Christmas Ever After

The 2020 Lifetime Christmas efforts did vary and often veered between mediocre and slightly above average and were indicative at times of rushed productions. But there were enough of them that were still watchable and more (was pleasantly surprised by some) and were not amateur efforts. Actually think on reflection that the standard was of better quality than 2019's batch. 'Christmas Ever After' sounded promising and really appreciated its inclusion of diversity by having one of the main characters wheelchair-bound.

'Christmas Ever After' turned out to be very nicely done. Is one of the better ones and has one particularly big surprise that was not expected at all. Is it a great film? No, none of the 2020 Lifetime Christmas films are though in all fairness. Is it worth watching? Absolutely yes (as is enough of this particular batch), and one of the recently seen Christmas films that surprised me a lot. While not everything in 'Christmas Ever After' works, a lot does and very well indeed.

Am going to start with what could have been better. The plot is nothing special formula-wise and in terms of how it maps out. It's another film that is a bit of a slow starter, where it takes time to set up and the dialogue is on the awkward side.

Do agree that Bill Marchant is too over the top in his role and came over as annoying. The ending felt too hasty.

However, a lot is good. Ali Stroker's performance was courageous and heartfelt, as well as easy to endear to. Daniel Di Tomasso matches her in charm and his gentle warmth and sincerity help him come over as very likeable. Their chemistry is beautifully done, tasteful and sympathetic with no judgement and they are very natural together. Melia Charlotte Cressaty is adorable without being too cute. Lifetime have always varied when it comes to having characters that are interesting and worth caring for, 'Christmas Ever After' is a case of both.

Visually, the film is professional looking rather than looking on the cheap, the scenery is lovely. The music is not used too much and has an appropriate sound. The direction shows somebody at ease with the genre and while there is nothing innovative it's not routine or dull either. Furthermore, a great job is done with the Christmas atmosphere, where it does feel like Christmas and in an affectionate way. Some lovely Christmas touches, especially in the second half, and there are some very sweet, but not sickly, scenes. The script did have a nice mix of funny and poignant lines, especially the banter between the leads. The story may be thin but has a warm heart and charm and doesn't take itself too seriously. While the first quarter is not easy to get into at first, a vast majority of the second half is great.

Overall, well done. 7/10.

I don't know why they bothered to put the main character in a wheelchair and then put her in the middle of such an inaccessible town! From the inn with stairs and no wheelchair ramp, to the boxes blocking her access to the Christmas tree, to the lack of ramps around town, whoever created the scenes had no consideration for people with disabilities. There aren't many scenes of her doing things adapted for her disability, like putting on a coat. I'm also disappointed that the location where it was shot didn't jump at the chance to be made more accessible. The plot was cute, if a little schmalzy, I was just so distracted by the flaws that it took away from the story. And I'm an able-bodied person! I don't know why more people haven't seen what I see.

This is indeed a very good effort. The dialogues and the performances were decent and natural, so was the chemistry between the two leading actors. The matter of diversity was handled with dignity and discretion. Well done! A must see for these holidays! Happy new year everyone!

Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for Christmas Ever After.

Story: 1.50/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.75/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2

Total 7/10

Christmas Ever After is a coincidental tale of romance and family. And having experienced plenty of chance meetings and fluke opportunities in my life, I have a warm place in my heart for this type of story, especially if the coincidences smack of truth, which these, on the whole, do. I also adored how the writers portrayed romance novelist Izzi Simmons. Though confined to a wheelchair, the only disability she has is the inability to choose the right man: Because Izzi is looking for perfection in Mr Wright. But, like I always say, "I'm perfect because I know my imperfections". Perfection is an impossible yardstick to measure by, but it's amusing to watch her try. Will she change her Mr Wright wishlist? When she meets the doppelgänger of the Icon of Romance himself, Matt, Izzi finally realises the truth of the human soul; we are imperfect, and that imperfection may be just what the author needs. The director has a marvellous talent for imbuing the picture with warmth, whether it's through relationships or visualisations; Christmas Ever After was a joy to watch. I especially like the typing scenes where the narration appears on the screen. The director chose the correct font to accent the romance and the right colour to tie in with the warm tones of Izzi's romantic writing room. It emphasises how much work has gone into the picture. And the exceptional work comes not only from the writers and director but also from the splendid cast. No one outshines the other, as they're on an equal skill footing. And for this style of story, it's perfect.

If you are looking for a charmingly heartwarming movie this Christmastime, you could do much worse than Christmas Ever After. It's witty, well thought-out, exquisitely directed, and marvellously acted. It's a fine film to cuddle up with your loved one while sipping a mug of hot chocolate on a cold and dreary day.

Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.

Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.

I watch a lot of Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies. So much so, I'm fairly jaded about them. Purely from the "TV Christmas movie" perspective, this is a decent one-time watch with a typical Christmas/snowy setting and appealing leads that had good chemistry together. The plot was minimal and unoriginal. A romance writer goes on a holiday retreat to help cure her writer's block. It turns out the inn's new owner looks just like the hero of her romances, as depicted on all the covers. He's also a single dad with a cute little girl in the mix.

This movie would have rated a 6/10 for me as a perfectly watchable TV Christmas romance. But it earned an additional star for having a female lead who is in a wheelchair. Interestingly, that never came up at all in the plotline. It was not a consideration in the romance or even mentioned by the love rival. I think that was a good call.

This movie will mean a great deal to many people. Thank you, Lifetime.