Christmas in Louisiana

I love watching Lifetime movies during the Holidays. Most of them have regurgitated storylines (i.e., successful big city man/woman goes back home to their small town) but they are still usually very entertaining. This, although very entertaining, missed the mark incredibly with their co-leads. Percy Daggs III was a little too goofy to be taken seriously as a love interest for Jana Kramer. They literally had ZERO chemistry. However, I loved the dynamic between Dee Wallace and Barry Bostwick.

I liked the concept and the supporting cast was great, however the movie fell flat on it's face. Agree with many of the reviewers, the leads lacked chemistry and appeared awkward in their interactions. Maybe a change in one or both leads could have made this a better watch.

The description certainly was generic cliche- big city girl goes home to christmas festival blablabla. Nothing spectacular there. Someone had the bright idea in the writing dept to shine the light on the relationships of 3 generations of the Winters family. In fact at the outset I was more interested in Moira Kelly and the photographer. Could have been flushed out a bit more. I will say the 2 older couples had a natural chemistry probably just coming from years of acting and knowing how to be charming/flirtatious etc without looking like they're trying too hard. I think I've seen Percy Daggs in other stuff and felt the same way, he ddidn't seem natural with his female lead. Like fish out of water. But even with Lifetime or Hallmark you do see younger leads actually melding together naturally. This time wasn't it. But kudos for the 3 generations of stories idea. Just needed to build them better. Certainly doable in 90 minutes, especially since the whole thing was relationship based. There was no plot time spent on big city person developer buying up town real estate, or whatever the big city corporate leads usually have up their sleeves by going home for Christmas, or to save a parade or festival etc. Good start lifetime. Keep on this track.

One should never expect classic status from a Lifetime film. Actually find a good deal of them watchable and have been pleasantly surprised by enough of their Christmas output. They are inconsistent and have done a fair share of unimpressive work, including their Christmas films, but it has been interesting seeing them for completest sake. Which was my main reason for seeing 'Christmas in Louisiana', as well as loving the holiday so much.

2019's 'Christmas in Louisiana' is neither one of Lifetime's best or worst, both Christmas and as an overall whole. If to land it in any category it would for me be in the average middle one when it comes to talking about their variable festive output, with a number of major good things but also a number of equally major bad things. So a bit of a mixed opinion here on 'Christmas in Louisiana' even when more or less knowing what to expect.

'Christmas in Louisiana' has its virtues. Jana Kramer is very charming and alluring in her role and makes her character likeable and interesting. Dee Wallace and Barry Bostwick also shone, bringing fun and sincerity to their parts, they are also equally endearing and their dynamic was the most believable by far. Most of the acting actually was above average, with one exception which will be come onto later. Some parts are heart-warming and have a nice charm.

It is an attractive looking film, especially the scenery. The music had pleasant moments.

However, there are drawbacks. Do absolutely agree about the criticisms in regard to Percy Daggs III, who came over as unintentionally goofy and quite annoying. Also about the practically non-existent and totally wrong chemistry between him and Kramer. The characters are a mixed bag, really liked Sarah, Doris and Timothy. Luke however was annoying and difficult to take seriously and the rest seemed underdeveloped.

Did find too much of the story on the dull and padded side, doing nothing new with familiar ground. Charm and heart come in spurts, but too much of the film is bland and erratically paced. It has too many subplots and under-develops almost all of them, especially the central romance, so there is a sense of trying too much, but the basic story felt too over-stretched and thin. The ending is too pat and too hastily wrapped up. The script can be pretty corny and has too much schmaltzy froth. The direction gets the job done but with not much distinction.

Overall, a bit mixed here. 5/10

After seeing Christmas in Mississippi, I was looking forward to this one. Jana Kramer was so good in the former, despite the fact she didn't perform any song. This movie needed something more than it had and perhaps her doing a song or two would have helped.

I will say that the premise of the story was a little unusual, but unfortunately after setting that up it fell flat. This movie also has three couples, with each couple being previous winners of Mr and Mrs Christmas awards and each woman being a succeeding generation of the same family. The most senior has been married for decades, the middle generation lady no longer has a husband, and the youngest had her Mr Christmas break up with her publicly almost instantly after being crowned. The movie focuses on the three as the middle lady is courted by a stranger, and the youngest spends a lot time with the former boyfriend.

Perhaps the story suffers from spreading the focus out to three couples. As a result, we don't get to see enough of any of the relationships. Perhaps this movie suffers from having no sentimental moment like Kramer's previous movie.

But as other reviewers have said, the biggest problem is Luke. Something just doesn't click with him. There is no chemistry and perhaps that is because Percy Daggs III is trying too hard. Perhaps I find it harder to forgive Luke for his youthful mistake than Sarah does. I was much more interested in Moira's budding relationship.

I hope that if Lifetime does Christmas in Alabama next year, they give Kramer a chance to sing. Meanwhile I will watch Louisiana again, but not Mississippi.