Christmas at the Chalet

I'm going to be honest, the whole reason I considered watching this was Teri Thatcher. During the summer, I watched Lois and Clark: The Adventures of Superman and I really enjoyed it, even though I haven't finished it yet. She is an amazing actress, which still holds up in this movie. As for this movie, it's not the best Christmas one I've seen. It actually just the same as this 2022 Lindsay Lohan Christmas movie I watch first. But trust me, I've seen ones that I've had to pause for a moment multiple times because it was that painful to watch. While I probably wouldn't watch this a second time, it still wasn't that bad.

So many things in this movie didn't make sense to me and I'm not referring to the lack of reality that so many rom/coms have. I read other reviews to see if I could figure out anything about what I just watched. I think the word "romp" fits and it fits Teri Hatcher in this movie. The movie really was dominated by her and she basically romped her way through the story as Lex.

Lex's boyfriend breaks up with her so she takes her son's advice and goes to Aspen to be near him for Christmas. The next bit is something I've never seen before and I have seen hundreds of rom/coms and Christmas movies. Her reservation at the chalet didn't go through so she agrees to take a room as a "chalet girl" or basically service staff. She becomes the hired help. And she loves it. Meanwhile she makes posts about her experience and has tons of followers

As I said, Lex romps her way from one things to another including some things she does while not working like a night on the town with a coworker and ski lessons.

That's not enough to fill the story so let's throw in her ex-husband who is in the same place. He's there with their son. He is also there with a girl half his age. She has to wait on all of them. Like many movies involving an ex, the ex chases her down and talks about getting back together. What happens after that to Lex, her new beau, and her ex makes no sense at all. All three of them make crazy choices, so in that sense the climax is not that predictable even if the ending eventually is. Is not being predictable good if it is because the climax makes no sense? I don't want to give away spoilers but let me just say more than one character says one thing late in the movie and then 5 minutes later run time they say or do the opposite.

Note to self. This movie was passably OK once but don't watch it again.

Yes Christmas movies have no original plots and if you're lucky they're filmed at a scenic real location instead of the Hallmark studio lot in Vancouver. There are a few of the Christmas movie actress troupe that can actually carry a movie (ex. Bethany Joy Lenz) such that's its watchable. Terri Hatcher is now in that small group IMHO. This movie is in reality a Terri vehicle so if you like her (I do) then sit back and enjoy. Otherwise you may want to skip it. Scenery is ok but mostly generic Colorado ski area. Actors are competent but are overshadowed by TH. Dialog / Direction is focused on Hatcher, so it works as long as she is performing. All in all a watchable holiday movie thanks to TH.

"Absolutely fell for the charm of 'Christmas at the Chalet'! It's that perfect blend of holiday warmth and unexpected romance that had me hooked from start to finish. The Aspen backdrop is nothing short of magical - snow-covered mountains, twinkling lights - it's like a winter dream. And Lex taking on the chalet worker gig? Hilarious and totally relatable! It adds this quirky touch to the story that keeps you smiling.

The characters are a blast, especially Lex and Eric. Their chemistry is the heart of the movie, making you root for them from the get-go. The snowy scenes in Aspen are not just scenic; they're practically a winter wonderland that makes you want to dive into the screen.

If you're into feel-good holiday movies that make you laugh a bit, swoon a lot, and just embrace the festive spirit, 'Christmas at the Chalet' is an absolute winner. It's got everything - cozy vibes, great characters, and that perfect dose of holiday magic. Two big thumbs up from me! 👍👍

P. S. - The chalet's family backstory? Adds an extra layer of heart to the whole experience, making it more than just a love story; it's a celebration of connections and new beginnings."

Teri Hatcher, 61, is another of the older actresses, and deservedly so, to get to be her bubbly cheerful entertainment personality in this Lifetime Christmas romantic comedy. As an ex-television celebrity, divorced, and a brand new influencer, Teri goes to Aspen invited by her son for Christmas where he is collaborating with a company to create a limited-edition snowboard product. Her ex-husband with a younger woman has also decided to go to Aspen for his turn to spend time with his son. Through a last minute issue at the Chalet, Teri finds herself having to literally work through a problem when she arrives, accomplished with style and with appropriate editing. This rom-com script appears to distinguish itself from other good-feel movies by avoiding the typical stereotypical situations found in most rom-com movies and instead focuses on Teri's character's rather awkward situation that blends well with the movie. With good editing, this movie has good pacing, strikes a good balance of comedy and drama. At the same time, however, the movie struggles to find a crisp emotional tone and an almost but not excellent presentation of authenticity of the required dramatic conflict scene for this genre that occurs in the chalet's restaurant and the climax when it comes to the skiing outing. An entertaining, light-hearted movie that attempts something different but one that doesn't quite succeed.