Once Upon a Main Street

This movie is okay, I suppose. Ryan McPartlin is partly why I gave it 4 stars and not less. I cannot stand Vanessa Lachey's character, it makes the movie difficult to watch. She plays such a condescending little turd in this. Anyway, I usually like most of the cheesy Lifetime Christmas movies, and this one is the typical "bitter to sweet" holiday movie. It would be better with a different female lead or maybe she didn't act like a total jackass the entire movie, it would be easier to watch. I feel bad for people that have to deal with other people that act like this in real life. I know I'd never be able to be around someone like that.

The arrogance of both Amelia and Vic was so strong that I could barely stand the first part of the movie. If I encountered either of these people acting like this, I would do anything to avoid them. One quarter of the movie led up to clumsily contrived premise - the two rivals being thrown together to organize the decoration of Main Street for the purpose of impressing Elder. And the ugly arguing continued well after that goal was established.

Was it funny? I actually laughed a few times when I wasn't cringing over all the meanness.

Then we meet the towns people. More arguing, arrogance and judgmentalism. We're about half way through the movie, and except for a few laughs inspired mostly by physical comedy, everything about it is a downer.

In most of these movies, all the animosity between the leads disappears suddenly and this movie is no exception. It's too bad they extended the negative so long. Finally, Vanessa Lachey and Ryan McPartlin can start to develop chemistry and they quickly do.

The story follows the usual lines and is predictable. The viewer can see the things that are coming as soon as they are set up. Even so I still needed some kleenex for at least one development. The conflict was predictable too, but a bit unusual as a plot device.

This was like two different movies envisioned by different people. I could easily FF through most of the first half, but the second half is worth the wait.

Vanessa Lachey is feisty and charming as always and was a good match for Ryan McPartin. They both played pretty irritating characters at the beginning, but once they started to work together this was an amusing and romantic story which was actually quite touching at the end. They had one bad misunderstanding near the end which threatened to blow up all their hard-won progress. But lo and behold, they resolved it immediately with frank communication and a humble confession. Incredible. It was good to see Polly Draper again. She played a scary-crazy potter which added some tension and suspense. I wish she would be in more things. So far the beautiful Vanessa Lachey has proven adept at comedy and I have enjoyed her vehicles. Except one, but that wasn't her fault. I hope to see her star in more TV movies.

As far as Christmas movies go, this was just average. Typical storyline of two main characters not liking each other to them falling in love. We must have our happy endings, after all. The premise is they have to work together to decorate houses and a street for the annual contest. Vanessa Lachay wants to have a year round Christmas store. The winner of the grand prize will be able to fulfill his or her dream. I enjoyed watching this movie. It was entertaining enough, with even a couple of laughs. However, I wouldn't out it at the top of my list. It passed the time and somewhat predictable, as these movies are. It's worth watching once.

Have seen Vanessa Lachey and Ryan McPartlin in other things and their performances have always been on the mixed side to me. Lifetime's 2020 Christmas output was also very mixed, none of the films being irredeemably terrible but none are my definition of great either. Some were surprisingly good, some were downright weak and most were average or just above. Have been seeing as many Lifetime Christmas films as possible and 'Once Upon a Main Street' was part of the quest.

'Once Upon a Main Street' is one of the watchable if average efforts, one of the 2020 Lifetime Christmas films to start off terribly (very nearly turned it off) but did get better as it progressed. As far as 2020's Lifetime Christmas films go, 'Once Upon a Main Street' is neither one of the best or the worst. Personally put it somewhere in the middle and found myself very mixed on it, as there are a fair share of good things but the bad stuff is really not good at all.

Shall start with the good. The film also at least looks professional, with lovely scenery in particular. The music doesn't intrude and doesn't feel overused, also it has a festive sound to it. Too often not the case with Lifetime. The messaging is very honest and heartfelt and doesn't get laid on too thick or feel treacly or sentimental. Some of the dialogue has entertainment value.

McPartlin is an amiable leading man and Patrick Duffy is always welcome, but the standout acting wise is the vibrant performance of Polly Draper who really brightens up the film whenever she appears. The film does get better later on, or at least in the middle act, where there is more energy, a lighter edge and more heart.

Was very mixed on Lachey though. She was feisty and charming later on but in the first third she did overdo the already over the top prickly-ness of her character, who comes over as excessively abrasive for no real reason. She and McPartlin do have moments with their chemistry, but it takes a while to get there and it would have made more impact that it had a lot of more development and if any changes were not so suddenly brought up.

As said, 'Once Upon a Main Street' does not start promisingly at all. The dialogue is cringe inducingly painful and the banter is incredibly repetitive and over-used, while the pace is pedestrian. Lachey's character being so impossible to get behind is a big part of the problem as well. The final quarter is contrived and jumpy and the ending is badly rushed and too neat. The story is quite familiar territory and nothing new or insightful really is done with it and there could have been a lot more charm and heart on the whole.

Overall, mixed feelings. 5/10.