The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls

Is it even possible for a second movie to be better than the first one? Yup! Better acting , better script and the chemistry between all of the actors was amazing. I really really enjoyed it. I also have to say I had no idea there was a second one , I accidentally found it on the plane. So it was Avery nice surprise.

Anyway I'm a Christmas buff so don't take just my word for it watch it and see it. I love it because it not just about romance, which most Christmas movies are these days , but it's about a family and how they celebrate Christmas. Anyway enjoy it . This is way more wordy than I want it but I have to write 600 words to be able to submit . Ha ha merry Christmas.

Mike is offered to be on a show called "Deck Those Halls" in which celebrities decorate houses and one is chosen as the winner. Mike and Brandon compete and the winner will be named "King of Christmas".

It was fun. The cast have great chemistry, specially Robert and Jonathan. They make those sibling fights so realistic. They fight about the stupidest things and yet it's the fiercest competition of all.

There a lot of funny moments, slow motion scenes and the interviews cracked me up. I didn't see those coming (I don't think they were in the first movie)

I also liked that they portraited a realistic relationship between exes, specially one where a child in common is involved. Once again, the love relationships are secondary plots but very important to the main characters.

It's a fun and good sequel. If you watched the first one, you should watch this.

Hallmark set the cat amongst the conservative pigeons back in 2020 when 'The Christmas House' (based in part on star/writer Robert Buckley's childhood Christmas memories) featured an openly gay couple in the main ensemble cast. Insane that people focus and obsess about that - good on Hallmark for (finally) depicting the real world in their Christmas movies.

The Christmas House was fantastic. And the sequel, with a high bar to clear, is just a skosh below the level of the original. That's not to say it's a bad film. Definitely not. The great cast is back, and this time here are TWO Christmas Houses to be decorated, with the Mitchell family in fine form once again.

How good are Sharon Lawrence and Treat Williams as parents Phillys and Bill? Fantastic in every scene.

The relationship between brothers TV star Mike (Buckley) and bakery owner Brandon (Jonathan Bennett) is explored more deeply in the second instalment. And Ana Ayora is back as Mike's childhood sweetheart, Andi Cruz. That relationship has it's speed bumps.

It was always going to be hard to top The Christmas House. As I said above, it doesn't quite match the original, but it's still a really fun film.

Here's hoping for The Christmas House III one of these years.

'The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls' (2021)

Opening thoughts: While it was an inconsistent film, with many ups but also a few downs (from trying to do too much mainly), the first 'The Christmas House' film was very enjoyable. Seeing the cast return in the sequel did promise a good deal, having seen how good they were in the first, and the premise was nice. Expectations were not completely high though, as sequels with some famous exceptions generally do not have a good reputation and Hallmark varied with its sequels (some were good, others were average or less and pointless).

'The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls' is one of Hallmark's good sequels, actually one of the better ones in my view. It is also one of the few Hallmark sequels in my personal view that is superior to the first, with all its good things except done even better and with most of the flaws present in the first being corrected on the whole here. It is not perfect by all means, none of Hallmark's films are, but there is a huge amount to like and overall it is one of the best 2021 Hallmark Christmas films in what was a up and down year for that year's Christmas batch.

Bad things: Starting with what didn't quite come off, the ending did feel a little too pat again. A common issue with the 2021 Christmas Hallmark films, and actually true for all of Hallmark's 2021 output (but worse in most of the others).

Also thought that the comedic moments occasionally were on the forced side and that Jonathan Bennett's character could have done with a little more development.

Good things: However, there are a number of things done better here compared to the first 'The Christmas House'. The pacing is vastly improved, with less slower moments and a tighter first quarter. It also doesn't try to cram in as much, with there being not as many characters or subplots, which proved to be a good things when it meant that the main plot had more depth and development without falling into over-sentimentality. Robert Buckley's role is larger and he is a little more comfortable.

When it comes to the acting that was all fine. Buckley appeals, as does Bennett. Treat Williams and Sharon Lawrence are even better, emotive and with a real feel for the lighter touch when needed. Lawrence again has a very difficult character to like, but she doesn't make a control freak sort of character cartoonish and it's not too unrealistic a representation of this kind of person. Actually thought she was more subtle here. The characters aren't too perfect but to me their flaws weren't too heavily exaggerated at the same time. The acting chemistry is sincere and natural. Loved the interviews, which were a great and very entertaining touch.

Visually, the film looks attractive and is another improvement over the first. With the decorations looking a lot less tacky. Especially the scenery, and the music has a pleasant and nostalgic quality that doesn't become overdone, over-emphasised or too syrupy. The direction was sympathetic but still gave the film momentum when necessary. The dialogue is heartfelt, thoughtful and flows well without being self-indulgent or too flowery. Was surprised at how refreshingly funny some of it was and how smile-worthy delivered it was. The storytelling wasn't dull, was warm hearted, had heart and didn't become too contrived or overly sugary sweet in my view. Some of the situations were not too hard to relate to and were generally fun and heartfelt.

Concluding thoughts: Overall, liked it a lot and better than the still enjoyable first film.

8/10.

A fun to watch Christmas movie, it's light and doesn't follow the usual Hallmark formula. The usual formula is centered on a lone female looking for love, this is about three families and competition between two brothers. It's farcical, not full of hot cocoa, holiday sweets and gingerbread. I haven't seen gingerbread in grocery bakery sections for years, it's very dated.

This is better than the original movie, it has better writing and it moves at a fast clip so there aren't boringly slow conversations that bog down many Hallmark movies. And it's not full of nostalgia for the past like some of the Hallmark movies this year.

I hope Hallmark is planning on a 3rd Christmas House.