The Christmas Contest

Another story about a televised contest between old flames. Actually, some of the challenges in the contest were mildly interesting, but the last one was a little convoluted.

My main complaint with this movie is how annoying the two lead characters were in the beginning, and then there is 180 degree personality shift which turns them into saints. Ben was especially annoying as a stereotypical narcissistic jock. Meanwhile Candace frequently can start a movie as arrogant and overly competitive and this movie is no different. This made it difficult for me to enjoy any chemistry the two had.

There were some comedic gags based on physical comedy and overzealousness reminiscent of Fuller House style comedy.

Overall, the movie is about what you'd expect, but I should have known better.

I never understood Candace's character. The male lead went from egotistical to caring in just a matter of a few scenes. It didn't develop naturally. I never felt chemistry between the leads. The mother daughter relationship was hard to define. I usually love Candace Cameron Bure's movies. I like Barbara Nevin. But this could have been better.

Being a fuller house fan and actually then hoping she would end up with her fellow pet doctor, this seemed to be a home run.

But o boy... The beginning! They were both very very unlikable and I actually stopped watching. Barbara Niven almost has the same role as in chesapeake shores but her role gets better too.

After a few days, I gave it another chance and it's just the first 12min. Then Ben's grandma enters the story and the movie gets so much better! Too bad there will indeed be people who remember only the bad start or won't give it another chance.

4/10 - while Candace Cameron Bure is a Hallmark mainstay, she is simply going to have to get better scripts and stories if she expects us to stick around after the uninspired and frankly boring Christmas movies she has put out the last couple years (this one very much included)

Candace Cameron Bure is a mainstay of the Hallmark holiday romances for good reason. She is very affable and conveys a positive energy. But sometimes it is difficult to rise above the material.

We have seen other films that included contests strung out over several days. Usually there is no reason for the format except to draw out the action over time, allowing for other action to occur between the competition segments. Unfortunately, this usually serves to slow the story, providing a drag on the action. In "the Christmas Contest", the competition occurs over a full week; this might be the reason why the film drags.

The lack of energy undermines the story, making this one of the lesser films of this holiday season.