Dashing in December

Thanks Paramount for making a movie with real people and showing that all relationships don't all look the same👍🏽

This is a holiday romance story from the Paramount Network that has some common plot elements with Hallmark and Lifetime holiday movies, so there is crossover appeal for viewers of those networks. Hallmark and Lifetime are focused on women, so a young female is always the main character in their formulaic films and a young man is her love interest. In this film there is a male who is the main character and another male is his love interest.

The script for Dashing in December is above average and the characters talk about real things. In this movie the leads are two males Peter Porte and Juan Pablo Di Pace, they both graduated from drama schools so they know how to act and there is chemistry between them. It has all the usual Hallmark elements such as being very Christmasy, gingerbread, hot cider, hot cocoa and holiday traditions and maintains the cardinal rule that lead characters kiss, but are never seen in bed together. The supporting actors Andie MacDowell and Caroline Harris are excellent. And the music throughout is wonderful.

I hope the Paramount Network gives us more films with gay couples in the near future.

I really enjoyed 'Dashing in December'. It is a warm, heartfelt, and engaging Christmas movie, one of the better movies this season. It also gives same-sex male relationships some representation in this genre of film, which is a plus. At the heart of the story is Wyatt Burwall (played by Peter Porte), who works for a Manhattan investment firm. After many years, he has decided to go home for Christmas to the family ranch in Colorado, where he hopes to convince his mother Deb (played by Andie MacDowell) to sell the ranch to one of his investors. While home he meets Heath (our other protagonist in this story played by Juan Pablo Di Pace), the ranch hand who has been helping his mother run the place for the past several years. An unexpected relationship between Wyatt and Heath emerges. From friction to romance, we watch their relationship blossom thru some warm and intimate dialogue on this beautiful and picturesque ranch in Harmony Springs, Colorado. Indeed, one of the strengths of the story/script is the dialogue and exchanges between Heath and Wyatt, discussing their past, their hopes, and their love for the ranch (and the friction at the beginning, of course). There were some weak elements to the story; for example, the fight between the two (that takes place at the dinner table) late in the film seemed forced. That said, the story pulled me in from the start. Moreover, I thought the writer did a pretty good job developing the characters, as I found myself connecting with Wyatt, Heath, and Deb. This is also a reflection of the quality of acting in the film, which was, overall, brilliant. Porte had an impressive, convincing performance on screen. You could see his character develop as the film progressed from a 'Mr. Know It All' at the beginning to a warmer and more caring person towards the end. Di Pace too had a strong performance. It felt authentic, very real on screen. The chemistry between the two was great (believable). Again, the dialogue and exchanges between the two in several scenes made this chemistry work, I thought. The supporting cast was excellent. MacDowell had a very good performance as Deb (the mother). The movie also had quite a festive side as well with some dancing and great country music (some good songs in this film). There were also some beautiful landscapes of the ranch, of the mountains in winter, which added to the Christmas vibe of the film. All in all, it is a refreshing Christmas romance movie, with some very strong acting, a nice new edition to the 2020 season lineup.

I am all about having the first gay Xmas rom-com. I first watched Lifetime's The Christmas Setup and it was lovely so I had high expectations for this one but turns out Dashing in December isn't all that. The plot actually isn't half bad and the Colorado ranch really adds a different setting to the other Christmas films. But, for me the main lead Wyatt Burwall (Peter Porte) is really annoying and not charming. at. all. The good ole' Andie MacDowell also acts... strange? Like her heart isn't in here. The only saving grace is the handsome rancher Heath (Juan Pablo) who actually captivates me till the end. The film could do better with better lead and cast - it's a little forced for me.

I really expect to like this film. However, for me the character Wyat is so mean and cruel that it would take a lot of storyline to bring us his redemption. Instead, it happens in about 90 seconds and everyone forgets how cruel he was. Sure, there a poorly laid out back story to his feelings. Yet, they are barely explored. It goes from there