I understand that ION Christmas movies can be a little darker and more adult-themed than the typical G-rated Hallmark fare, but this film was too over the top for me.
My main problem is with the lead role. She comes across as snide, condescending, and spiteful throughout them film. While a few of her comments seem to be on-target at first - with her so-called friends well deserving of her scorn - after a while it just becomes boring with the relentless tirade of insults.
But she isn't the only problem. It was really hard to relate to any of the other supporting characters in this film at all. They all just seemed so trite and phony.
The only good moments are the pitifully few scenes of the puppies being delivered to their new owners. But this takes up hardly any screen time at all. The rest of the film just meanders through relentless scenes of mean-spiritedness and cynicism, where the viewer is jarred by alternating scenes of tenderness and downright hostility.
Eventually, there is some resolution, but it is not convincing and the character remains vindictive almost to the very end. The film just can't seem to overcome the lead character's extreme unpleasantness.
Overall, there is air of cruelty and cynicism that pervades, decidedly not what these Holiday-themed should be all about.
