So, this one was a bit difficult to get into at first; the first 40 minutes I had to stop myself several times from multitasking. That said, the last 40 minutes or so are quite good. It is a cute and fun story overall. The writing at times did not make sense. Two examples included having Tyler (the teenager who was helping) fix the plumbing - made no sense but did allow the writers to develop the sub-plot romance. The scene where Natalie (played by Anni Krueger) left Stefano (played by Gilles Marini) at the Christmas carol concert. I get it, she was jealous, but the chemistry (where we start to see that Stefano is interested) between the two had only really started in the carriage ride the previous scene. So, for her to storm off seemed odd. The acting overall was fairly good. Anni Krueger's performance was solid, though she had some awkward scenes early on. She was at her best in her dialogue BeeBee (played by Emma Myers). She also had a strong performance during the last 30 minutes or so. I liked Gilles Marini's performance; he made me laugh a little with his Italian expressions. The chemistry between the two was decent. As I alluded to above, it came late for me, starting at the carriage ride and really shined thru with the exchanging of the gifts. The supporting cast was good. As another reviewer pointed out on here, it was a real cute performance by Emma Myers. The scene in the shop (where she asks Tyler to help) and the scene at the fair (snowball scene with Tyler's list) were both good scenes for her. The movie does a good job of getting the viewer into the Christmas spirit thru several fun and festive scenes. Overall, it is a decent new edition to the 2020 Christmas movie season.
16 Reviews
"I don't know the name of you"
jagfannn22 November 2020
But I'm sure we soon will. The fresh faces and strong performances make this move a welcome surprise. Where have they been hiding Anni Krueger? She beautiful, funny, believable, a great actress and carries the show. Together with super cute Emma Myers, and the very talented Mara Hall, they make this movie enjoyable and worth watching.
Gilles Marini and Andrew Brodeur are the male leads and do a great job as well. The story is interesting and although you can tell it isn't a big budget film, it's still entertaining.
Gilles Marini and Andrew Brodeur are the male leads and do a great job as well. The story is interesting and although you can tell it isn't a big budget film, it's still entertaining.
No purpose
tinatalksavon22 November 2020
I never saw a real purpose for this movie. This is the worst Christmas movie I've seen so far this year. It was actually kind of boring. And I couldn't understand anything that Gilles Marini said throughout the movie.
All the right ingredients
Gordon-1125 December 2020
Not bad
teebear81711 December 2020
The 2 lead actors were fine but the obese black woman is one of the WORST ham actresses ive ever seen. Over blown acting, over emoting. Pure ham. We all know Hallmark has its obligatory token black actors in every movie. Black assistants, etc. But maybe hire one who can act. The so called italian actress Lauren Lavera, who is really from England, goes back and forth from an Italian accent to a Russian accent in one scene over and over throughout the movie. Wheres the director?? He doesnt hear this? One minor pet peeve, the mood music between talking scenes was WAY too loud. Otherwise a nice little detour from the usual stuff
Mixed taste
TheLittleSongbird2 November 2021
Christmas films can go either way, which has been my experience watching overtime the festive output of Lifetime and Hallmark. They can either be well-meaning, charming, warm-hearted and don't feel too heavy. Or they can be too over-sentimental, cheesy, contrived and bland. There have been many films of theirs that have fallen in both camps and in the camp where there is a bit of both. And 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' did have the sort of premise where the execution could have gone either way.
Lifetime's 2020 Christmas film batch, like all their previous years, was pretty hit and miss which was not unexpected. 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' is an uneven effort and is neither one of the best or worst films from Lifetime's 2020 batch. Personally put it in the middle category, and thought that the second half is much better than the first. 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' is one of those films where it is understandable why anybody would consider switching off in the first half, being someone who did come close, but there are plenty of Christmas films that have rough starts but get better if one sticks with them and this is one of them.
Am going to start with the not so good. 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' does start off badly, where the writing is very contrived and cheesy, where the story doesn't really go very far and where there were too many uncomfortably awkward and silly parts. The story throughout is a bit uneven, where the silliness can be too over the top and where characters behave in ways that don't really make sense.
The chemistry between the two lead characters takes a while to get there, they seemed disconnected for some of the first half before believably and charmingly starting to blossom in the carriage ride scene. Many of the events are obvious before they even happen and the ending seemed a bit on the tidy side.
However, the second half is on the whole a lot better and there is a good deal to like. The best thing being the winning cast. Anni Krueger is a natural charmer in the female lead role and also has great comic timing. Gilles Marini starts off a little on the manic side, but he is a lot of fun in his role. Once their chemistry gets going and connects more, it is very sweet and has wit too. Emma Myers is a big plus of 'Christmas Romance Al Dente', she is very cute and also an amusing breath of fresh air.
Furthermore, 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' appeals visually. Especially the scenery. Lifetime films can have intrusive and overused music, this was just about avoided here and it has a nice festive atmosphere. The script does flow a lot better later and doesn't get over cheesy or too schmaltzy. The lines intended to be funny luckily are so. The story is predictable but also has a good deal of charm and light-heartedness, leaving me with a warm glow, and the cute factor is not excessive.
In summary, a bit mixed here but am glad about not bailing. 5/10.
Lifetime's 2020 Christmas film batch, like all their previous years, was pretty hit and miss which was not unexpected. 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' is an uneven effort and is neither one of the best or worst films from Lifetime's 2020 batch. Personally put it in the middle category, and thought that the second half is much better than the first. 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' is one of those films where it is understandable why anybody would consider switching off in the first half, being someone who did come close, but there are plenty of Christmas films that have rough starts but get better if one sticks with them and this is one of them.
Am going to start with the not so good. 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' does start off badly, where the writing is very contrived and cheesy, where the story doesn't really go very far and where there were too many uncomfortably awkward and silly parts. The story throughout is a bit uneven, where the silliness can be too over the top and where characters behave in ways that don't really make sense.
The chemistry between the two lead characters takes a while to get there, they seemed disconnected for some of the first half before believably and charmingly starting to blossom in the carriage ride scene. Many of the events are obvious before they even happen and the ending seemed a bit on the tidy side.
However, the second half is on the whole a lot better and there is a good deal to like. The best thing being the winning cast. Anni Krueger is a natural charmer in the female lead role and also has great comic timing. Gilles Marini starts off a little on the manic side, but he is a lot of fun in his role. Once their chemistry gets going and connects more, it is very sweet and has wit too. Emma Myers is a big plus of 'Christmas Romance Al Dente', she is very cute and also an amusing breath of fresh air.
Furthermore, 'Christmas Romance Al Dente' appeals visually. Especially the scenery. Lifetime films can have intrusive and overused music, this was just about avoided here and it has a nice festive atmosphere. The script does flow a lot better later and doesn't get over cheesy or too schmaltzy. The lines intended to be funny luckily are so. The story is predictable but also has a good deal of charm and light-heartedness, leaving me with a warm glow, and the cute factor is not excessive.
In summary, a bit mixed here but am glad about not bailing. 5/10.
Pointless
Monty-18671220 November 2021
Wrong Actor....
edpopp7 December 2020
Anni Krueger
Jackbv12322 November 2020
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this movie. I never heard of most of these actors, certainly not Anni Krueger. Her list of credits for acting is incredibly short to have a lead even in a two hour movie.
This movie is proof to me that a movie can be good even when it follows all the formulas for a Rom/Com, and with leads I haven't grown familiar with.
When I watch one of these movies, if I smile a few times, I consider the humor good. In this movie I was laughing. Yes, out loud. Krueger is a natural. Her timing is good. She's self-effacing yet also with an inner confidence. She can be a total klutz and yet not take it to the point of being silly.
Krueger and Gilles Marini have instant chemistry. Emma Myers and Andrew Brodeur do also, as the secondary romance. They are so cute.
The dialogue is good. It's funny when it needs to be, sometimes with one liners. It can get serious or romantic. It never goes overboard.
I said it follows the formulas. It that way it is a little too cliché. Some of the situations are boarding on too silly. Still, I enjoyed it immensely.
This movie is proof to me that a movie can be good even when it follows all the formulas for a Rom/Com, and with leads I haven't grown familiar with.
When I watch one of these movies, if I smile a few times, I consider the humor good. In this movie I was laughing. Yes, out loud. Krueger is a natural. Her timing is good. She's self-effacing yet also with an inner confidence. She can be a total klutz and yet not take it to the point of being silly.
Krueger and Gilles Marini have instant chemistry. Emma Myers and Andrew Brodeur do also, as the secondary romance. They are so cute.
The dialogue is good. It's funny when it needs to be, sometimes with one liners. It can get serious or romantic. It never goes overboard.
I said it follows the formulas. It that way it is a little too cliché. Some of the situations are boarding on too silly. Still, I enjoyed it immensely.
Standard fare
cujorocky11 November 2021
nice few drops more
Kirpianuscus12 December 2021
I admitt, I love it. For many small reasons.
First, no doubts, for meet , again,Nia Vardalos.
Second, for the young actors and their realistic enthusiasm , emotion and love story, step by step.
For the moments when Annie Krueger look reminds the traits of Natalie Wood.
For Italian flavors and for the love from rational perspective.
For unucky pannettone versus so American cookies.
For the bottle of oil .
For the nice cliches, not bad try of twist, for the lists / recipe and for be just a Hallmark Christmas film, without any other ambition. Result, just nice and few drops more.
First, no doubts, for meet , again,Nia Vardalos.
Second, for the young actors and their realistic enthusiasm , emotion and love story, step by step.
For the moments when Annie Krueger look reminds the traits of Natalie Wood.
For Italian flavors and for the love from rational perspective.
For unucky pannettone versus so American cookies.
For the bottle of oil .
For the nice cliches, not bad try of twist, for the lists / recipe and for be just a Hallmark Christmas film, without any other ambition. Result, just nice and few drops more.
What a delight!
irgrammy23 November 2020
I enjoyed this Hallmark movie more so than others. Not the typical, getting a promotion, leaving town story.
I like the interaction among the characters. They feel like "real" people.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Stefano. He is so full of life, and again, a very real person with attitude and fire. I think he was my favorite thing about the movie.
I hope Hallmark will bring more movies like this with real people with real emotions.
I like the interaction among the characters. They feel like "real" people.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Stefano. He is so full of life, and again, a very real person with attitude and fire. I think he was my favorite thing about the movie.
I hope Hallmark will bring more movies like this with real people with real emotions.
Super cute
taylorbreter28 November 2020
This was a sweet Christmas movie. The cast overall was very good. There was some missing pieces it felt like that could have been filled in if some of the fluff was cut. The story line of the teens was adorable. BeeBee (Emma Myers) did a great job being the "awkward teen" as well as her costar Tyler (Andrew Brodeur).Gilles Marini was lovely, I was excited to see him in this because of his prior work and he did not disappoint. Anni Krueger was good, haven't seen in her in anything before as she doesn't have a long list of work but she was very pleasant and made her character likable.
BeeBee & Tyler
wynbrks-89-44949222 November 2020
The scene in the shop where BeeBee (Emma Myers) is talking to Natalie (Anni Krueger) about Tyler is classic! Emma's facial expressions in that scene while describing how she knew Tyler from school and the side glance's she made towards Natalie had me cracking up. I had to watch a couple of times.
Emma Myers is one to watch!
Love it
babbygirl17522 November 2020
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