Paris Christmas Waltz

I liked a Paris Christmas Waltz. I'm not usually a fan of the dancing or singing movies but this one I liked. It was nice to see Matthew Morrison play a part that didn't involve Royalty or an accent. I love Jen Lilly. These 2 were perfectly paired in this movie. I didn't think there was a lot of chemistry between them but I loved watching them dance. They filmed this movie in Paris and in Romania (I think). The Paris scenes were beautiful. They way the danced in front of the Eiffel Tower was beautiful. GAC did good with this movie. It was fun, playful, and a beautiful location. There wasn't a "dramatic" misunderstanding. Watch it for the fun dancing.

8.7 stars.

There are few Hallmark movies that receive as venerable a description as "par excellence", but I've saved it for 'Paris Christmas Waltz'. This story towers above the majority, just as the Eiffel looms atop the Parisian cityscape.

Emma is a mere accountant hoping for an adventure. Her impossible dream is to one day dance like a professional, but she knows this is an illusion. She is a simple woman with an unattainable ambition; more a hope than a goal. She meets Leo on an icy Manhattan street, and they share a special moment.

Leo is a Broadway dancer who needs a dance partner for an upcoming Pro-Am competition. Can this charming amateur named Emma, a simple accountant by day, aspiring dancer by night, possibly fill those shoes?

What I love about 'Paris Christmas Waltz' is the tactile involvement we share with Jen Lilley and Matthew Morrison as they partake in a subtly seductive odyssey. This journey sweeps us through the landscape of competitive dance in Paris...full of excitement, adventure, anxiety, and fulfillment. This film is successful in transporting us into a magical place, surrounded by visions of bells, and ribbons, accompanied by grace and beauty, threatened by superiority, encumbered by inadequacy. We are engulfed in the ambience of this other world of dance. This is no ordinary Hallmark production, and I'm staggered at how notably 'Paris Christmas Waltz' transcends the watermark.

Lilley's emotional presentation far exceeds anything I've ever seen from her, and I attribute it to Morrison's ability to invoke a marked enthusiasm. World class!

Dancing actually being done by the actors, a rarity now days. Black Swan you say??? Did you actually SEEE Portman doing a single dance step, the answer is no. Every 'dance' scene with her shows her upper body, or someones legs, but NEVER a full on complex ballet manoeuvre.

This movie has good acting, it has a variety of 'sets', the actors are actually dancing (more than once) in various settings. The manner and reason in which they hook up is realistic. When she 'auditions' it is a no pressure situating in which she believes she is just enjoying dancing, which is what the 'scout' is on the look out for.

I would have liked more actual dance training scenes with less drama in them. At the end of the day there was too much drama

The ending dance was nice

My favorite dance movie is the original 'shall we dance' (1996) with subtitles.

That being said, this is worth a watch.

There was a lot said when this movie was announced . Social media was 100% convinced it was for hallmark after all they made The Christmas Waltz and since this is a sequel it is for Hallmark. When Great American Family announced it was for them the fans of hallmark trashed the movie without even seeing it. This movie is the best Christmas movie out of all the networks. Jen and Matthew were perfect together, their singing, their dancing and especially their chemistry was off the charts. Great American Family has step up their game this year every Christmas movie is better than the week before. If you are not watching you are kissing out.

I have always been hot and cold on Jen Lilley, but I was very impressed with her performance in this one. Matthew Morrison puts on a sparkling show dancing, but Lilley surprised me since I have only ever seen her as an actor. In one number they both sing nicely.

As to character, Lilley fits the personality of Emma. Early in the movie she oozed wonder and awe first when she saw and experienced Leo's dancing. When she needed to show a hint of lovestruck, more wonder and awe. Then they get to Paris and you almost expect her to swoon. When the big rival, Giselle, shows up, Lilley is perfect as the nervous woman slightly lacking in confidence. Morrison plays off all that to have a little awe of his own at Emma's spontaneity and joie de vivre. Yes there is plenty of chemistry between these two.

I was disappointed in Emma that she let Giselle play her mind games even though she had been duly warned. I really expected Emma to be smarter than that. Giselle gives us something GAF sometimes (usually) lacks and that's some real tension with a good villain but not quite evil.

Outside the story there is plenty of scenery as they tour Paris. Paris is even better at Christmas. There is even more dancing, although the qualifying round of the dance competition was somewhat boring, but necessary for the story.

The movie was a feast worthy of the Christmas season.