Everything Christmas

The characters took us on an arduous trip to a few Christmas towns where the ultimate payoff was for Cindy Busby to place her dead grandmother's ornament on the town Christmas tree - and the tree looked like it was decorated with toilet paper. Because who doesn't want to take a beloved ornament and leave it behind in a town you'll never see again. Santa did the usual annoying habit of inserting ho-ho-ho's into every sentence he spoke. The friend's new boyfriend sometimes appeared as though he could not hide his disdain that he was actually trapped in this movie and physically he was too small to fit the friend's stature. There were too many demands of the viewer to use willing suspension of disbelief to get through most of the scenes. None of the characters were charming or engaging or delightful enough to keep the viewer interested. Feel free to skip this one - you won't miss anything.

As a connoisseur of Hallmark movies, I especially enjoy Christmas storylines that tug on my emotions, by illustrating the spirit of thoughtful giving. Some of their holiday movies empasize the romance, while others, it's the "journey". To me, "Everything Christmas" is nothing original - there's a redundant storyline, ie. Big-city protagonists leaving on a road-trip to a snowy, small-town, steeped in Holiday tradition. Nor, is it about the quality of the acting, or magnetism I sense between the love interest(s). At times, there are exciting Hallmark casts that will influence my desire to watch, more than the teaser storyline (Corey Sevier, here). Although, Cindy Busby doesn't usually draw my interest in romance themes, here she was a believably reminiscent (teary-eyed) woman. But, I found myself more entranced by an unfamiliar actor portraying Kris - his mystique (ie. An illusionist) and his aura as the true Santa. There was nothing surprising with the twists in his "illusions", but each one creatively tied-in as a true gift of the heart. The romances really weren't the core, or excitement, of this film, and I didn't feel the storyline built up any tension to warrant a "final kiss". Definitely, a feel-good watch, not for a kiss, but one I would recommend to lead-off in sparking your Christmas spirit, say after Thanksgiving dinner...

Cindy Busby's character was so over the top that I didn't know how she functioned. Like she wasn't believable as an actual person. I know she's not usually most viewers cup of tea, but I've always liked her. I didn't like her in this. She couldn't pull off this type of character. She works better as a downbeat character with a touch surliness. Other annoyances: Her disruptive singing while at work and then encouraging her friend to quit her job just because she had was awful.

I also found the movie so boring. The only thing that made it bearable was Katherine Barrell who will always be Officer Nicole Haught to me.

Is it really magic or is it illusion? The two ladies, Tori and LJ keep running into Kris Kringle and he seems to be directing their paths through some mysterious process. He performs tricks that seem to surpass mere illusion, but the movie leaves you to wonder.

In the beginning, LJ quits her job after her boss cancels her long scheduled vacation which for LJ is something special. These plot devices always make me angry because you just can't do that. But LJ seems happy to be free of that job. She cons Tori into going with her. She intends to visit "magical" stops along the way to hanging her grandmother's ornament at their final stop. Along the way, the two women pick up two guys who join them, sort of.

The acting is decent. The dialogue is OK with some good moments. The story is about as simple as I described it. There are no great highs or lows. I would say there are no real surprises, but Kris does keep them all on their toes.

I'm not a Cindy Busby fan, and she pretty much does her usual. Katherine Barrell makes a good sidekick as her character Tori tries to break her habit of being a rule follower.

Everything Christmas was a real mixed bag for me. I thought it started out quite well with the over the top Christmas loving Busby and her level-headed friend played by Katherine Barrell on a buddy road trip to the town of Yuletide Springs. They break down and shortly after are helped by a man who resembles Santa in body and spirit. From there are a series of coincidences and almost magical experiences that lead them to believe that he might be the real thing. Oh, and of course there is romance for the both of them.

Unfortunately, after a good start with some legitimate laughs provided mostly by Barrell, it starts becoming more and more bland and predictable. I've pretty much liked Busby but here she comes across almost like a child going on and on about "believing," etc. Etc.

I thought Barrell pretty much stole the show, and George Masswohl provided solid support as the continually appearing Kris. The biggest disappointment was Corey Sevier who was the major love interest but didn't say or do much of anything. He was always just staring googly-eyed at Busby and was basically just a bubble-brain. The other male love interest wasn't a whole lot better.

Kind of a head scratcher and somewhat of a lost opportunity.