Joyeux Noel

6.2 stars.

Joyeux starts out with a lot of promise, but immediately I was deflated by the way they forced a potential adventure to become a flat non-event. She finds something by chance, but the chances of this would be about one in 10 billion, that's just a guess. Astronomical does not begin to calculate. You'll see what I mean. And then after she finds it, goes low key about the whole ordeal and then finally has to fight her way into getting the story, and is stuck with a guy whom we can see shares no chemistry with her. Then they are in France and the whole story had so many missed opportunities and so much potential was hamstrung. Just a really fowl production, something that could've been one of the greats. Wow guys, you really blew chunks on this one.

I'd normally award it 5 stars, but the acting was good, the little girl's games and pranks were refreshing, and the city scenes and backdrops were breathtaking.

A romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor and wannabe reporter, Lea. She is sent to France with pragmatic reporter "moody" Mark to uncover the mystery behind the artist. While Lea is all eager to solve the puzzle, Mark is less excited, somewhat annoyed at being sent on an assignment which is beneath him. Lea and Mark are total opposites. Lea tends to correct Mark's speech, which is annoying. Mark has his own view on how to research a story.

The French Market town is very festive, decorated with Christmas lights and featuring an accordion player, multiple shops, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts and singers. Lea goes around the shops but it is embarrassing how she speaks to vendors and passersby. Meanwhile, Mark tries to get some sleep (jet lag) but is bothered by Sophie, the landlords daughter. The cute gnomes left around by Sophie are a highlight. Wonder why she isn't listed in the cast on imbd.

Jaicy Elliot, as Lea, is the wrong person for this role. She has deadpan delivery and facial expressions are equally blah. She dresses in a boring coat and beret and her French accent in pronouncing "Merci" is also blah. There is no chemistry between herself and Brant Daughtery.

An interesting feature of this movie is that the plot was written by Brant Daughtery's wife, Kimberly. Maybe she should have been cast in this movie along with her husband.

I had waited to watch this movie because the ads made it seem like it was going to be tough to watch. All I could focus on when seeing the ads is how the female lead is so monotone and has such a flat delivery.

Having watched the movie, I will say that this is certainly a problem that detracts from the story, which is unfortunate because I love the idea of more realistically sized women being leading ladies. The national average is closer to a size 14 than a size 0, I think they should have no trouble finding an average-sized woman who can deliver lines more convincingly. I've only seen her in this movie, so it's hard for me to know whether she's not a good actor or if she just wasn't good in this part. Who knows, maybe it was because they put her in a jacket that was 2-3 sizes too small that she was self-conscious and struggled to be comfortable as the character.

Also, I understand that characters must grow towards each other to fall in love on these hallmark movies but they started out at such different places. In the beginning he so clearly did not respect her and she came off as detached and disinterested so it was hard to buy into them being potential love interests or them being in love at the end. As I was watching, by the end I felt they gave off 'friend vibes' not 'hopelessly in love vibes'.

It's unfortunate because I liked the idea - it was different than the run-of-the-mill hallmark Christmas movie with the usual checklist of plot points - but the execution didn't live up to its potential.

This is another quest at Christmas movie combined with a jaded reporter. There are many other common themes, but somehow there was a bit of freshness to the presentation. Perhaps a lot of that is the setting in France and the inclusion of French traditions rather than the usual American ones. The quest goes pretty much as you would expect with one big exception but it held my attention.

What is it that makes Jaicy Elliot appeal to me while so many other reviewers don't like her acting? Perhaps my first impression of her in Romance in Style cemented my like for her. It certainly isn't because her appearance is like so many of the other gorgeous Hallmark stars. Yes, Lea is naive, and she is supposed to be. Yet there is a deeper wisdom there. And there is chemistry with the jaded Brant Daugherty's Mark. The dialogue is good.

One very common plot device in most movies with reporters isn't done here and I'm so glad. I don't want to give spoilers so I won't describe it.

I loved the ending. Again, I don't want to give spoilers so I won't say why.

I'm not sure how I watched this for 2 hours. I always like Brandt, but Jaicy, although fine in My Southern Family Christmas, is such a boring uncharismatic actress. She has this superior vibe in all her movies. Just not pleasant at all. Never happy, never laughs, rarely smiles.

The script was just okay. I think with another actress, it might have been a lot better. Kimberly should definitely have been in this, or any other actress except Jaicy.

I think Kimberly Daugherty chose Jaicy because there was no chance of any chemistry between them!

That's unfortunate, but casting is extremely important. Especially a lead in a romantic movie.

Not even close.