A Holiday in Harlem

Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for Christmas In New York AKA A Holiday In Harlem.

Story: 1.25/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.25/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Enjoyment: 1.25/2

Total 6.00/10

This seasonal love story is your basic awakening tale. Jazmin has a stable job and hasn't returned home in years because of her memories and the feelings they stoke. However, this year she's forced back by her Grandma and a little guilt trip (ain't Granny's masters of that psychological art). Because of an accident Jazmin causes, Granny's laid up and can't arrange the annual Christmas Jamboree, so guilt-ridden Jaz steps up to the plate. Little does she know that this Christmastime, her gift, will be the opening of her eyes, soul, and heart. The writer does a fair job of intertwining a few storylines. However, there are a couple of missed opportunities to add extra depth to this tale. The main one is the recoupling of Jaz's parents. After years of suffering through their separation, where Granny's house was the drop-off and pickup point for Jazmin during the annual Chrimbo kiddie shuffle, they have now gotten back together, once again forgetting there's a third member of their family. This plot line would've been marvellous to show the trials and tribulations that kids go through. Sadly, the writer glosses over it, and everything is Christmas Magicked away into Happily Ever After Land. They still could've had the same outcome but with more potency embedded into the matter, making for a more powerful story - something outstanding. But that's the sad thing about this picture: Everything is average and rehashed, and oftentimes feels that way. Even the direction, while decent, isn't outstanding, and the film, as it stands, could've benefited from more light-heartedness and heartwarming Christmasness.

I enjoyed Holiday In Harlem, but it's not a movie I'd revisit soon. As such, I'd only recommend it for viewing whenever your Christmas Movie watchlist is exhausted.

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.

The editing ruined it. Just terrible.

Great performances ruined by sloppy qork in the edit room.

The editing ruined it. Just terrible.

Great performances ruined by sloppy qork in the edit room.

Great performances ruined by sloppy qork in the edit room.

I struggled to get through the first thirty minutes or so, I am afraid. And it wasn't until the last thirty that I started to truly engage with the story, engage with the performances. At face value, the story is a warm and sweet one. With a city neighborhood as the backdrop, the movie gives you a bit of a sense of Harlem during the holiday season (I've been told). And, as another reviewer has pointed out, inner-city settings in Hallmark movies are rare. The story revolves around Jazmin (played by Olivia Washington), a successful corporate fixer who returns to Harlem for Christmas (the neighborhood where she grew up) after a bit of a talking to by Mama Belle (played Tina Lifford), as she puts it, 'I don't want any more dried fruit baskets. I want to see you'. When Mama Belle is injured in a yoga accident, Jazmin decides to stay longer and takes over the block's annual Christmas Jamboree. However, there is one catch, she has to co-chair the event with her old best friend Caleb (played by Will Adams). And so, our romance begins, as we watch the two prepare for this community holiday event, all the while reconnecting and maybe, just maybe, falling in love. The script was decent. The writer (and director), I thought, did a good job of setting the scene (e.g., the opening scene thru the neighborhood) and portraying a sense of community spirit. The dialogue too, especially between Mama Belle and Jazmin, felt real, authentic. One problem with the story, with the script, however, is the balance between drama, comedy, and romance is a bit off in some parts of the film. These elements should reinforce each other, reinforce the overarching narrative of the story, and this is not always the case here. Another issue is the acting. Overall, it is a mixed bag. I had a difficult time connecting with Washington's performance. She has several noticeably awkward scenes, particularly early on in the movie, which made her performance difficult to engage with, I felt. Don't get me wrong, she does have some good scenes, particularly in the second half of the film. Indeed, her performance in the latter half is strong. Similarly, Adam's performance took a while to grow on me. Unfortunately, the chemistry between the two was not very convincing. Simply put: their romance never really developed on-screen. I did not feel it, especially their kiss at the end. This is partly due to the script, as another reviewer suggests, and partly due to the acting, of course. What stood out for me, and what arguably kept this one afloat, was the performance of Lifford. She was absolutely delightful in her role as Mama Belle. Finally, the movie does instill a bit of Christmas spirit and holiday cheer. There are some fun and festive scenes, including the Christmas Jamboree. And you got to love the Christmas sweaters. What's up with the soundtrack? The music for much of the first hour is a bit odd, and distracting at times. All in all, 'A Holiday in Harlem' is a decent Hallmark Christmas movie, a warm story with some unexceptional acting.

Did like the premise, more so than most of the premises for this year's Hallmark Christmas output. Always hope that good premises are done justice and given good execution, and there are times where that is gotten and other times where the potential is wasted. Also instances where the premise doesn't appeal but the execution pleasantly surprised me. Hallmark's 2021 films had all three extremes, and all three extremes were obvious in the Christmas block.

'A Holiday in Harlem' doesn't waste its potential, but it also could have done a good deal more with it. Really did appreciate that it tried to do something different, but there are times where different doesn't always come off and it's executed unevenly in 'A Holiday in Harlem'. An example of a film that doesn't start off particularly good, but gets better if stuck with, which is a disappointment after three very impressive Christmas films from Hallmark in a row.

To me, 'A Holiday in Harlem' started off rocky with it taking too long to set up and some very awkward dialogue. Some of the editing seemed rushed looking and sloppy.

Did find too Olivia Washington and Will Adams rather stiff to begin with, particularly Washington who had too much of a fish out of water quality early on. Also thought there could have been more consistent chemistry, which isn't there at first and wouldn't even have been believable as a friendship. What would have helped though was if the relationship between them was developed more and didn't play as much second fiddle to the community stuff.

This sounds as if this reviewer thought 'A Holiday in Harlem' was bad. Not at all, actually thought that there were a lot of good things. Just thought that other 2021 Hallmark Christmas films were better and executed individual components more consistently. Both Washington and Adams improve from the middle act onwards, when the material becomes more natural and has more fun and heart. The supporting turns are very good on the whole, with a delightful Tina Lifford (classy, well meaning and fun) stealing the film. The chemistry also improves drastically, despite it never developing enough as a romance, but it's the heart warming community spirit feel that comes off best in the character interaction.

While not liking the editing sometimes, the film does look quite nice visually otherwise. Especially the colourful festive decor and the scenery. The music is also pleasant and fits nicely. The script gets a lot better later and sounds a lot less awkward and Lifford's dialogue brightens the spirits. The story likewise vastly improves, at its best in the heart warming last act (the section where most Hallmark films are at their weakest) and with the colourful Jamboree. It's light hearted and sincere and doesn't take itself over seriously, plus because of the different setting and scenario it is a lot less predictable than usual. The characters on the whole are easy to get behind and the community spirit really charms.

In summary, not great but worthwhile and worth sticking with if unsure initially. 6/10.

Love the acting, the characters, the location but not necessarily the storyline. Still sweet but just not my favorite. And the leading lady was just adorable!!! ..........