This movie is not a rom/com. It is more of a rom/dram or really a dram/rom. Throughout much of the first half, I was having troubling getting into the flow because I was anticipating just another Christmas movie based on the common premise of saving the town theatre while giving a performance of A Christmas Carol. The story does focus primarily on the fate of the theatre and the role that theatre has played and is playing in the lives of the principal characters. And that extends beyond just Riley and Sam.
It is tempting to see Regina as just a mean theatre owner who assumes some of the traits of the villain who wants to tear down tradition and replace it with condos. But the actors and director did a good job of playing this so that something seemed off about that assumption. There was a twist about half way that made me totally reevaluate how I was perceiving this story.
The acting is good and so is the dialogue, but don't expect a comedic dialogue. There is chemistry between Jamie Perez and Thomas McDonell, but again, don't see it the way it usually fits into the Christmas romance movie. In some ways, Maureen Keiller is the lead. Or perhaps more accurately one of the three principals. I felt like she overplayed the vindictiveness a little, but then I'm not sure how the alternative would have fit the overall scheme. I also think the climax was melodramatic almost to the point of being cheesy, but maybe it needed to be.
There was a nice caroling scene just before the twist. The theatre cast performed two carols and they were much more than the usual Silent Night.
This movie is well done. Don't take my rating as a reflection of that. Quality of acting, dialogue and plot - 9 stars. My personal enjoyment 5 stars. Net 7 stars. But not one I think I will want to watch next year.
