Double destinée

While binging on Christmas movies I came across this Sliding Doors holiday remake. The story moves along and has a good cast.

The movie was ok, but why oh why the middle school art? I couldn't stop laughing at her "Art" at the gallery.

Every year there are so many Christmas TV movies and some of them are pretty lame and too cute. This one is above average because of the alternate scenarios thing going on - one where she makes a business trip and one where she doesn't. The formula usually works and in this movie, it keeps things interesting enough to see how things turn out.

Haylie Duff performs adequately as the party organizer. Chris Carmack as the tech big shot she has to organize a party for. Idol alum Diana De Garmo makes a cameo but her song is a bit underwhelming. Laguna Beach's Stephen Colletti plays her unfaithful boyfriend. Connie Selleca plays her boss and she looks young and amazingly recognizable from her Hotel days.

If you have to choose one Christmas movie to watch to relax this one isn't a bad choice since it's a little different.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

This film makes statement that a woman can't be married and have a career.

From Lifetime comes a likable film about what is fate and what you really want in life. "All About Christmas Eve" stars Haylie Duff (7th Heaven) as junior event planner.

As the film opens, Eve is overseeing an unusual Bar Mitzvah with a Christmas twist. Eve has a demanding boss (Connie Selleca). Her boss likes what she did with this latest party. Pleased with Eve's work she now has eyes on her for a huge promotion. To get that job she has to land a huge client. This client lives in Los Angeles. So she has to miss Christmas with her family.

The next day Eve misses her plane to Los Angeles. Now she gets fired. Now she is out of a job. When she gets home she finds her boyfriend is cheating on her.

Later the Alternate Time where Eve makes the plane and is living large but she doesn't know her boyfriend is cheating on her! Also she becomes a different person that really isn't very nice. But which is the real time line and what is the alternate time line?

The film handles the alternate time line transitions with ease. It is a testament to all involved that this gimmick works as well as it does.

Because of the dual time lines the film has a faster pace then most Christmas theme films.

Enjoyable. In the distant future I will watch it again.

The two previous reviewers have already pointed out features I would have mentioned:

• The "Sliding Doors" plot parallel

• Diana DeGarmo appearing as herself, singing "Cantique de Noël" in English (i.e., "O Holy Night")

In addition, I would note that this is Chris Carmack's second appearance this season as the leading man in a Christmas movie, along with "A Christmas Wedding Date". So far, this is the more highly-rated of the two (and rightfully so, in my opinion). Previously, I'd seen him only as "the other guy," or in some other minor role.

Finally, here are some things you might not have seen if this had been a Hallmark movie:

• The cheating boyfriend in bed with another woman

• Two drag queen barflies (also mentioned previously)

• Haylie Duff's cleavage (I don't remember that from 7th Heaven!)

In short, here's a different bit of fun from the "typical" Christmas tale.

Note: Carmack's character's name is spelled Aidan in the IMDb credits, but that came up with a spelling alert when I typed it, so in my summary, I used the "corrected" form, Aiden, since I never saw the spelling on the screen. Eve's full name, however, appears both spoken and in print in the film; her fist name is Evelyn, but unfortunately, I can't remember the surnames of either lead character.

It's not a movie you can have on in the background. You have to pay attention to movie because of the two story lines. Both story lines are bland so it's not worth it.