Christmas in the Cotswolds

Slightly different all-age friendly grown-up blended family storyline, albeit with a few boring tropes included (eg baking food fight) but the big problem is it really doesn't feel very British. For starters, the film needed to include more typical Cotswolds building shots / landscapes. This is a fairly relaxing watch - most of the drama is the back story, not much happens on-screen, so I can't believe they spun it out to 90 mins. However the relationships are uplifting - the generally get on well together, including current and ex wives. This movie could have been excellent, but it required more visuals and less explaining eg could have shown weather forecast and people ringing to cancel etc. The former would also have potential to improve the British feel with a map etc. Overall disappointing but mainly frustrating because the potential wasn't maximised.

I'm all for suspending belief but there are more plot holes in this film than a beginners knitted scarf. I doubt the producers/director have ever been to England as it couldn't have been more un-English if it tried. Wherever it was made I'm pretty sure it wasn't the Cotswolds and if this film was trying to emulate The Holiday it scores a big fail. The settings were all off for the English countryside and even the make-up was a miss. Whoever did make-up obviously forgot their kit and only managed to replace it with one slightly too orange eye shadow used on every female cast member. A very disappointing watch and one to miss now you have been warned.

It didn't take me long to hate Emma. She is negative about everything. She even criticizes the hot chocolate gift from her sister. She really works at raining on the wedding parade, even after she learns Emma is pregnant. After a bit she mellows and gains enthusiasm for the wedding.

Amy is a little too cheerful, but at least it is a counter to Amy's negativity. I have to admit that I can understand some of Emma's frustration with Amy. I thought it was rude not to be home when she arrived. I half expected Emma's luggage to disappear when she walked away from it for a long time.

It's not unusual for the romantic leads to get off to a rough start, so check that off. I'm not sure who is trying harder to annoy the other. But like so many Christmas movies involving a wedding, the two are thrown together to plan it.

The acting is not great, not even the main characters. The relationship development should have been fun. I noticed that the dialogue between Emma and Dylan could have been playful as it was written, but it came off as not quite critical, but almost. But there is also some actual tension between them. Lewis Griffiths' delivery doesn't help. It lacks enough emotion. This really hampered the enjoyment of the entire movie. Eventually they seem to be hitting it off.

Most of the story tension comes from Emma trying to impress a potential client and by doing so seems to be betraying what Amy and Harry really want for their wedding. As for the relationship between Emma and Dylan, I just wasn't convinced that there was enough there.

All in all, the movie lacked the polish I am used to with Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies. I just didn't enjoy it.

BTW: I have to give kudos for the text messages being large enough to read. Absolutely most movies that have text messages make them too small.

For anyone not acquainted with the Cotswolds, they are a region in central-southwest England, along a range of rolling hills that feature some of the most picturesque villages and countryside in the U. K. I selected this film as easy watching for my wife and I as she dislikes anything with much drama/action/violence/noise. When I selected it the location was a big selling point. Call me old fashioned but when i select a film called Christmas in the Cotswolds i expect some Cotswolds! There were none ! Some aerial shots of non descript countryside but none of the rolling hills and beautiful villages of the Cotswolds!! You may think i am being unfair as the film is the main topic but when you also have dreadful acting, a cast with little or no chemistry, characters with no depth, an unnecessary age range of people - one daughter is in her late thirties her half sister is 9 - so it appears the cast was designed to fit in anyone that wanted to take part, a script that may have been written in about an hour with little or no wit or humour, you would think using the ******* Cotswolds as a distraction would be one of the first things anyone would do.

Anyway rant finished the Mrs thought it was harmless hence not getting lower marks but seriously dont waste your time.

When I tuned in I thought it was a Hallmark film due to female lead having an American accent, but as it continued it's lack of Cotswold scenery and the red Buick barn which look more like a modern community hall grated. I checked to find it was a British movie with British actors which hadn't even been filmed in the Cotswolds! Okay I could have overlooked this if the script and delivery but the script was repetitive and wordy, and delivery like watching a school play except here it was accompanied with music which did little to evoke our emotions.

A real waste of everyone's time, including mine.