The Christmas Temp

2019 was not a particularly great year for Lifetime, but that is not to say that every film of theirs was bad. Actually some impressed, such as 'The Road Home for Christmas', 'Magical Christmas Shoes' and 'Winter Song', but there was also some real misfires such as 'Christmas Hotel', 'You Light Up My Christmas' and 'No Time Like Christmas'. The story concept is not innovative but it had potential and Robin Dunne is often watchable.

And he is here, but 'The Christmas Temp' on the whole could have been better than it was. The potential isn't wasted, but it is not completely lived up or exceeded. As far as 2019 Lifetime Christmas films go, 'The Christmas Temp' is neither one of the best or worst (have already listed examples of both extremes) and more a watchable somewhere in the middling category effort that at the same time doesn't deserve obscurity status.

Shall start with the good. The production values are quite nice, some of the scenery being beautiful even. Regardless of questions about authenticity the film for me was easy on the eyes. Some of the soundtrack is nostalgic and appropriately festive. There is evidence of charm and heart and the joy of Christmas is captured well at times.

Dunne is likeable in his role and the supporting cast are also not bad. The film starts off quite promising.

However, there are shortcomings. Sara Canning sometimes does try too hard and while flawed characters are always interesting and relatable it is a problem when the flaws are taken to extremes to the point where their appeal as a character is questionable. Did find that the insecurity was overdone and that she could have been developed better and grown more. She and Dunne don't have enough chemistry together and chemistry was both rushed and underwritten, it actually would have been better if their relationship had some initial tension and not been too instant love like.

Moreover, the script to me did come over as too talky and the more symbolic moments in the dialogue come over as heavy handed and not necessary. While the story does try to do a couple of things new with a typical premise, this is not executed well enough. It did lack freshness and still felt predictable and forced. The story also could have done with more life and it did feel rather too thin. The ending came over to me as too pat and too quickly resolved.

In conclusion, mixed feelings. 5/10.

Two charming leads with great chemistry put this one in "rewatchable" status. I had just been thinking that Robin Dunne had a real Tom Hanks vibe going on when lo and behold he started to play Christmas songs on the giant piano keys. Coincidence? I don't think so. The plot was interesting and amusing as the struggling female love interest worked to decorate our hero's boutique hotel lobby for Christmas. His job and a possible promotion was on the line, and her art career would get a much needed jump start. I was a little underwhelmed by the final product, but everyone in the movie seemed to like it, so it must have been me.

Hazel gets hired to decorate the lobby of a well known hotel boutique. Jonah, if this job gets done well, will get an amazing promotion. That's it.

While I give props for the storyline, which I liked, the execution was done poorly. I would have liked more action, more movement, everyone is standing so still during this movie EXCEPT in the one moment, with the piano, which is not very realistic. I was so bored by this. There was no chemistry between the leads. Also, the acting by the female lead was cringey at times. I'm all for "instant love" if it's done well, but you just don't make a wish about someone you have just met.

However, I will point out that this had a few very funny lines, so stars for that.

The premise was good. The flaky artist was believable and the complicity between the leads was fun, in the beginning. You can believe that they met and had a quick connection.

It could have been good but instead it became chaos. I got the feeling that they shot a lot of disparate scenes, belonging to distinct plot lines, and then edited them together without following a logical sequence. I believe they inserted some scenes for comedic effect only, without them making sense in the whole. The scenes with the policeman were just awkward. The whole thing with the short and the generator was stupid, forced. It annoyed me so badly that I fast forwarded.

As I said, the premise was great but it seems like there was nobody to actually develop it successfully for a film. As always, they try to sell the idea of a great artist and some innovative creation that everyone is in awe of. And it falls flat.

It is not a complete waste of time but it is disappointing, so don't get your hopes up.

I loved every minute of this film! Robin Dunne as Jonah and Sara Canning as Hazel were amazing! They had chemistry, humor, their acting was so refreshing and superb! Completely suited for their roles and the essence of the characters. The casting was excellent and i love the detail with Robin Dunne's wife in real life Farrah Aviva playing Rita the bartender. The script is well written with humor, interactive dialogues, realistic to the nature of the characters and festive. I totally agree both with the review of grakky and manfredpeter-09628 and i dont't understand the negative reviews at all..... I'm definetely going to see this again and again and i'm going to suggest it to my friends! EXCELLENT WORK!!!