Christmas With The Knightlys (2023) -
This was the standard story of opposing forces coming together for some reason or another and ultimately changing how the one individual saw the world. Proof that the right person can make a difference to another. He was a high profile, business celebrity playboy trying to escape the cameras and she was an altruistic community centre teacher who hated people just like and especially him and his family. He was preparing for a merger and a special Christmas party while she was helping to set up for the nativity. On paper it shouldn't work, but might it just?
That's not to say that Georgia wasn't without her flaws, she was a bit judgemental to say the least, but right from the start it was clear that Chase (Joe Scarpellino) was obviously over privileged and a bit of a jerk. I could however see that he had potential for redemption, even at his worst, there was something that showed he wanted to do better. Joe was nice to look at too.
Celeste Desjardins as Georgia was fine, but as a gay man I do tend to find that a lot of these women are interchangeable. The guys have generally had something slightly different about them or had a specific appeal about their character. In fairness to the girls it's probably how they've been directed.
The coach (Andrew Mackay) and Randall the Journalist (Roy Lewis) were a bit much. I really hate characters like Randall - exaggerated Aggro Barry Whites that don't stop to consider how what they do really affects others and generally just put bad vibes out in to the world all for the sake of a story.
The other paparazzi woman, Brooke (Lara Amersey) was not the best actor either. And Chase' Dad, Barrington (Randy Thomas) was very awkward in his performance too.
These films seem to be really scrimping on the budget for the supporting artists over the past couple of years, which has really been letting down what was, or could be, something good otherwise.
However, Zoe (Carina Battrick) was a wonderful clever little actor. These films need more child actors with sass that can pull it off and less of the treacle sickness that can't act at all. I thought that she'd go far in her career.
As it progressed I grew to really like Chase, it was just a shame that I knew that it would go wrong later on and exactly how.
Other than that it really annoys me when they have to call their Fathers "Sir". He's not a Knight, the King hasn't dubbed him with a sword, he's your Dad and I think that it's a sign of a bad parental relationship.
Also Chase and Brayden's (Brian Cook) "BIG" surprise at the community centre was really quite underwhelming. Was that the best idea they could come up with? Again I'm assuming it was a budget thing, but it was very lame. And the pair should have ended up watching the nativity.
However, with all of that said, I was beginning to lose faith in these films having seen two dodgy ones in a row, one that I didn't even finish and I'm not saying that this one was outstanding, but it was a good one and I would come back to it again, maybe in a few years.
6.46/10.
