It was not easy telling whether 'Welcome to Christmas' was going to be good or whether it was going to be bad when first hearing of it, reading the plot synopsis and seeing the advertising. The story did sound interesting if not with much to make it unique and it didn't look too bad. Even the mixed response to the film didn't put me off and actually made me intrigued, to see which side of liked it or hated it my opinion would fall on.
Watching 'Welcome to Christmas' as part of my recent Christmas film quest (something that was very much necessary after a tough time), it was for me on neither extreme of brilliant or terrible and found myself neither loving or hating it. If anything my opinion is somewhere in between and am actually pretty conflicted on what my stance is. With there being a fair share of good things but also an equal number of things that didn't work. Can totally understand the mixed response here.
There are good things in 'Welcome to Christmas'. The scenery is lovely and quite picturesque at its best. The music had an affectionate festive atmosphere and had me smiling and humming along, as good music should do. There are moments that amuse and others that are quite sweet.
Did think that the first half is better than the second half, with 'Welcome to Christmas' starting off very promising and there was a nice little twist that wasn't obvious to me at first. Eric Mabius is a very charming lead with great comic timing, and of the quite solid supporting cast Susan Hogan and Sarah Edmondson fare best.
For my tastes, Jennifer Finnigan plays her role too much like the coldest of fishes. Didn't ever find myself warming to her or Madison as a character and Madison's development in the second half didn't ring true because Finnigan's acting felt so cold and disconnected (my opinion though). Also agree that there is very little chemistry between her and Mabius, what little there was would not even thaw the thickest snow and it was hard to believe what Gage saw in Madison.
Moreover, while the first half was promising the latter stages are predictable and clumsy from being more complicated than necessary. This is especially true in a redemptive arc that is too suddenly introduced and rushed through in near throwaway fashion. The dialogue had some amusing and sweet moments but also a good deal of awkwardness and an uneasy mix of cheese and schmaltz. Other than the scenery, 'Welcome to Christmas' doesn't look particularly good with some very sloppy editing.
Overall, alright and not one of the worst Christmas films by any stretch, but nothing exceptional here and nowhere near being one of the best. A very in between 5/10
