The premise for this movie is a little different but not unique. Chloe only gets to see her "one" at Christmastime every year, and every year there is something keeping them apart after Christmas. This movie also uses the rival girlfriend and the rival boyfriend plot device, but not exactly in the usual way. I felt the movie was stretched too long without enough interesting and new content. The ending was especially too stretched out.
The other big reason I didn't enjoy this movie is a combination of feeling really bad for Ted and the movie's over-obsession with "waiting for the one". Ted is presented as much more likeable than most rival boyfriends. But Chloe obsesses for years over a man she has only spent a few hours with. I could go into more detail but that ventures into spoiler territory.
Arielle Kebbel seems to be coasting in the role of Chloe. And Chloe starts to be a little annoying in her indecision. Corey Sevier, as Evan, seems to do a better job. But is there chemistry? They certainly hit it off the first Christmas, but Evan has a job in Oslo and has to leave. If they hit it off so well, why is there no contact during the year. We have video chat technology now (which is actually used with Chloe and her mom). I bring up chemistry - in the succeeding years there is something more immediate in their way and the chemistry has disappeared. It has been replaced by mind-numbing preoccupation. I thought the movie just became sad or even pitiful after the first Christmas.
Markie Post makes a good mom, but she and Judge Reinhold overact a bit. Cassidy Nugent as the little girl is fine, but she never grows up even as years pass.
Many viewers will be happy to overlook the problems I mention, and if that's the case, you will probably enjoy the movie as much as any in this genre.
