Mystic Christmas (2023) -
Chandler Massey was incredibly cute, but in his role of Sawyer he was a bit too good to be true and a tad gay seeming. I felt that, if I was ever brave enough, I could approach him to chat him up, without barking up the wrong tree or being dismissed for it, although he didn't seem THAT desperate. But he was definitely a likeable character that I wanted to find real happiness.
Jessy Schram played her part of Juniper well and I wanted her to succeed in love too and in her work at the sea life centre.
I enjoyed the inclusion of the aquarium as something different from the usual Christmas films, especially as Peppermint The Seal (Cork) was almost as adorable as Chandler Massey.
I wasn't sure that I believed in the seals drastic and incredibly convenient improvement however.
I did like that it didn't detract from the Christmas element of the story as it quite often has with this type of films, where they have forgotten that it's supposed to be about the season and got carried away with Trees, Horses or Real Estate.
I also enjoyed the fact that the romance was blossoming right from the start, with Sawyer and Juniper (Jessy Schram) already crushing on each other from their meeting at his sister's wedding.
I thought that the sister, Candice (Patti Murin) was good casting too.
I wasn't sure about Peter though, he was played far too over enthusiastically by Eric Freeman, who was a sweetie and pretty to boot, but turned up to 11. To start with I assumed that he was there to be an alternative love interest for Juniper, which was probably because he appeared to have been directed to be very similar to Sawyer.
I did like the LGBTQ+ inclusion as well. The romantic connection between Eric (Ralph Adriel Johnson) and Nick (Nick Jordan) was not over the top or so obviously thrown for the sake of diversity.
It was all very perfect, sweet and idealistic, but after some of the terrible films I've seen this year, it was actually nice for this one to be so joyous and happy.
It was disappointing that once again the traveller had to settle down, rather than the settled one agreeing to travel though.
They participated in various Christmas activities and made a connection that was cute until they inevitably fell out about something silly, but it was certainly one of the best of this year's release.
If I had cast this one I might have put Chandler Massey as Juniper and Nick Jordan/Eric Freeman as Sawyer with Jessy Schram as Candice or chose other alternatives to work with Jessy.
I really liked this one though.
7.26/10.
