You Light Up My Christmas

Another save-the-family-business which also means save the town. It all depends on a secret uncovered in the effects of a recently passed relative, in this case her father. In order to make it work, the leading lady, Emma, has to work closely with her former beau who also happened to take over the company from her father. You can figure out how it turns out, both in business and personal lives. The story has no great highs or lows or surprises.

The chemistry between Kim Fields and Adrian Holmes is good. They have decent screen time together. They spend a lot of time reminiscing.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this movie. It's just like a hundred others showing 24/7 on at least 4 cable channels. But nothing in it really grabbed me either.

This was such a cute movie!! You cant expect everything out of this movies. We know they're going to end up together at the end its just how these type of movies end but its the journey to get us there is what's important in a movie and this movie was light hearted and fun. I loved the chemistry between the leading actors. Kim did a really good job. Her character was passionate about Christmas and keeping her families legacy alive. If you just want something that you can just sit back and watch that puts you in a good mood this movie will do it for you. But if you expect there to be a perfect script then you'll be disappointed but the people who love Lifetime movies for what they are this one is so cute! I'm gonna rewatch it again.

Great movie to get you into the holiday spirit! Leading actors, especially Kim Fields, were excellent. Kim was beautiful and her acting was on point. A real feel good movie, lighthearted and just the right amount of comedy. Very sweet. Great chemistry between the two leads....loved it!

'You Light Up My Christmas' is another one of those Lifetime Christmas films to have a rather cheesy and uninspired title, but also have a story that potentially could be quite charming and sweet. There never has been any bias against Lifetime's output, much of it is formulaic sure and some of it has just as much corn and schmaltz of that of Hallmark's but with the right leads and the right amount of charm and heart they can have some likeability. Provided that not too much is expected from it.

Didn't expect a massive amount from 'You Light Up My Christmas' and overall got a film that isn't that bad but isn't really my definition of good. If people think otherwise fair enough and good for them, there are sporadic good things but personally do actually agree with the criticisms that have been cited. As far as the 2019 Lifetime Christmas films (a very hit and miss batch, with most falling somewhere in between) are, 'You Light Up My Christmas' to me is among the worst.

The best thing about 'You Light Up My Christmas' is Kim Fields, who radiates with energy and charm and it was easy to be endeared to her. If it seems like she's overacting, to me she wasn't, it is because unlike the rest of the cast she actually looked as though she was trying.

It is a pleasant looking film, especially the scenery. The music is pleasant enough, and is not as constant or intrusive as with other Lifetime efforts.

On the other hand, 'You Light Up My Christmas' has a lot of debits. A big one being Adrian Holmes, who looks bored out of his mind throughout. The chemistry between him and Fields is at best bland and takes too little time to develop. Lisa Welchel overplays her character and makes her even more annoying than she already was. Emma is the only halfway likeable and interesting character, all the others are dull as dishwater or irritate. The interaction throughout between everybody doesn't come over as natural enough, being both forced and static. The direction is at best only functional and at most points it's leaden.

Calling 'You Light Up My Christmas' cliched sums it up well, both story and characters, and that is being generous. Some familiar (well actually well worn out) story tropes here, all predictably executed. The first portions are slow and quite thinly plotted, uneventful at times, and some decision making seemed contrived. The script lays it on too thick with the corn and slushy schmaltz, not unexpected but it was overkill in places. The film doesn't get off to a particularly good start, very cheesy and quite dull, while the ending is rushed and too tidy and the lack of tension and conflict severely hurts what little there is of the drama.

Summing up, weak but not unwatchable. 3/10

I loved the premise of finding your holiday spirit. The movie was nostalgic is so many different ways. I really hope that this is the first of many movies with the ladies of FoL in varying storylines.