Dancing Through Christmas

Even though it has the word Christmas in the title, this TV movie doesn't feel very christmasy. The movie started well, and the actors playing the father and daughter gelled, little did I know they were real life father and daughter! Unfortunately I found the second half rather flat. An okay watch, but didn't have the sparkle. With respect to other reviewers, I fail to see why Covid needs to be seen in a movie, it is rammed down out throats enough in the real world. Movies aren't real!

Sometimes it seems like all these movies have someone about to lose their business or their jobs. Olivia's dance studio is in trouble. Neither she nor the widower Michael are dating anyone before they meet each other.

AnnaLynne McCord and Colin Lawrence have modest chemistry. Briefly McCord's bright charm personality shines, but briefly.

There were two unusual things as these movies go. Michael is caught on video doing practice ballet with his preteen daughter. It goes viral. It's cute. The second thing is Lilly, the daughter's reaction to Michael dating her dance teacher. These two things drive the story in a non-formulaic direction. The middle of the story seems to stall a bit, but stick through it. There is a nice, slightly sappy, climax and ending which couldn't have happened without these two unusual threads.

There seemed to be something slightly different about the romance in this film, but I can't quite put my finger on it. There wasn't the struggle as much as I've found in other films.

It's mature for a change, there's no silliness or over the top moments or comedy characters, no "Is he the real Father Christmas" at the mall to make it magic! It's just simple and effective. I've seen some reviews stating that it's not Christmassy enough, but I don't agree. I felt very cheered by it and the seasonal warmth it brought.

Generally I liked it, but personally I would have pursued a relationship with Noah, because I'm shallow and he was better looking, but I could also see the appeal of the lead male.

If I had to criticise, it would be to say that the Grandma was not a good actress, but she doesn't really get in the way too much.

Not the best that you will ever see, but definitely worth checking out.

6ish.

I felt the same about Nicola Posener and Brad Johnson in A Crafty Christmas Romance. Colin Lawrence was 50, Anna Lynne McCord 33 - DESPITE her real life choices - the clear age difference is visually and viscerally, yuck!

There are lots of young actors that she can be paired with, and more mature actors he can be paired with.

Also, McCord looked heavy-lidded, bored, depressed and zombie-like throughout the whole thing, her pale purple lip color didn't help.

Bianca Lawrence was a wonderful breath of fresh air, the rest of the cast made up for the bland, struggling storyline also.

The change of title, from the original "Dancing through Christmas" should tell you all. Lifetime should begin most of their seasonal movies with the disclaimer "Any reference to Christmas, and entertainment, is purely casual". At start, the movie is fresh and and charming. Then, it turns progressively more insipid and boring. It looks like the writer had a good spark, but could not find enough inspiration to fill the time allotted for the action. The cute moment of a single father dancing with his daughter is insufficient to carry the weight of an entire show.