Lifetime Christmas Films have been a very mixed bag in not just each of the years they've been doing them but also of their whole output. Personally do like some of them, as some are nice enough and succeed at their main objectives providing one takes them for what they are. Others are not very good and have a lot of things done badly, even when trying not to take them seriously too much. Others are a mix of good and bad, ditto.
'A Twist of Christmas' was a pleasant surprise. Of Lifetime's 2018 Christmas output, it's among the better ones. Of all the (relatively) recently seen Christmas films, 'A Twist of Christmas' is one of the better ones too. It's not my definition of great and has its flaws (and it is not going to be for everybody and that is fine), but it did charm me and was an easy watch. A case of a dubious start that got a lot better as it went on, so it is worth sticking with and not bailed out upon too early in my view.
There are a few not so good things. The early portions are a little too slow and with some laughably bad dialogue and one does not like how the characters behave at first. So actually can understand why people thought negatively of the film in the early stages, but didn't wait long enough for it to get better. The story has a lot to like about it, but there is not a lot about it that's particularly twisty.
Structurally and such it is standard Lifetime but does it better than most previous Lifetime film viewings. Some of the supporting cast don't have much to work with and don't register enough as a result.
However, the soundtrack is pleasant enough and doesn't come over as overdone. The direction is not exceptional but is solid enough for the type of film it is. The film looks attractive, especially the scenery and the leads do become a lot more likeable later. The younger actors are sweet without being too much so and Vanessa Lachey and Brendon Zub are very engaging as well in the lead roles, especially Lachey. Their chemistry comes over as genuine and develops more realistically than most previously seen Christmas films with similar romances.
While the dialogue is far from perfect, it did improve later on and didn't feel as corny or gooey. It induced some smiles. The story may be straightforward and doesn't have many surprises, but the setting is made very good use of and there is not too much of a stale feel compared to other Hallmark Christmas films, not feeling as over-familiar. The film is very light hearted and really warmed my heart and when the sentiment came in it didn't feel excessive or manipulative.
Overall, pleasantly charming. 7/10
