance of Jack Epstein as Robert and the good work of Howard Hoover. Paula Brancati seems offer some forced moments to Christina but the film works decently and this, in essence, it is only matter thing.

I started this movie for two reasons. Jake Epstein is super talented and I enjoy his movies almost always. And because I compulsively watch every new Christmas movie and this was on the list.

This movie has a similar premise to the famous Liar, Liar. Christina being distraught over losing her job for what she thinks is just honesty makes a wish on an ornament that people would just say what they wish for. Now every person she comes in contact with blurts out their Christmas wish to her. (It annoyed me that the real reason she was fired was because she stupidly burst into a meeting and insulted the superstar musician currently on a conference call with her boss.) Actually, I found Christina annoying for many things at least early in the story. Jake Epstein often blurts things out spontaneously but at least he's funny.

So Christina convinces Epstein's Robert to help her get her job back by enlisting a replacement musician. In return, this involves a deal to help Robert deal with a secret he is keeping from his son, Oliver. She uses her new (not so) superpower to manipulate people towards that goal. So the writers have managed to bind these two leads together with the usual Christmas movie goal to fall in love. The wish power also comes into play a lot with Robert's son.

Christina becomes less annoying as the story progresses, but the job side of the story is a little too stupid for my taste. I had a really hard time watching that part. Meanwhile the side about Oliver is more entertaining. I mentioned having Christina and Robert fall in love, but Oliver's story seems just as central.

I hated the ending. Stupid is back in the story.

The acting is mostly good, although I thought Paula Brancati had some rough moments especially one of her first scenes. She didn't seem natural all the time and that affected the chemistry with Epstein. The dialogue is decent especially with Epstein on one side of it. There is one great scene where Robert first experiences Christina's wish power. Epstein makes the most of it.