A Clüsterfünke Christmas

Some people will watch this and they won't get it those people have never seen a hallmark Christmas film. I love hallmark movies for the awfulness they are so when I heard about this film I had to watch it. I loved how self aware the film is poking fun of hallmark from the ad placements, Canadian locations ( I'm Canadian who lives in Canada so it's even funnier to us), the over acting , plot devices. The film could of been maybe a little more silly but then maybe it would of been to stupid. All I know is I want to see more movies like this.

A Clusterfunke Christmas (2021) -

I put this film on with the intention of watching the first 15 minutes and then turning it off, because I had expected it to be awful.

And for those first 15 minutes I was right, because I had no idea at that point that it was a parody. It had been unclear, because some of the other 'Made For TV' films had actually been that bad, without deliberately trying. Parodies of themselves in some ways.

However, I felt that it was going somewhere, so I did actually stick with it.

If I hadn't realised then that it was a comedy I would definitely have given up after Holly, played by Vella Lovell, turned up at the inn.

Holly was a vile character and I never actually warmed to her. I felt sorry for anyone that she might have ended up with. So it was fortunate that Cheyenne Jackson, in the role of Frank, was not exactly the nicest character either, although he was sexy. A bit daft and aggressive, certainly to Holly, but definitely nice to look at.

Once I realised what they were trying to achieve, I actually quite liked a lot of the references, because I've often wondered why no one pays for coffee and so on and the traditional Hallmark, Etc films have consistently been so formulaic that they were easy to ridicule.

It was actually quite laugh out loud funny at some points, because as a self confessed connoisseur of Christmas films, it was easy for me to recognise everything that they were taking the mick out of, but I felt that they had really missed an opportunity to go huge with the jokes, with so many other films to replicate and aspects that were crying out for ridicule from so many of the stories they were sending up.

But I did enjoy it and I would definitely look for it again next year.

6.5/10.

This does for Hallmark Christmas movies what Airplane! Did for Airport. The writing is smart, and the cast is perfect, hitting just the right notes between sincerity and satire as they spoof the cliches of the genre. Bonus points for some very funny double entendres - and for making fun of their own product placement.

I saw the creators of the show on Wendy this morning talking about it and it really caught my attention what they were saying because I have watched quite a few Christmas movies and do love them! I was really glad that I was able to take some time and see it this afternoon, twice. It started to replay for a third time on Comedy Central and I stopped it because I don't want to get burned out on it because I want to be able to enjoy it again without feeling like it's too soon. I did a lot of Christmas shopping last night so it was just perfect timing!

The casting is excellent! All the characters are so sweetly developed and relatable. I think it could be a new classic! I agree with the craters that it's just hard to imagine that somebody had not thought to do this before. For me it had the right amount of silly comedy and some good obviously great timing with the girls who did it because they are real professionals! A joy. I can't think of any Christmas show that I enjoy more than this one.

First 45 minutes: 6.5 Next 15: 4.5 Last 30: 1

So, so, so, so bad at the end, but the first half of the movie had plenty of laughs and felt fresh. Is never great, and definitely not worth watching more than once, but as long as you turn it off about halfway through, it's worth your time.