Christmas on Candy Cane Lane (2022 TV Movie) User Reviews

Too mixed up

[VetteRanger · 5/10 · 5 December 2022]

The Christmas on Candy Cane Lane writers went for absurdity and touching in the same movie, and they never sold me on either mode.

When you have a film where you're relieved when one character isn't in a scene, that's a bad sign. And not because you have a bad guy you don't like but just because the character is constantly annoying.

The whole subplot about "vandalizing candy canes" by moving them around was a non-starter for me. It wasn't serious enough to raise concern, nor funny enough to be amusing.

On the sentimental side, we have divorced parents coming to terms over their daughter and possibly becoming close again and an accused prankster who clearly isn't going to be the culprit.

More than halfway in, I looked over at my wife and said, "At an hour and sixteen minutes into the movie, I'm thinking it should have established SOMETHING I care about." Oops, and just after that Miss Annoying Neighbor walked into another scene to ruin it. We didn't turn it off but probably should have.

More of the same

[ab-84038 · 5/10 · 5 December 2022]

We Really wanted to like this movie called Christmas on Candy Cane Lane. Most of the characters were ok, but the pushy, mean spirited neighborhood busybody named Mrs. Walters was just getting on our Last Nerve. That Neighborhood bully was appearing in every scene with a scowl and an accusation like she owned the neighborhood. This character was always thinking she could tell everyone exactly what to do and how and when to do it and ruined the movie for us.

This was So Not entertaining for us, we just wanted her gone and wanted more of the story to detail more of all of the other characters in the movie.

Decent but scattered

[grammajanie-28811 · 6/10 · 6 December 2022]

This was an okay movie - guess they can't all be show-stoppers. Most of the cast was pretty good and worked well together. Too bad they were not listed in the cast listing on IMDB. The leads were awkward together. At times cringy to watch. Dan Payne definitely is a much more seasoned and polished actor than Andrea Barber. The daughter was a genuine trooper in her role and the police officer/ friend was awesome and her humor was fun, along with handyman Devon (again, neither of them were credited and both had sizable roles - why?). I agree with one of the other reviewers about Andrea Barber's lack of skill. Either she just doesn't have the depth for a lead role or was woefully unprepared. The plot kept jumping from one storyline to another, hard to follow(or care about) most of them.

Overall, it's a decent movie as long as your expectations aren't too high. Just could have been so much better. I'd say the director needs more experience or skill since that's where the cohesion should have come from. Choppy and labored and stilted.

Really, GAC????

[agambre · 2/10 · 4 December 2022]

2 points for Dan Payne. I loved his movies particularly the one based on Karen Kingsbury's book. But this one is a "BIG DUD." I am so disappointed because this movie could have been a good one. Andrea "Kimmy" Barber has a long way to go to be in lead position. Honestly, the cop and the handyman should have been the leads. They made watching enjoyable.

Candace Cameron Bure should not picked lead actress or actor based on friendship alone. GAC is still trying to be in competition with Hallmark. But the way I see it, it'll not happen anytime soon based on the movies being shown. GAC 2021 Christmas movies were much better than 2022 (before Bure showed up). 🤗

Please, Mr. Abbott. Do something. You made Hallmark great for 20 years.

I quit watching Hallmark for 2 years now since I felt they started embracing wokeism. I might hold my nose and start watching Hallmark again. GAC is regressing instead of showing progress.

Much better than I thought it was going to be, I ended up really enjoy the movie!

[emandmom · 7/10 · 5 December 2022]

I'm not sure what's going on with IMDB but this is the third time I've written and submitted a review for this movie that did not go through and just disappeared???

On to the review. I started watching this movie and it just didn't click with me so I stopped watching half an hour into it. I did not delete it from my DVR because I figured I might try watching it the next day, maybe I wasn't enjoying it because I was tired and cranky, well I did start watching it again this afternoon and I ended up really enjoying it.

While the acting wasn't Oscar worthy it was pretty good a few actors were even excellent in their roles.

The messages were clear, it was about family, traditions, friendships, not judging, healing, forgiveness, love, and of course Christmas. Everything was decked out beautifully for Christmas! Loved the Santa dinosaur lol

This movie had romance, humor, and some warm and tender moments, it had me shed a tear or two that's how I know it's a very good movie when it can literally move me to tears! I will definitely watch this again next year. It's definitely worth watching at least once.

I do have a large gripe to pick with IMDB and GAC network. There are 3 African Americans that have huge roles in this movie, they actually had about equal time throughout the movie as the three that are supposedly the main characters but their pictures nor their names are listed anywhere!! I checked here, on the GAC network, online, and even on my DVR nope not listed. That really, really makes me mad! My favorite character and the best actor of the bunch was the Handyman but I don't know what his name is because he's not listed! What is up with that??

Just mediocre

[deskisamess · 3/10 · 7 December 2022]

If not for Dan Payne, this wouldn't be worth the time it takes to watch. I'm not sure who decided Andrea Barber could carry the lead in a movie, but they were wrong. She is cute, and would be fine in a supporting role. It actually looks as if they are trying to hide a pregnancy, but at 46, I think she is too old for that.

The movie tries to be heart-warming but just doesn't get there. At times it goes for silly, and doesn't quite make that work either.

Dan and Andrea have zero chemistry as a divorced couple trying to keep things good for their teen daughter as the holidays approach.

Throw in an obnoxious neighbor, a prankster, a female cop dealing with the tragic death of her fiancé, and a veteran trying to woo her, and you end up up with 90 minutes of meh.

One of the worst I've seen from GAF.

Dan Payne makes this film.

[adamjohns-42575 · 6/10 · 5 December 2023]

Christmas On Candy Cane Lane (2022) -

I did not like Andrea Barber in the lead role of Ivy, but Dan Payne was much better in his role of Rob and certainly more charming than his character was in 'How To Fall In Love By Christmas' (2023).

I didn't think that the two actors worked together either. I could understand why Rob had left her, because it's all very well being a strong independent woman, but independence is knowing when to ask for and accept help.

Dan was just so fricking hot though! I'd like to sit on his lap as Santa or not. Those eyes and that softly spoken voice - Yum!

The cranky neighbour Mrs. Walters (BJ Harrison) was way over the top. It was almost as if they wrote her in to give the actor something to do and there were a few others playing the ham and cheese a bit heavily too.

Actually the whole film seemed to be much more of an ensemble piece anyway, with lots of characters to potentially fall in love or cause problem and I liked the fact that to start with I didn't know who was going to end up with who for a change, although I did of course have my suspicions.

I do find it hard to see the fascination in something as specific as the light display event shown in this film, because it doesn't really happen here in the UK, where we might drive around and point out houses, but would never make a beeline for a certain avenue or cul de sac draped in lights or get out and wander around, mostly because light displays rarely appear on more than about 30% of houses and I don't feel the need to ooh and aah up close. Maybe I would if there were some planned arrangements with more than just lights like in this films case, but I'd probably still be one of only a few.

As for the actual story itself, sadly it wasn't comedy enough to be good for its humour and it wasn't serious enough otherwise. If they'd made it a proper comedy it might have worked better, because otherwise it just became a bit of a farce, with relationship issues thrown in as an attempt to create balance.

It wasn't the worst I've seen or ever will, but I felt that it could have worked better with a little bit more thought all round.

6.01/10.

Wanted to Like It

[aky-393-792837 · 1/10 · 6 December 2022]

Ugh, that's all I gotta say. I thought I'd give GAC & GAF a chance this holiday season, see what kind of Holiday movies they'd have that may be different than Hallmark or Lifetime, but WOW (not in a good way). The story was cute in the beginning, but yeah the same old story line except the whole, they're still in love & get back together after a divorce. Way to go GAC. Nothing like giving children of divorce (no not a product of one) a false sense of hope that their divorced parents are going to magically get back together. I'm more apt to believe that Santa exists. GAC, I get you want "wholesome", but maybe you should do movies that deal with the real world?

Christmas U-turn on Divorce Highway

[frukuk · 1/10 · 12 November 2023]

This is so hectoring and hard to take seriously. I gather this is intended to be a "film with a moral" but, if you want to produce a film that extols the virtues of reconciliation and renewal, you do need to write a believable screenplay.

I really struggled to see Rob (played by Dan Payne) as a well-rounded and consistent character. If someone had been through a traumatic experience, wouldn't he have at least shown some small amount of nervousness about jumping back in the deep end?

Since this is really built on the past, present and future of the relationship between Rob and Ivy (played by Andrea Barber), it fails to enthrall because the way their relationship evolves is simply implausible. So, all in all, a real dud of a Christmas film.

Hilarious!

[skillfulcota · 10/10 · 19 December 2022]

I read the other reviews and thought I would write one. I found this movie hiliariously funny while teaching valuable life lessons on how to get along with others and forgive. Definitely worth the watch! All of the cast were perfect for their roles! Great to see Andrea Barber in a leading role for the first time!! Andrea was true to her personality--seriously funny!! I loved Dan Payne, Devon Alexander, and the ladies that played Tilda and Mrs. Walters. I enjoyed this movie tremendously! If you want funny and heartwarming, you will find it when watching this movie! Thank the Lord for a movie that contains clean, funny, true to life mishaps!! Enjoy!!

Old-fashioned values - but the wrong ones

[martingray1 · 2/10 · 11 November 2023]

Boy, this is sly. It looks like a fun family film, a spin on the Christmas lights rivalry trope, but soon the messages are pushed to the fore: marriages break up when women start working full time; moms need dads to put the Christmas lights up and keep them safe from falling off the ladder; divorce leads to kid acting out but makes parents realise they didn't work hard enough at their marriage and need to get back together for their sake... Happiness is having enough time to make a pot roast. 'I want nothing more than to be your wife again.' Ugh.

I know GAF movies are meant to provide an alternative to those disgraceful Hallmark films, with diverse relationships and gay characters (believe it or not, mixed relationships can make for great American families and gays can come from them), but this is like King Canute trying to hold back the waves, pointless and not fun - this is the 21st century, not some perfect 1950s that never existed, and it's not all bad for that. The Hallmark moves aren't transgressive, or even especially progressive - they're just reflecting life.

Very Enjoyable

[debradesigns · 10/10 · 26 December 2022]

I personally loved this movie. I thought all the cast did a super great job. Always like Dan Payne but Andrea Barber and the rest of the cast were equally as good. If you are looking for a wholesome family friendly movie you won't be disappointed. If you are looking for perversion or sexual thrills from under dressed women you probably won't like this movie. I am happy to see that lighthearted film making is making a comeback. I hope to see more films like this in the near future. I watched this on frndly for under ten dollars a month. They also carry Pixl and the inspirational channel as well.

Delightful: perfect Christmas Rom Com

[fredact · 10/10 · 7 January 2023]

This is the Christmas movie formula we all know and love. The main couple with their problems, the other couple with their comedic interactions, the grumpy person that adds the element of stress to the main character. Just lighthearted Christmas for fun at its best.

This plot is perfectly thin, you can guess how things turn out right from the start, but that's what Christmas movies are about. Like a blanket and a warm cup of hot chocolate they are meant to be warm and comfortable with just a hint of merriment.

The cast is all fun, and they look like they are having fun. Even the obligatory teenage girl is not obnoxious.

All in all, a nice way to spend an evening.