Christmas Incorporated

Film historians of the future will no doubt teach seminars on the impact of the Canadian film factory (heavily taxpayer subsidized) on the content circulating through north America from approximately 1985 onwards.

Hollywood bluebloods hate the Canuck film machine because it takes food off the table. But, based on a lower dollar, the Canadians have found multiple "niches" where year after year they can slip almost-generic content into the maw, each one virtually into profit the moment the film leaves the camera because of the lower costs.

Some 90% of the movies that flood the airways around X-mas, in particular, are of this origin and most Americans don't have a clue.

This film is unusual for two reasons. Behind the camera is David Perlmutter who has been a Canuck film producer since the 80s and is by no definition a Johnny Come Lately.

And in front of the camera we have Shenae Grimes-Beech, an actress possessed of enough charisma for two leading ladies. She carries this film on her back and in the many areas where the script fails, or the casting of the extras (all too-familiar Canadian faces) fails, or the set design fails (the "toy factory" looks like an empty warehouse with a cheap sign installed at very the last minute) she simply cracks a smile and the audience decides to stick with the film for a few moments longer.

Finally and for the benefit of newbies to these sorts of films, a "6" rating is veritably an Oscar nod for such a film. I have seen worse.

This movie is adorable and the chemistry is totally there! Despite having a bias for anything Andrew Walker, this movie completely delivered. It was cute, sweet, not entirely predictable, and my husband wasn't making puking faces at me the entire movie. As long as you don't think through the actual logistics of the movie, you will like it. Andrew does a great, believable bah humbug character and Shenae Grimes-Beech is adorable, like always. Although it follows a typical Hallmark movie story line, it still feels fresh and new!

Favorite line: "You can't cut me off from Christmas ornaments!!"

Christmas Incorporated was my introduction to Steve Lund and it made me want to see more of his work. Hallmark movies tend to be predictable but I really enjoyed this one. I highly recommend it.

Sure, it was corny and formulaic, but that's exactly what I love about Hallmark movies. They're clean, have mild religious overtones, no sex, maybe just a kiss at the end. Riley talks about her family attending Midnight Mass. Love that. I believe people crave these types of movies rather than Hollywood filth with their obligatory premarital sex scenes.

Riley is an appealing character, and she carried the film She's a little tart, not too mushy, not too gorgeous, but a nice down-to- earth girl you'd love for her to invite you to her parents' home for Christmas. The male lead wasn't as strong. The story wasn't all that strong, but I don't care. I liked it, and wanted to watch it until the end.

The basic premise of rescuing the old line business in the smaller town in time for Christmas is quintessential Hallmark, but if you don't like their constant resurrection of Christmas-past that actually no longer exists, don't pick a Hallmark movie.

I don't blame them for their devotion to Christmas-themed stories, but I do blame them for so often writing scripts with no punch. Steve Lund and Shania Beech make a reasonably attractive pairing and as actors, seemed to act and deliver their lines credibly....its just they were handed such a weak script and storyline. Steve Lund's position of CEO was scripted as useless. Except for buying remaining toy inventory at the last minute with his own funds to launch a toy give-away, he sat on his hands for the entire movie. Shania Beech as his brand new assistant showed 10 times more business savvy and moxie. Unrealistic.

And as usual with Hallmark, the romance plot arc offers has much romantic thrill and speed as a jar of molasses. If all males in the world acted as haltingly as Hallmark leading men, there actually would be NO romance in the world....the females would take a hike halfway through.