Crown Prince of Christmas

I watch a lot of Christmas movies and with four networks now cranking them out full time, I had to pick and choose more. Now I pick films that vary from the traditional formula or have stars that I really enjoy.

This one got my attention because it had a slight twist on an old theme and both leads were engaging. However, it felt very low budget, like super low. Odd camera angles, shots and close-ups, awkward pauses, and some not great acting and dialogue.

However, the biggest disservice to the script was the obviously low budget they had to produce it. Part of the premise was that the hotel was supposed to be a luxury hotel lavishly decked out for Christmas! In fact, that was the reason it was chosen for the "Gala". However, the bulk of the decoration was tinsel garland and strings of lights. And the same tinsel showed up everywhere, on every set (the red and silver). I even think I saw one small, unfluffed wreath with two present bows stuck to it being hung on a wall!

Another big plot element was the "Royal Gala" which felt more like a daytime junior high assembly. Minimal set decoration, tiny crowd, no lighting or orchestra. The headline entertainment was an acapella version of Silent Night?!? Cindy is a decent singer, but certainly not the prodigy that built up the entire movie. Heck, even the most accomplished singer wouldn't drive the crowd into that frenzy in that scenario. And that single song appeared to be the entire content of the gala. So odd.

I could overlook a lot of plot absurdities and predictability when it is visually beautiful and filled with Christmas imagery and magic. This unfortunately lacked and even the charming stars couldn't save it.

This movie is a disappointment for me. I've watched Cindy Busby in other Hallmark movies and she was great and the other day I watched this movie, "A Crown Prince of Christmas" from Great American Family and I couldn't help but cringe. OMG! It was really bad. First, they could have used a much better venue for a "$3K Royal Gala" in a ballroom fit for a king. Instead, they used a restaurant table with a tiny stage where Madison (Cindy Busby) sang "Silent Night". She was pitchy, off-key and her make up was terrible. The character Sebastian wasn't good either. I don't recommend this movie. Oh sooooo bad.

There are a few good moments because the 2 leads are basically good actors and have a certain amount of rapport. The premise is cute (it's a Christmas movie after all) but most of the characters are just plain annoying and one dimensional. The make-up for Cindy Busby, her prince, and her family was truly awful. All their faces just looked dirty and heavy. She has a natural beauty but that was destroyed by that "muddy" look. And her mother was truly the most annoying character I've seen in one of these movies. Ever. Fire the director. And the makeup artist. Or re-train them. This is passable as a time filler if you're up for a day of Christmas movie binge watching, but doesn't stand well on its own. Cindy's singing was passable and fun to see but was built up to be more impressive than it actually was.

We've seen this movie done over and over. It's getting old. The Prince comes to work in America and goes incognito. No one knows he is a Prince until after a year of him being there. Lack of chemistry between the 2 leads. Madison's family is so cringy. Her dad overacts and the 2 sisters act childish and the mom had the most annoying voice. Madison sings one song at the gala. It just so stupid. Normally I like Cindy but not in this roll. I feel like GAC and Hallmark need some new writers with new ideas. Typically I don't watch anything Royal related but I taped this one because I like Cindy. Take it or leave it.

We've made a heroic effort the last few years to catch every Hallmark Christmas movie, last year some of the GAF movies, and this year all of both. We don't make an effort for the Lifetime movies, because in our opinion, they're much more miss than hit.

The last four years of Hallmark have gone downhill in our eyes, and we've made the decision to cease our quest to watch them all. We'll continue to sample our favorite stars and possibly check some reviews for the rest. Movies like this made that decision easier to arrive at.

I think all three networks have overdone it. Too many plots are just rehashed versions of previous movies, and some of the efforts to "do something new" stretch so far out they crash and burn.

So what does all that have to do with GAF's Crown Prince of Christmas? It's a harmless little movie, but with an absurd premise and some ham-fisted writing and direction which embarrassed us for the actors and writers at times. I had to get used to my wife saying "Oh Good God!", like the cut-away take where the hotel employee has to stuff his fist in his mouth in an emotional reaction to the ubiquitous wrap-up kiss.

I liked the characters, it's just that every few minutes there were scenes too stupid to believe ... either from atrocious dialogue, poorly wrought motives and reactions, or overplayed cliches. GAF had a couple of very nice movies this year, but they've also had some real stinkers, and so has Hallmark.

This movie didn't offend our senses enough to rate it lower than 4, but it's not one we'll ever consider watching again.