A Holiday Hideout

Don't waste your time. This movie is bad. Tacky, stupidly unrealistic. Unbelievable. The acting is bad, the story is dumb. It is not a drama. It's a hokey love story that is really insulting. You will roll your eyes and shake your head if you make it all the way to the corny ending.

The leads had pretty good chemistry and were fun to watch, but my favorite thing about the movie was it's complete lack of anything resembling realistic police techniques. I'm pretty sure nothing about the mob scenes was realistic, either. It made for a very fun viewing, although I'm not entirely sure that was intentional.

This was very silly, but it was great to see Arielle Kebbel again in a Christmas TV romance movie. She has been missing in action on that front for quite awhile. She has gotten a new haircut too. She was well cast as a Federal agent in charge of protecting a former mobster, now witness. She has always had a down-to-earth way about her despite her beauty, as well as a way with snark. Colin Egglesfield was also well cast as a bad guy with a good heart. He had nice chemistry with Arielle. I liked that he wasn't made to be falsely accused or somehow innocent of his crimes.

I longed to see Arielle Kebbel again. Now, I am sure I would have rather waited longer, for a better role. This movie had more than the needed themes for a rich drama. Intrigue, crime, a handsome criminal, turned informant and stalked with murderous intent, a beautiful witness protection officer, ..... and Christmas! In staging this comedy-drama, perhaps the intent was to mitigate crude moments with humor and romance. In reality, the criminal, inexplicably, is a pussycat, though ripped, as abundantly shown. The protection officer, the "best there is", seems unable to perceive any threats, amid repeated murder attempts, possibly because too immerse in contemplating the ripped chest. The murderer is a bungling idiot, Most characters act buffoonish and horny. The contest is a lot more La La Land than Christmas. Interspersed, there are a few sequences that want to be seriously dramatic, for unclear reason. If this is comedy, it is poorly done. As drama, it is a silly farce. Arielle, I still like you. I' ll try to forget this one.

The story might have possibilities but the acting isn't just bad. It's horrible. The dialogue is equally bad, and sickeningly cheesy. The witness protection angle makes this a bit different for a Christmas movie.

The acting is universally bad including the main characters. Even the story goes off the rails as the marshal makes bonehead mistakes in security. And more stupidity with the mayor constantly fawning over Derrick and while Jessie watches. Much of the comedy is based on sexual inuendo and visual inanities.

I will say the climax was surprising but totally stupid. There is even a clumsy religious message about the meaning of Christmas.

I usually don't like to use words like "worst" especially linked to "ever", but this movie really ranks among the worst Christmas movies I've watched.