Making Spirits Bright

This is a pretty common take on the Christmas decoration feuding families. The one slightly fresh angle is celebrating the traditional approach over the noisy techy approach. The techy contest entry in this movie would definitely get annoying after a while, maybe after as little as two times through. The broad strokes of the story are definitely predictable and as is common for Hallmark, they wrapped up too many threads in HEA bows.

When the story is mostly same old stuff, I enjoy these movies when the leads' relationship has a chance to shine. In this movie, Grace and Tony got shorted on screen time. Maybe it was too many threads. Maybe it was too much contest.

I'm also not a fan of the arrogance and trash talking which in this movie almost reached the point of physical violence. The whole feuding angle was more than I would like to see, especially if, as I said, the relationship was shorted as a result.

There is a nice theme of reconciliation in more than one thread.

I enjoyed watching this movie, a real romantic comedy. Also, I really like Carlo Marks even if he's seldom paired with a leadind actress with whom he has no chemistry.

It's a nice entertaining movie.

OK, there are no real sparks in this movie. The family feud and the lights competition ring recent and distant bells. Which should be discounted, as expected. Considering the myriad of Christmas and romantic movies continuously produced, fresh, new ideas are near-impossible, especially when one refuses to resort to sensationalism, depravity, vulgarity or violence. Thanks Heaven Hallmark has resisted temptation to walk that path. Within the self-imposed constraints, Hallmark comfortably presents us with light fare entertainment that ranges from boring to heartwarming, never objectionable. Sometimes we get the little magic that we would always want to find. Given the other alternatives available on the market, this is an accomplishment that should be recognized. Here we are with this film, which, still, delivers some kind or moving moments and, though formulaic, conform to Christmas spirit in reminding us of the values of family and friendship.

I almost didn't watch this based on the negative reviews but it was pleasant enough to watch. I liked the seemingly easy compatibility of the leads and the other family members seems genuine, The tech lighting guy was annoying as he was meant to be - I'm glad I don't have lights like that in my neighborhood. I don't really pay any attention to the snow situation that seems to bother others. I would agree that the subplot with the business partner seemed unnecessary.

I've watched Christmas light competitions every Christmas and I have noticed more and more are automated with club lights and music than Christmas time, so I liked the concept of the movie fighting for traditional lights and set ups over commercialized ones. The b story with the business partner was distracting. Maybe because I watched it in the background, but I found the scenes awkward and didn't fit with the story. I hated the "friend" and they didn't make her likeable or redeemable. I liked the chemistry between the leads and the families but that b story really got to me and lowered my rating of the movie.