Magic in Mount Holly

I really did. I loved the premise but by halfway through it hadn't been developed and I got tired of waiting for it to unfold and gave up. I was disappointed as I thought there might be some real Christmas magic to come in this movie. Something was missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe the storyline wasn't strong enough, the srcipt too slow, maybe the directing was weak, maybe the wrong choice of actors for the job. I am no expert on this subject, I just know It was just a real disappointment as I liked the magical paintbrush idea. It needed more development and that's for sure.

I have taken a chance at this movie because I love Christmas and have been trying to watch any Christmas movie around. Also, the few reviews rated it mostly a "5", describing it as mediocre. Now I am bashing my head trying to describe what I watched and justify doing so. Other mediocre or amateurish films I recall, compared to this, should have won Oscars. Should this have been a production staged by elementary school children, it would have, at least, the charm of innocence. Yet, these are all adults, acting like out-of- space aliens snatching human bodies or lifeless zombies. Only Cody Calafiore, somehow, conveys vibes of human life. The lead actress, better remained unnamed, is more wooden than a ship figurehead. The story is inane, totally inconsequential. Actually, there is no real story. The filming is eerie, projecting or reflecting the emptiness of the script. My only possible explanation is that everybody involved in the production had been smoking pot for months and achieved the status of complete nirvana of the senses before, during, and after the filming. I have watched movies that have stirred my senses in contrasting ways from joy to passion, to disgust. Never before I have finished a view with the feeling of having an empty hole in my life. I cannot fathom how anybody could conceive, produce, and broadcast this absolute nullity.

The story is a good one. A magical paintbrush is given to a budding artist. The story unfolds well and ends pleasantly. The camera work, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Some scenes are even blurry. Not a terrible movie but not the best I've ever seen.

This movie had very poor editing and lighting. Sometimes the lighting went from light to dark then light again. Sometimes it was as though bright lights were on their faces. It had a cute story line but it definitely plays like a very low budget movie. It's hard to come up with enough characters for a review but it was just very hard to stick with watching. We were tempted several times to change the channel but wanted to see how it ended so we finished it. It felt like we were watching a college assignment or hobby directors and producers project. The actors did an ok job but at times it just wasn't the type of acting you'd expect.

Don't get me wrong I am so proud of these actors and the effort they put into this, it truly makes me feel like family. That being said family sometimes needs to be told hard advice. Like the mom so wisely said, "I don't know if I should hug you or hang you." Today, unfortunately, I will be hanging. This was borderline torture, may I say Chinese Water Torture, I was just waiting, longing, grasping for quicker scenes, and just get to the point FASTER please!!! The lighting & camera work felt like it was a film project that I was forced to watch against my will. Anyways, not the best movie you'll get it next time!