The Christmas Temp

Hazel gets hired to decorate the lobby of a well known hotel boutique. Jonah, if this job gets done well, will get an amazing promotion. That's it.

While I give props for the storyline, which I liked, the execution was done poorly. I would have liked more action, more movement, everyone is standing so still during this movie EXCEPT in the one moment, with the piano, which is not very realistic. I was so bored by this. There was no chemistry between the leads. Also, the acting by the female lead was cringey at times. I'm all for "instant love" if it's done well, but you just don't make a wish about someone you have just met.

However, I will point out that this had a few very funny lines, so stars for that.

Two charming leads with great chemistry put this one in "rewatchable" status. I had just been thinking that Robin Dunne had a real Tom Hanks vibe going on when lo and behold he started to play Christmas songs on the giant piano keys. Coincidence? I don't think so. The plot was interesting and amusing as the struggling female love interest worked to decorate our hero's boutique hotel lobby for Christmas. His job and a possible promotion was on the line, and her art career would get a much needed jump start. I was a little underwhelmed by the final product, but everyone in the movie seemed to like it, so it must have been me.

The premise was good. The flaky artist was believable and the complicity between the leads was fun, in the beginning. You can believe that they met and had a quick connection.

It could have been good but instead it became chaos. I got the feeling that they shot a lot of disparate scenes, belonging to distinct plot lines, and then edited them together without following a logical sequence. I believe they inserted some scenes for comedic effect only, without them making sense in the whole. The scenes with the policeman were just awkward. The whole thing with the short and the generator was stupid, forced. It annoyed me so badly that I fast forwarded.

As I said, the premise was great but it seems like there was nobody to actually develop it successfully for a film. As always, they try to sell the idea of a great artist and some innovative creation that everyone is in awe of. And it falls flat.

It is not a complete waste of time but it is disappointing, so don't get your hopes up.

I love this film for many motives. The basic can be the beautiful touch of '40's- '50's romantic comedies. The second - the beautiful connection between Hazel and Jonah. And the Hazel's studio, to. The scenes with policeman are just sweet and the supporting characters more than well crafted. Sins ? Maybe the fate of generator but 300 dollars are a very good answer.

The artist/decorator must come through and the pressure is on both Hazel and Jonah. Hazel is not easy or comfortable, especially in her art. Jonah's boss wants unique, so Hazel is the right person, even if neither of them believe it at times.

If you give Robin Dunne half a chance, he connects beautifully with his costars. There isn't just chemistry, but there is fun and joy and a little magic. And don't forget the humor. At times it's silly and at other times it's a little more subtle.

Hazel is a flawed and insecure heroine. It seems amazing that she can live in the real world. But she is also funny and full of life and she has a multitude of conflicting emotions swirling around inside her waiting to get out.

There is a lot of dialogue about symbolism and artistic expression and I'm not sure it all makes sense. I don't think it's meant to. There's a lot of mumbo-jumbo and double talk.

The "rival" confrontation has a bit of a different flavor to it but the usual results.