Christmas Together

For the past two weeks (in August) I've been watching all the cheesy Christmas films I can get. When life gives you lemons, watch a Christmas movie. Just what I need at the moment. This one however isn't particularly great. I managed to watch it all, so it can't be that dire. The father just doesn't feel very fatherly. He's so young and although he's a likeable actor he seemed a bit wooden. Loved the neighbour and his best friend. I liked Ava and Mia.

It has all the things needed to be in the top of the cheesy films. But there is just something missing. I think if I was to narrow it down it would be due to my he dad character. He just isn't believable.

Look for better Xmas movies, save this one until you run out of all the good ones.

Simple plot, predictable in every respect, easy to follow, acting is mediocre, writing is worse but it is fun to watch and therefore it's so bad it's good!!

This is a cute and interesting story and really could have been good. Anna Marie Dobbins does a great job here and is entertaining to watch along with the adorable Rylie Coe, as the Daughter, and Vivica Fox, the neighbor. These 3 alone make this at least watchable. The role of the father however was very poorly cast with Marc Herrmann, who seems like a nice enough guy, but certainly no father of an 11yr old, he's not at all believable. Herrmann just seems in over his head in the role, his lines are simply spoken, monotone, without any emotion or feeling. Had a different actor been cast in this role, it would have made the movie much much better.

Biggest problem is the actor cast as the male lead and father of the young daughter. He looks like he's 24, which is problematic with an 11 year old daughter. Why did they cast him in this role? Ridiculous. As someone else noted, he doesn't act affectionate with his daughter. Zero chemistry. Female lead does a much better job, as does the actress playing the daughter. I'm no head of casting, but I could have done way better in creating a father that the audience would accept. I'm all for other networks doing Christmas movies (Hallmark re-uses the same actors too many times), but if you're gonna dip your toe into the romance genre, get your casting right. Actually, as I think of it, why not write the story with the male lead as her older brother, struggling to raise his younger sister on his own. Easy fix and a compelling backstory that would intrigue the female lead and the audience. Holy cow, I think I just came up with a new career for myself. Head of casting or executive producer? Hmm. I couldn't do worse than whoever did this.

The only decent thing was Rylie Cole as Mia. She is the only one that could act. The squeaky voices of all the others made me wonder if I was watching munchkins. Apparently there are no more writers in Hollywood. Cheesy and pretentious and contrived. Tinsel?! (Tinsel Town)

Don't bother, it made me nauseous.