Christmas in the Cotswolds

I think this film was going for The Holiday vibes. It's harmless enough but honestly, if you're English it's really going to grate as it's pretty obviously not filmed here (the old cottage definitely isn't old, the pub doesn't look like anyone's local, we never get snow at Christmas etc). I guess cost came into. The actor playing the leading man Dylan looks bored senseless and the acting in general is a bit forced and wooden. The plot & love story isn't very convincing. Why the father has never taken the youngest daughter to America to meet her half sister didn't really make sense - why couldn't they have just gone in a school holiday? There aren't really any surprises here - maybe it will do well in other markets but I think most British people will be irked by the 'very English' just being, well clearly not!

All in, I'm not sure why I bothered and while I do like the odd cheesy movie, this one isn't really worth sitting through.

Appalling acting/directing/lighting/scenery. Actually went on line to see if it was filmed during Covid due to hair and makeup on the principal actors being so terrible and the lack of any customers at either market or pub. Surprised to see it was filmed in 23??

Acting was worse than 'Doctors' (terrible daytime soap on BBC that has recently Ben binned). Presumably very low budget. The main adverts were Andrew toilet tissue. There's some irony there..... Appreciate it may seem strange but occasionally watching something this bad, does make you realise there are good actors out there somewhere.

Good for a laugh though.

Slightly different all-age friendly grown-up blended family storyline, albeit with a few boring tropes included (eg baking food fight) but the big problem is it really doesn't feel very British. For starters, the film needed to include more typical Cotswolds building shots / landscapes. This is a fairly relaxing watch - most of the drama is the back story, not much happens on-screen, so I can't believe they spun it out to 90 mins. However the relationships are uplifting - the generally get on well together, including current and ex wives. This movie could have been excellent, but it required more visuals and less explaining eg could have shown weather forecast and people ringing to cancel etc. The former would also have potential to improve the British feel with a map etc. Overall disappointing but mainly frustrating because the potential wasn't maximised.

It didn't take me long to hate Emma. She is negative about everything. She even criticizes the hot chocolate gift from her sister. She really works at raining on the wedding parade, even after she learns Emma is pregnant. After a bit she mellows and gains enthusiasm for the wedding.

Amy is a little too cheerful, but at least it is a counter to Amy's negativity. I have to admit that I can understand some of Emma's frustration with Amy. I thought it was rude not to be home when she arrived. I half expected Emma's luggage to disappear when she walked away from it for a long time.

It's not unusual for the romantic leads to get off to a rough start, so check that off. I'm not sure who is trying harder to annoy the other. But like so many Christmas movies involving a wedding, the two are thrown together to plan it.

The acting is not great, not even the main characters. The relationship development should have been fun. I noticed that the dialogue between Emma and Dylan could have been playful as it was written, but it came off as not quite critical, but almost. But there is also some actual tension between them. Lewis Griffiths' delivery doesn't help. It lacks enough emotion. This really hampered the enjoyment of the entire movie. Eventually they seem to be hitting it off.

Most of the story tension comes from Emma trying to impress a potential client and by doing so seems to be betraying what Amy and Harry really want for their wedding. As for the relationship between Emma and Dylan, I just wasn't convinced that there was enough there.

All in all, the movie lacked the polish I am used to with Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies. I just didn't enjoy it.

BTW: I have to give kudos for the text messages being large enough to read. Absolutely most movies that have text messages make them too small.

I'm all for suspending belief but there are more plot holes in this film than a beginners knitted scarf. I doubt the producers/director have ever been to England as it couldn't have been more un-English if it tried. Wherever it was made I'm pretty sure it wasn't the Cotswolds and if this film was trying to emulate The Holiday it scores a big fail. The settings were all off for the English countryside and even the make-up was a miss. Whoever did make-up obviously forgot their kit and only managed to replace it with one slightly too orange eye shadow used on every female cast member. A very disappointing watch and one to miss now you have been warned.