Dial S for Santa

I rarely take the time to review a Hallmark movie - they are lighthearted entertainment so my expectations are not too high but they are usually pretty reliable. However, the main character Lana (played by Sarah Dugdale) ruins what would otherwise be a decent movie. Her acting is so terrible...like really really terrible. I really hope Hallmark doesn't hire her again. It is sad to hear they are getting rid of some of the older actresses that can actually act in favor of young actresses like this one that ruin their movies. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard. I couldn't even make it to the end because of her.

These movies are a particular guilty pleasure for me. There are few that I haven't seen. The stories vary only a little but I always manage to enjoy the comfort in that, while doing various Christmas tasks or just enjoying a fire.

Unfortunately I found this one painful, not due to the story but the acting of the main character. I haven't seen her in other films. She definitely needs more experience and training before taking on a leading role like this. She was very stiff and not at all like the usual calibre for this type of film. I usually at least manage to feel some connection to, or affection for the main character but this actress' monotone and flat delivery made this impossible.

I've watched a lot of Christmas movies and this one was hard to watch and I held out hope for the end but it never got better. Sarah was simply unbelievable. There were no feelings or emotions developed. Not realistic at all and by the end there was no feel good emotions connected to the story. The best acting was by the robber and the friends back at the office. Ugh!!! Even the relationship between mom and the new man was void of feelings. The engagement ring scene was completely unbelievable. Mom's reaction to her daughter ruining a monumental event was flat. Maybe the script wasn't good enough. Not sure. But the development of the characters left a lot to be desired. Especially applicable with Lana.... No real believability.

7.2 stars.

Not a bad film, although the reviews are in the cellar, which doesn't totally make sense. There are a bunch of slow parts and the mystery is very mild, but it's still endearing overall. The main female is in 'Virgin River' and she does well in a lead role, however she seemed to have lost weight for the role (pounds that she does not have to spare). First of all, judging body size, there is thin, and then there's what appears to be toothpick emaciated thin. She is a few pounds above a "starving artist". For the love of food, eat something. I'm not shaming, it's just not healthy looking. Anyways, back to the film. The main guy, a policeman, he's fresh and not too shabby an actor. He seems new to this whole family Christmas sort of film industry, but he'll do just fine. The mystery caught me off guard. Great misdirection. The romance is lacking, we don't get any gratification until literally the very end. Like literally, zero romance, a very miniscule buildup and all through the film it's no tension and very little focus on attraction. With 20 seconds left in the story, they are still friends, he proceeds to say he likes her a lot, she reciprocates, they kiss and the credits roll. I suspect that's the source of the low ratings.

Lana Lawton (Sarah Dugdale) is the most unlikable lead character in any Christmas-themed movie I have ever seen, including Scrooge or the Grinch.

I'm amazed she hasn't been fired as an investigator. She is driven to become 'Lead Investigator' but lacks any basic skill at investigation. Yes, she likes to snoop, but she jumps to conclusions without any proof at all and seems to think that her first thought is Gospel.

OK, the idea is that she is an curmudgeonly idiot who finds redemption, but any lead character has to have *some* redeeming characteristics to start with or we just don't care what happens to them.

The other characters are all likable and believable, which just makes Lana seem even more odious.