Journey to Christmas

It's only year three of the Great American Christmas movies, so you can't expect all of them to be winners. Journey to Christmas will not be among the more fondly remembered of the year by most people.

The plot is at least somewhat original: limo driver taking a famous model across the country at Christmas time until weather forces them to stop, not coincidentally at his boyhood home, where he hasn't been for several years. They naturally fall for each other, until a misunderstanding, well...you know.

The problem here is the acting. Everybody seems so stiff and unnatural at times you think you're watching a rehearsal for the high school play.

A theme among GAF actors I've noticed is they don't speak clearly enough to understand, exacerbated by the fact they talk so fast.

The lead actress is certainly pretty, tall and thin enough to be the supermodel she portrays (although this one actually eats), but there was zero chemistry with her costar.

They're just getting started. I know they'll get better, but I doubt I'll be watching this one again.

7.2 stars.

There is a lot to say about this very strange movie. First of all, I don't recognize any of the actors, literally not one. I've seen a million movies and how could I not recognize one? The lead female looks familiar, so maybe I've seen her, but I couldn't say for sure. The lead male, same story. The rest of the cast, nada.

'Journey to Christmas' feels like the first try for the director and most of the actors as well. It feels new, fresh, but amateur and green for sure. This is what I would imagine the final product would be if you took a bunch of skilled people doing it for the first time. Literally, all of them doing their first movie, but they are all very charismatic and intelligent, so it might turn out pretty good. And guess what, it actually works, overlooking the fact that the acting is so rudimentary and wooden throughout. Some of it was so cheesy and basic, as if they only did one take for every scene and we are stuck with the end product. What's amazing is that the last act is endearing and moving, even it it still feels robotic and wavers throughout. I just can't emphasize enough how freakish this film is to me, the acting is so bad, yet all the actors are so likable that I felt I could overlook the whole fiasco.

All the overly positive reviews are not realistic, so you know there are proponents of the movie with an agenda (whatever that may be) that are padding the results in their favor. That's fine, you can get an unadulterated opinion right here, go no further my friend.

GAC's fourth installment in their 2023 Christmas productions comes with new faces, Ash Tsaj, who plays the role of a famous influencer, turned model, and Joey Heyworth, the limo service owner/driver that takes her in a winter charity tour and journey, through bad weather and unplanned deviations, to an L. A. destination, important for her career. Forced to stop at his family home, they bond, while she revels in the simple joy of a family's Christmas activities and he deals with the ghosts of a previous relationship. What makes the story somewhat original, and typically GAC, is that she is absolutely no diva, a wholesome, kind person, totally unselfish and genuine. I found Ash Tsaj quite charming in her part and hope GAC plans to grace future productions with her talent. Joey Heyworth looks, perhaps, a little less at ease in his acting, though he does contribute to the atmosphere of warmth that the entire cast and the story creates. The only harsh character is the manager, who fails at molding her into a self- absorbed, greedy personality. Which makes me ponder on the difficulties self imposed by GAC and Hallmark of old. How can you create entertaining drama without the crude situations, stunning effects, perverted feelings, flawed characters, and scandalous behaviors that are main, when not sole, ingredients of much of modern cinematography? When all characters are, admittedly, unrealistically wholesome and good? As far as seen in the initial entries of their Christmas movies line-up, GAC appears to have successfully achieved their intent and provided real Christmas movies.

Going into this movie I wasn't familiar with either of the main actors. I really liked both of them and hope to see more of them in the future. This movie wasn't super deep and to be honest most of these type of movies aren't lol. So for me, these movies are super hit or miss. I'm care taker for my 98 year old Grandmother whom is the reason as a 41 year old man I watch them in the first place lol. Both my grandmother and I really enjoyed this one. It was lighthearted and fun and cheery. The movie was very predictable as they all are, but that's why we watch them right?! Both of us rate the movies when we are finished watching them, and we both gave it a 9. This one is worth the watch 👍

A lot is predictable but it's worth watching. As I age, these movies have more meaning. Nice to watch a movie with no violence, profanity, or weird storylines. Good acting all around and the scenes have a decent production quality. These are good movies to watch year-round, but especially as we celebrate Christmas each year. Movies like this remind us that it's fine to slowly develop a relationship with somebody the two main actors do a really nice job. I've never seen them in anything else but I'm sure they have been another movies and shows. It's nice to see up-and-coming actors do a good job.