Magical Christmas Shoes

This film was better than some of the Hallmark Holiday movies that been released this year. The leads have great chemistry and the plot was interesting and kept me engaged from start to finish. It was great to see Erin Karpluk back on my screen as I remembered her from "Being Erica" Definitely a movie to watch again next year.

My son's family just came home from two plus years in Belgium which still has a lot of Dutch tradition, so some of the things in this movie were familiar like candy in the shoes. The Dutch traditions gave this movie a slightly different flavor from so many of the Christmas romance movies around. The premise of the story was similar to those of many of these movies, but at the same time it felt a little different. Certainly, the relationship of the lead male, John, with his father and how that progressed through the story is a very well used trope. The themes of be-yourself, take-risks, and do-what-makes-you-happy are in many Christmas movies. While save-the-store is well used, this had a slightly different take on it. The meddling arrival of the hated ex is another well used trope.

John and Noelle clicked from the beginning. I find I like this kind of movie when the leads have plenty of screen time for relationship building and that was the case here and I did enjoy it.

The conflict involved a couple of other well used tropes, but I didn't see it coming, so I give points for that.

The usual Lifetime Christmas movie (bad script, bad acting) with an unknown Canadian actress Erin Karpluk, an annoying actress who talks too fast. Christmas shoes, really? And her window displays for the Candy store were awful. I wish Lifetime and Hallmark would stop making these awful movies.

Starts out as a formula Lifetime Christmas movie and then through the magic of the shoes slowly evolves into an introspective exploration of how the shoes made her the person she is today. If this story sounds familiar, its because it is. The second half of the movie feels like a lost episode of Being Erica with the shoes serving the role of Dr. Tom and supporting actors sounding remarkably like Erica's friends. Being Erica fans craving for one more episode will enjoy this Christmas knockoff. For those who didn't see the show, its something a bit different from the formula Lifetime Christmas movie to fill an evening.

It's a charming story, a cute twist on the same old boy meets girl.

Are the shoes really magic though? Or are they more of a curse? I need some if they can help. I'm actually quite good in heels and I particularly liked the purple knee highs.

The film is full of happy festive activities and you can see the romance blossoming quite happily.

Damon Runyon is quite appealing and easy on the eye too.