The 5-Year Christmas Party

The acting of the main character (Alice) was really bad, unreliable, lifeless and ruined the film. Max's acting was significantly better and managed to cover up Alice's acting a bit but didn't lift the film. Sometimes the quality of an actor has a big impact on the quality of the film and in this case, unfortunately, the effect was not good. Besides, it was also quite sloppy and it felt like the attempt to be clever made the film more boring. I love watching Christmas movies and I don't have high demands, but this movie was particularly disappointing. I barely managed to finish it. It was a complete waste of time. Not recommended.

Movies like this where the story only progresses at successive Christmas meetings have one strike against them to start for me. I think this movie really captures why. The lead couple just doesn't seem right together. A relationship needs to fill in between times, not have gaps. People change over a year and you can't really know a person only at certain seasons, especially Christmas. In short, I just can't buy that they really love each other. There are too many red flags about the future.

Having said that, the story, as it is, is well done. Mostly Kate Findley. I find her to be unique. She brings life to her character no matter what is going on in the character's story. The dialogue and events in this story are perfect for Kate. I can really picture this person, Alice, as a real person, crazy as she is.

In the 5-Year Christmas Party, two theater majors spend 5 consecutive Christmases in each other's lives, acting out the highs and the lows of post-college. Unlike many Hallmark movies where a single act of kindness means forever love, this tale is grounded in the realities of real life. Things like jobs, family and dreams matter to the leads, and guide their decisions on relationships or other commitments. Aside from an ending that leaves a bit too much to the imagination, this is a solid, non-Old School Hallmark movie that I would recommend.

Our lead is Katie Findlay, who plays Alice, who really wants to make it in theater as a director. Our leading man is Jordan Fisher, who plays Max, an aspiring actor. Kudos all around. These two are great together and definitely play different versions of themselves over the course of 5-years. Success or failure is subtle, but they showcase the differences well.

Credit to writer Zag Hug, a Hallmark vet, who also wrote the Ghosts of Christmas Always (9 stars), which is one of the best Hallmark movies of all time.

Major kudos to production on this one. Clearly on a budget, we re-use the same party house, kitchen, party venue, alley, parking lot and rooftop-and some of the same actors every year. They dress them up a little (emphasis on little) bit differently each time, but it's reminiscent of a play where moving a chair or changing the lighting signals a different act. Also, the changing of the season montages were great.

This movie is more sincere than fun, which means realistic laughs, love and tears.

Goofy notes They really hate catering the law firm Christmas party. I need to know more!

Forcing people to become carolers is not a real thing and nobody should do that.

I think Jordan Fisher must be wearing lifts, right? He's great, but she's pretty tall.

They make a joke about oranges and scurvy. I don't think it landed, but I applaud the effort.

I love that they bonded over watching Ashley Williams (Hallmark) movies. Meta!

I feel like these long gaps between seeing each other could have meant they might find another person to love. If I got ghosted for a year, I would probably not be so happy to see the person who did me dirty.

What happened between Daniel (Jeff Avenue) and Micah (Olly Atkins)? They were together for years 2-4, then Micah is MIA in year five? Come on Hallmark. You gave us a gay couple and then didn't stick the landing. Where'd he go?

Cast Kudos: The really, really bad mustache on Jeff Avenue for year 4. Just no.

Alternative titles: The show must go on, for 5-years; Catering my life story; Christmas Party Again; Alice and Max take the long way to love.

I really enjoyed this movie. I liked the young leads and Hallmark using some new young faces. I liked the realistic portrayal of young people pursuing acting or theater as a career and how often they need other jobs to make ends meet. I liked that she was taller than him. I liked that the movie wasn't condensed into a one-week romance. I enjoyed it so much that I was surprised by the low IMDb rating on this one. I read many of the other reviews and I can understand some of the criticism, but overall I thought it was a darling movie. I don't understand anyone claiming Katie Findlay was bad because she was fantastic and such a breath of fresh air for Hallmark.

Loved it. An endearing story and one we haven't seen from hallmark before. Love the two leads, acting and chemistry was on point. Also I appreciate Hallmark reaching a bit of a younger audience with this movie and the lead actors being on the younger side. The story was cute, relatable and not trope-y or like a classic hallmark. As a former theater kid, they nailed the vibe. The time lapse element of the story was creative and even though you knew Alice and Max would get together it still keeps you intrigued to see how it will all unfold. This will definitely be one that I watch again and again!