UMA REVIRAVOLTA DE NATAL

Abby starts out as one of the most overprotective mom's ever seen in these movies. In the beginning, both Abby and Ryan are complete jerks who think the world revolves around them. Then we meet Ryan's ex. She and her current partner are equally stuck-up but not quite as mean. Abby's mom calls Ryan "driver". This is a really likeable group of people. Rudeness and antagonism continue through a full third of the movie. The rudeness miraculously disappears and the antagonism becomes flirty banter.

As for professional lives the world does not work this way. Missing the interview is pretty big and walking out on a merger meeting is worse. As another reviewer pointed out, the viewer needs to work hard to suspend belief.

The story is based on one unnatural contrivance after another. Abby and Ryan are thrown together repeatedly. With basically half the movie gone, some chemistry starts to develop between Vanessa Lachey and Brendon Zub. I was impressed with Lachey as a single mom. Her connection with Christian Convery, as Elliot, is great despite the over protectiveness.

There's a side story in the arrogance of the always superior book author. His arrogance extends to forcing attention on himself away from Abby's child while spouting parenting advice.

The conflict is likewise unlikely contrivance (a chain of things that people like these just won't allow to happen).

So maybe half the movie is enjoyable, but lacks any real story. There are no real highs or surprises.