The Christmas Chalet

'The Christmas Chalet' was one of those films that was part of my Christmas film completest quest that has been happening on and off over-time after it appeared as a recommendation here earlier this year. Absolutely love Christmas, have said this quite a number of times in my reviews in the past but am trying actually to not make it as obvious now unless when challenged if a review for any Christmas film is negative. Have also liked liked Erica Durance and Robin Dunne in other things.

Saw 'The Christmas Chalet' actually with relatively mixed expectations, excepting at least some degree of heart and charm while not expecting a particularly great story or dialogue. Which is pretty much exactly how the film can be summed up. 'The Christmas Chalet' is not a must avoid and there are things that did impress me, it does take a lot for me these days to call something a must avoid, but there isn't much special about it either. Am feeling rather bad saying this and am probably going to get crucified for this review, which is going to be as reasonable as possible.

It, 'The Christmas Chalet' that is, looks good. Loved the scenery especially, regardless of any authenticity being called into question there is a festive look to it and it looks picturesque. Personally thought the photography, while never extraordinary, complemented it nicely, not overblown while not basic either. The music is a nice enough fit and is pleasant music on its own, it doesn't make as much of a mistake as other Christmas films of being used too constantly or being too loud (something that a number of Hallmark Christmas films are guilty of).

Moreover, there is a natural flow in some of the dialogue (a lot of it in the film is great though) and there are moments where it doesn't have as much of the corn or mawkish factors that some Christmas films have. The middle act warms the heart and has some "aww" moments and the characters while not complex didn't bore or annoy me. Durance and Dunne are charming leads and Damon Runyan has often done solid work and he does too. The performances are better than average on the whole, and Durance and Dunne's chemistry is sweet. The chemistry between the actors is well done on the whole even, the mother-daughter one also has spark.

However, the story on the whole could have been a lot more engaging. It has its moments, but the excessive predictability from doing nothing new with very familiar done to death ground does hurt it. As does the dull pace of the first third, which suffers from paper thin storytelling and overlong set up. In fact, the story in general felt too thin and the pace doesn't ignite enough.

Wasn't crazy about a lot of the script either, which did tend to be very cheesy and too cutesy, also didn't think it needed to be as talky. While some of it is relatable, this aspect could have been done with more subtlety and freshness.

On the whole, decent but nothing special. 6/10

I loved Robin Dunne in two earlier Christmas movies and I've loved Erica Durance for a while, so I was excited to find this movie. Unfortunately it did not get off to a good start. Not only did it move slowly, but it was highly derivative of other TV movies, not just in the general story, but in details.

I didn't think the acting was great nor did I think the chemistry was exceptional. Neither was the dialogue. Nevertheless, none of those were terrible and it was a story with possibilities.

Other than a minor unexpected twist toward the end, the story didn't have many highlights and there was only a brief token conflict.

This movie is more about relationships and life than story. There are several conversations that explore the disruption of divorce, teenage angst, and using trials to make a person stronger.

Of course in an UPtv movie, the general outcome is totally predictable.

This one started off really good with a real cynical Scrooge for the male lead and a sullen teen with a chip on her shoulder for the daughter of the divorced misunderstood mom. Lexi, the daughter, blames her mother for the divorce, because the mother has never told her that her father cheated on her. Grandma is along for the ride, and she is a real hoot. Loved her. Scrooge and the little family are double-booked into a "Christmas" chalet. But when the 3 women finally get there, Jack the Scroogy love interest has taken down all of the decorations. And so it begins. I do like Robin Tunney. And I was anticipating all of the drama when the cheating dad showing up at an inopportune moment since He was played by Damon Runyon, a Hallmark stalwart. Unfortunately it all kind of fizzled and belied a hard won character arc and redemption scene. Scrooge guy turned into Nice Guy way too easily. And Bad Husband was vanquished with nary a conflict.

7.9 stars.

Here we have the standard hermit author storyline coming from Hallmark, that we've all grown to love. A famous writer of award winning novels is trying to finish his latest masterpiece, but he needs some inspiration. Next trope: mixup at the chalet, they are double-booked - the writer and a family of three: grandma, mother, daughter. These ladies need some encouragement, because daddy has been a bad boy and now mom and daughter are suffering. The best medicine for three ladies is a forlorn writer down on his luck in need of joy. As they get comfortable with the living situation at this chalet, this stranger living with three adorable women, we are entertained and thrilled at how it all turns out. I really enjoyed 'The Christmas Chalet', Durant shines (as usual).

Kicking off the story with a similar premise to that other festive gem - 'Christmas Getaway' (2017) - a double-booked chalet provides the setting for an unexpected meeting between a solitary author/curmudgeon/Grinch-type and a divorced magazine photographer (with her mother and daughter in tow) - anticipated squabble ensues.

The initial dispute over the double-booking results in both households sharing the same chalet over the festive season with the 'bah humbug' author going upstairs to the 'Grinch's Lair' under the timber roof as would be expected - and that's AFTER he took down all the decorations in the chalet which remind him of the dreaded season NOT to be jolly!

Yet despite the rules that were laid down after the dispute was settled he soon succumbs to the charms of the three women he's forced to co-habit with over the festive season. Particularly as Grandma & Grand-daughter are fans of his published works; which they refer to here and there.

What begins as a business-like/friendly arrangement spontaneously combusts into romance between Jack and Grace.

We've seen this story many times, but this one is a cut above the rest as the truth of the author's curmudgeonly pathologies and solitary nature are rooted, deeply, in family dysfunction (thus his memories of Christmas are not particularly heart-warming); and this provides the film with a double-edged sword that cuts through any festive schmaltz that might be lurking near the fripperies of the season, like fallen pine needles, figuratively speaking, behind the nowhere-to-be-seen Norway Spruce (see below). The unexpected romantic development blows the cobwebs off of Jack's heart.

Robin Dunne is excellent playing the part of the fully-rounded aforementioned famous-author/Christmas-Grinch and the rest of the cast match his sterling performance.

Perhaps the biggest sign that we're not quite seeing what we've seen many times before is the item used to create a delightful 'Christmas Tree' - charming and ingenious.

I believe this one deserves and an 8 out of 10.