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Reviews
Christmas at the Drive-In (2022)
Just keep on driving
It's not that this movie is offensively bad, it just would be fully forgettable, were it not for the improbable premise: fight for saving a "historic drive-in" over jobs for regular folk? Where the supposed antagonist is for no reason made to help his rival?
However, it was refreshing that there were no cartoon bad guys as such. And I liked both of the leads and enjoyed watching them. It just didn't seem believable they would be a couple: one with that bad boy energy and the other one rather wholesome. Sure, sometimes the whole opposites attract situation creates great sizzle, but here the leads felt more like bickering and bantering siblings.
One big issue for me is that I enjoy, nay, demand beautiful visual and set design in Christmas movies - somehow this just wasn't visually very impressive. It was a bit bland a little unwarm, and e.g. The shop with Christmas decors looked more like a Goodwill store.
So: if you're looking for sumptuous Christmas movie with fiery romantic chemistry, keep on driving.
Midnight at the Magnolia (2020)
Lacking holiday cheer
The basic plot of best friends realising their love (hardly a spoiler there) has been done over and over, but there was some freshness in the premise: e.g. Having radio DJs, jazz club, and not being set at Christmas exactly.
Few extra points for that - but, in general the movie just wasn't very enticing. There was the usual usual silly misunderstandings (rather many of them), but no surprises. Not that it's expected anyway in movies like this, but that needs to be compensated by warm fuzzy Christmas feel, and a main couple to root for.
However, I didn't really like either of the lead characters. The male protagonist especially felt like a bit of a cad: I actually hoped the rival would've won. And there was something a bit melancholy about the movie's mood, maybe due to being shot in a cold, blueish light. Just didn't get that Christmas spirit from it that I crave.
Christmas Time Is Here (2021)
Time is slow at Christimas in here
This film just plodded along, like hands on the watch.
Everyone seemed sedated. The actors sleepily went through their lines, leads not really generating any attraction to each other. The writing was unenergetic, as nothing really happened - even the compulsory conflict "tearing" the couple apart barely registered. The solutions to problems fell to the leads' laps, already foreseen by the entire viewership from the beginning.
I did kind of perk up when they introduced some heritage elements, such as the photos and the female lead's old watch: I thought we're in for some plot twist. This opportunity was disappointingly wasted, and the watch concept remained random and contrived.
I'll add an extra star, however, for the location scout and the cinematographer, for making the inn and the village look so appealing - I now really want to spend Christmas at Pine Valley Inn! (If only it existed.)
All and all, unexciting but harmless and cosy nonetheless. I can imagine this would be suitable to watch during Christmas Day siesta; nothing to alert you from your semi-slumber.
A Gingerbread Romance (2018)
Gingerbread tedium
The film was, all and all, just rather tedious.
The female lead acted throughout like she was on sedation - and the male lead then compensated by overacting.
And why did she have her hands in jacket pockets the whole time? Even during (supposedly) emotional moments, or when saying wistful goodbyes? She appeared to be closing herself off from other people, which doesn't exactly exude Christmas warmth, nor romance. Even the last minute kiss between the leads felt really uncomfortable and reluctant - with a different music, it could've been a thriller.
An extra star though for the somewhat different concept of life-size gingerbread house competition, and for having some diversity in the roles. And another star for the daughter who was actually the most natural actor of them all. Shame she didn't get a better script.
Nostalgic Christmas (2019)
Acting and dialogue were more wooden than the toys
My Christmas preparations include Hallmark Christmas movies, as a warm soft background to get me in the holiday mood. I therefore do give those movies a lot of leeway.
I can ignore the super-formulaic plot, of a big city woman returning to home town (not a spoiler: ...to stay). I can forgive that the said woman must give up her good career for some doomed venture (wood toy shop, really?), because of a man. I can overlook the tad boringly stereotypical actor setup, with the blonde, conventionally good-looking Caucasian man and woman.
This movie, however, had just one of the worst acting and clunkiest dialogues I've ever seen. It was so grating, I couldn't even finish this without fastforwarding.
Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow (2015)
Bit of Christmas adventure
I watch Hallmark Christmas movies for the warm safe buzz - not for quality.
However, in a sea of nondescript, extra-formulaic Hallmark Christmas movies, this was a really pleasant surprise.
The adventure elements in the plot were maybe a little clunky at times, yet it was fun and refreshing to have that. You could tell where they would end up (falling for each other, obviously), but unlike in most Hallmark output, you couldn't quite guess how they would get there.
There was good banter between the characters, and it was actually quite witty at times.
It wasn't exactly It Happened One Night - which the movie even admitted to be inspired by - but not bad at all.
Christmas Coach (2019)
Lazy filler
I watch Christmas flicks to relax, not to be intellectually challenged. However, this one was insulting even the brain I had left at the door.
The acting was terrible, dialogue was clunky and needlessly expositionary, the female lead was irritating and unrelatable, and no cliche was left unturned in the plot.
I give this merciful two stars, only because one star is reserved for actually offensive and/or prejudiced films. At least this was not that extreme - it was just irritating that they used good money to make this film, and still didn't bother elevating this to something with a whiff of genuine desire to do their best.
20th Century Women (2016)
Lukewarm look into the filmmaker's life
Many autobiographical films have the same problem: the filmmaker's life is obviously more important and interesting for them, than for the outsider viewing it. For an autobiographical film to be interesting, something bigger should be told through it; it should have larger purpose than reminiscing one's younger days.
Here we have a talented cast, who do breathe life into their characters; however, the purpose of them or this film is unclear.
It could work as a slice of life - but it's too staged, quirky and pretentious for it. It could work as an eccentric comedy - but it lacks humour, and for some reason carries a constant air of sadness. It could be a depiction of an era - but there's nothing in particular that ties this film to 1979, beyond period music and paraphernalia; I am assuming the year was only chosen because of the filmmaker's own history. It could be an exploration of a sub-culture - but this is reduced to tidbits and wikipedia facts of what is punk, and inexplicable still images of random punk rock bands (I am assuming because the filmmaker is a fan?).
Some ideas and thoughts raised in the film have substance, but they are thrown in randomly, academically and without further probing. Judged by the title, the film wants to say something vital and sweeping about women - but it is essentially a coming of age story of a boy, and the women are mostly props through which his story is told.
Hanukkah on Rye (2022)
Harmless foodie romcom
Rather mediocre plotting and dialogue, though perhaps slightly above average for Hallmark. One big negative was that didn't really feel for the lead couple: didn't care awfully much whether they end up together or not. And the compulsory conflict (beyond the competing deli situation) felt extra forced and bit stupid.
However, the movie rolled on rather effortlessly, and was generally harmless. Extra stars for a holiday film about Hanukkah traditions which was more interesting for me - therefore mercifully avoiding cookie-baking, Santa, tree shopping, skating, etc. Didn't have as many other Hallmark cliches either, such as precocious kids or widows.
Not sure if showing all those food items was fascinating or cruel - definitely made me famished, and sorry that there isn't any Jewish delis near me!