Un reve éveillé

For a ex - teenager of "90 s, to see, after few fists of time Jennie Garth in a romantic comedy is itself a prize. Second, to remind the skills of Cameron Matheson to act the same "next door guy" is, in same measure, a good thing. And, not the last, the if about your life is not the worst idea. It is just a Hallmark film, with many sins or virtues of the recipe. Amusing, romantic, dramatic, , it is just the cup of hot cappucino who you expect. And deserves.

Holidaze is a movie that is primarily geared for those who are 18 and older and those who are romantics. I must have seen Cameron Matheson is at least a dozen movies this year. I like him, however, I guess his Dancing With Stars last season has propelled him into the highly demanded actor spotlight. He plays the same basic character is all his movies I would like him to see him grow as an actor, not just playing the same type of part. I have seen this plot before in other movies. Holidaze should be shared with your BFF or significant other. This is another hot cocoa and popcorn, rainy/snowy afternoon type movie. It does provide adequate entertainment for two hours. Enjoy.

I watch a boatload of holiday movies every year. I very rarely watch this type more than once. This one I have watched a few years in a row now. It is very well done, solid acting, ( that is missing from many of these Harlequin type romance holiday movies). The two leads have charm and acting skills as well and were very believable. You can tell the better written movies after you watch so many bad one. The details were good in this one, the story was solid with no holes, the supporting actors were all good. No one overplayed a type, like "villain, selfish co-worker, small town people". It was not a total cliche. They made the people all more real with a bit of edge. Like the sister says, yeah be like me and move home and be a single mom. Things like that are not in Hallmark movies. Watch this one, it is fun and enjoyable.

This is a film that can't make up its mind if it wants to be a revamped remake of "Groundhog Day" or an attack on corporate America. A high flying corporate executive is sent to her hometown to tear down its Olde Worlde Charme and replace it with a modern hypermarket or some such. Naturally the natives don't like the idea, especially the small shopkeepers.

Lured to the home of the man she left behind, she falls down the stairs in a freak accident, and when she wakes up not only are the two of them married but she has never left.

No sooner has she come round to her new reality, albeit with great difficulty, than she suffers another accident and the process is reversed.

As comedies go, this isn't bad, neither is the soundtrack, and the finale proves that not all capitalists are bad, or maybe that big business needs a woman's touch.

There were three main reasons for wanting to see 'Holidaze'. Am a big fan of Christmas and have been watching many Christmas films from Hallmark and Lifetime as a quest for the past three or four years. Second was for the concept, which is not a novel one (the alternate universe 'Sliding Doors'-like concept having been done before and since) but is fascinating and lends itself well to Christmas films. Third was for the always watchable Cameron Mathison.

'Holidaze' though could have gone either way in execution and was a little worried about how it would execute a concept as good as this. It could either be charming, light hearted and undemanding fun, or too predictable, contrived and far fetched. Luckily, 'Holidaze' is in the former category and is a lot better than its current rating suggests. The execution is not great or perfect, but to me this was fun and charming with a good deal to like.

Am going to start with what didn't quite work. Will agree that the corporate stuff wasn't particularly compelling and slowed the film down sometimes, as well as being a bit too serious.

It takes a bit of time to find its footing pace-wise, where the story is not so eventful or energetic. The ending is a bit too predictable and neat.

On the other hand, 'Holidaze' does do a lot right. It looks attractive enough. The scenery is both rustic and festive and the photography doesn't look rushed or drab, quite beautiful actually. The music doesn't come over as too melodramatic while still having some presence. The direction is suitably sympathetic on the most part while taking a little time to find its feet. The dialogue doesn't go overboard on the cheese and sugar and is suitably light hearted without being silly, sparkling with the two leads when together.

While the story is uneven, with it being at its weakest with the corporate elements, it does come to life when the leads are together and in the more personal scenes. With there being a lot of heart-warming charm and cuteness, without there being too much of the latter. The characters interest and are worth investing in, not being too perfect or having flaws too exaggerated, which was refreshing after seeing a few films with distastefully over the top unpleasant characters that you are meant to root for. Garth and Matthison are both well cast and engaging, particularly Garth. Support is solid.

Concluding, nice film as long as a classic is not expected. 7/10.