If nothing else is true of holiday-themed movies, and holiday romance movies in particular, they are at least consistent. Contrived, ham-handed, cheesy, and overbearing in their manufactured cheer, but consistent nonetheless. One might reasonably wonder if writer, director, cast, and crew alike lower themselves to participate in such an affair, or if they earnestly enjoy the kitsch (or the easy paycheck). Of course some titles are meaningfully sincere, but some are so unapologetically overdone in their writing and direction that it's not unfair to ask if they're intended to be a parody of the genre. 'Mistletoe mixup,' for the record, belongs to the latter category. Dialogue, scene writing, characters, the narrative at large, and even the opening scene are so direct as to readily inspire slack-jawed bewilderment and skepticism, and never is an opportunity missed to add to the pile (the karaoke scene leaves me at a loss for words). This isn't to say that it's not well made, or kind of charming in its way, but there's no mistaking that it belongs squarely among certain saccharine company that only the most open-minded or Christmas-loving of viewers could possibly appreciate.
The editing and cinematography are very well done, the filming locations are gorgeous, and the production design and art direction are smartly crafted. Director Andrew Lawrence runs a tight ship. The wardrobe is fabulous, and the hair and makeup work is lovely; the star's blonde locks have never looked better. And I do actually like the cast, all of whom embrace the lighthearted tomfoolery. The only person here I'm familiar with is Danielle C. Ryan, but I've seen her more than enough to know she's a capable, versatile actress, and she commands the gauche lead role well. Donna Lawrence is clearly having a blast as the peppy grandma who speaks her mind. And hey, credit where it's due - despite the artifice of the picture, there's some genuine wit and humor at play once the story advances into the second act, and the conflict figures in. While the picture is bent strictly toward utmost warmhearted schlock, one can see how Kaylin Richardson's screenplay shares a kinship with similar fare that the major studios might put out (that would be less restrained in terms of sensationalism). Why, there are even a couple small moments here and there that seem to diverge so much from the dependable formula of this feature's brethren that 'Mistletoe mixup' shakes things up just a tiny bit. This cheese may be overcooked, but it's still kind of tasty.
Even by the standards of what this represents, it's not perfect. The introduction of another supporting character, who will help to resolve the conflict, feels too much like a sidebar. That resolution itself, the better part of the third act, leans a little too far into sentimentalism and sets aside the more fun-loving side of the movie that made the second act so fun. And in both these instances, the protagonist is weirdly deemphasized, somewhat becoming a supporting character in her own film. All this is to say, the result is strangely uneven in a way that would theoretically have been easy to avoid. Still, this only wants to be a silly, heartfelt good time, and despite everything, it doesn't achieve that goal. It looks, sounds, and feels like a TV movie, even though it's not, and just one look at the promotional imagery and the premise tells one exactly what to expect. For those who can get on board with the style, though, it's still enjoyable on its own merits, with swell contributions from all to bring it to life. Don't go out of your way for 'Mistletoe mixup,' but if you're looking for something light and frivolous, you could do much worse.
