Un Noël de rêve en Suisse

A Swiss Family Christmas/Merry Swissmas (2022) -

In the leading male role of Liam, Tim Rozon was not quite as sexy as his character Mutt in 'Schitt's Creek' (2015-20), but his character was still charming and attractive, because of his softly spoken and mild manner. I wasn't sure why he fell for Alex (Jodie Sweetin) though, because she was a stroppy cow and too high maintenance for his calm relaxed personality.

I liked the quantity of Swiss traditions and words used to show a different view of the season. It hasn't always worked when they've tried to do this in a film and it did seem a bit like they'd written a list of things to cover and written dialogue to connect each event rather than writing them in to an existing romance story, but it was still interesting.

I thought that the friendship, when troubled, reconciled a bit too early on. Perhaps I'm just used to the usual formula that has it all happening 15 minutes before the end, but it left very little anticipation.

And there were a couple of moments that were a stretch to believe as well. Also, Louis was too much!

With all that said, I didn't mind it and because of Tim, I probably would revisit the story again and as a way of trying to remember the Swiss Christmas ceremonies and traditions, because seasonal culture is something that I love.

669.49/1000.

And just what DID she say? "If you don't have anything good to say,...come sit by me". That pretty much describes my sentiments about this cinematic reduction.

A self-respecting Swiss village would never be found with dreadful and gauche displays--of everything. The general store? On the street where you shop? The village Christmas tree? In the inn? Pointy, plastic, scantily dressed garland? Another commercial for the 12-days of Christmas starting in early October? And filming, in part, on a Warner Brothers backlot and green screens? A chef that couldn't microwave a seal-a-meal? And then...not knowing wines appropriate to a frozen dinner? Tell me not.

And just how could an attempt be made for some degree of authenticity--a nod to the real stuff? If on-site visits are not possible due to budget or pandemic constraints, watch some famous tour group leaders' DVDs on the REAL Christmases in Switzerland (and many other places in Europe as well). Find the richness of the many European traditions noting the lack of materialism as the primary reason for the season. (I'm not against capitalism--just how it is used, displayed and perceived.)

Seeing that this movie was a 2022 production it was a surety that I hadn't seen it before. Although sounding like a Scrooge, I actually love Christmas movies. A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving my quest begins for a variety of holiday flat-screen events. And it provides me some degree of pain to have to admit that I was taken in by the year of release and movie title. I have a hope that the new Christmas movies will blow our socks off given the pent-up well of creativity so badly stifled by Covid--and I'm going to keep hoping.

As for the final analysis? Come sit by me...I still have nothing good to say.

When people abroad try to make a film about your homecountry it can be really good or really bad. Here there is so much bad. There's really nothing much swiss about this film apart from the swiss flags everywhere (which we don't really have except for 1st of August). It seems like it's someones idea of what the country might be like from looking at a tourist brochure from 30 years ago and mixed it up with a clearly American house and American scenery with a view swiss mountain pictures added in as transitions.

The film itself continues to disappoint. The acting isn't great, the plot is very simple, not really believable and just flat. Having those two former friends meet with those semi love quarrels and OF COURSE the handsome hotel guy is a widower for whom the main character falls for.. i mean its just so blatantly bad.

I'm glad i didn't pay for this. What a waste of time though.

Besides the lack of chemistry between the leading couple, the story is awful.

This girl is forced to accept a relationship, a situation she didn"t heal. It's sad when people don"t respect our decisions or our feelings. O felt her mom was out of line. No, because it's Christmas it doesn"t mean you have to firgive and forget everything. Yes, she needs to move on, but not forced into it. And then the situation with Liam, two weeks there and now she has to decide if she stays or leave for good cause it could hurt his kid... What!!!! It's been two damn weeks... Honestly I would have skipped that trip.

While I haven't been to Switzerland (yet), from friends who have, this seemed to be a poor representation of the country at Christmas, which I'm told is pretty spectacular. I guess the holiday traditions portrayed were genuine? Did anyone bother researching?

The second issue -- as much as I adore Jodie Sweetin, there was ZERO chemistry with the inn manager, who was about as dry as toast, and pretty emotionless. I've loved watching Sweetin in other Christmas movies, as well as her Full House co-star, Candace Cameron Bure, they make cheesy Christmas movies fun to watch during the season, and I mean that as a compliment!