Joyeux Noel

Brant Daugherty was okay in this but if i'm being honest, as much as I found Jaicy Elliot decentish in Grey's Anatomy, I must say she was a bit awful in this film. Still, it's Christmas season and I'm going to binge on the glut of films that are coming out. It's just like an adrenaline rush of happiness, which I really love at this time of the year.

Not an awful film at all but you will find better plots and slightly better story lines and casting. Still, you'll feel warm afterwards which is a plus and you know where the endings going from the start, which is reassuring. Hope you enjoy it; the highlight was the beautiful scenery for me. Such pristine landscapes.

6.2 stars.

Joyeux starts out with a lot of promise, but immediately I was deflated by the way they forced a potential adventure to become a flat non-event. She finds something by chance, but the chances of this would be about one in 10 billion, that's just a guess. Astronomical does not begin to calculate. You'll see what I mean. And then after she finds it, goes low key about the whole ordeal and then finally has to fight her way into getting the story, and is stuck with a guy whom we can see shares no chemistry with her. Then they are in France and the whole story had so many missed opportunities and so much potential was hamstrung. Just a really fowl production, something that could've been one of the greats. Wow guys, you really blew chunks on this one.

I'd normally award it 5 stars, but the acting was good, the little girl's games and pranks were refreshing, and the city scenes and backdrops were breathtaking.

A romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor and wannabe reporter, Lea. She is sent to France with pragmatic reporter "moody" Mark to uncover the mystery behind the artist. While Lea is all eager to solve the puzzle, Mark is less excited, somewhat annoyed at being sent on an assignment which is beneath him. Lea and Mark are total opposites. Lea tends to correct Mark's speech, which is annoying. Mark has his own view on how to research a story.

The French Market town is very festive, decorated with Christmas lights and featuring an accordion player, multiple shops, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts and singers. Lea goes around the shops but it is embarrassing how she speaks to vendors and passersby. Meanwhile, Mark tries to get some sleep (jet lag) but is bothered by Sophie, the landlords daughter. The cute gnomes left around by Sophie are a highlight. Wonder why she isn't listed in the cast on imbd.

Jaicy Elliot, as Lea, is the wrong person for this role. She has deadpan delivery and facial expressions are equally blah. She dresses in a boring coat and beret and her French accent in pronouncing "Merci" is also blah. There is no chemistry between herself and Brant Daughtery.

An interesting feature of this movie is that the plot was written by Brant Daughtery's wife, Kimberly. Maybe she should have been cast in this movie along with her husband.

This is the 3rd Hallmark movie I've seen the female lead in and unfortunately, she seems to act the same in all of them. She tends to have a very flat affect - maybe it's her inherent personality and not her acting. But she doesn't seem to ever be overy excited or overly upset. She just .... IS. .. whether she's tracking down a msytery story in this movie or designing couture clothes or tracking down a father she never knew. It isn't the worst movie Hallmark has ever made, but it won't go down in history as one of their most popular ever. The authentic location really saves it. For once, Hallmark spent some cash and filmed in France instead of trying to make Vancouver look like France. Whoever oversaw the wardrobe should be fired. The female lead is a plus-size woman, apparently Hallmark's attempt at body positivity. She's very attractive, but was dressed in clothes at least 2 sizes too small for her. The winter coat especially was nothing short of criminal. It was a nice sashed wrap-style coat but she was forced to wear it like a bolero. It was literally inches short of even meeting in front, much less wrapping. She kept tugging on it and trying to straighten it over her bust, almost self-consciously. If it had been 2 sizes bigger, it would have wrapped and fit nicely and she'd have looked slimmer and sleeker than she did poured into a too-small coat and fighting it constantly. Somebody in the wardrobe department needs some pointers in dressing plus-size people. They hired a plus-size lead, but then don't treat her with the respect due a lead. I'd bet my last dollar Lacey Chabert's wardrobe fits her perfectly. Everytime ;-)

I'm not sure how I watched this for 2 hours. I always like Brandt, but Jaicy, although fine in My Southern Family Christmas, is such a boring uncharismatic actress. She has this superior vibe in all her movies. Just not pleasant at all. Never happy, never laughs, rarely smiles.

The script was just okay. I think with another actress, it might have been a lot better. Kimberly should definitely have been in this, or any other actress except Jaicy.

I think Kimberly Daugherty chose Jaicy because there was no chance of any chemistry between them!

That's unfortunate, but casting is extremely important. Especially a lead in a romantic movie.

Not even close.