Tis The Season To Be Merry (2021) -
This film was a prime example of when they really do get it right.
Firstly, Travis Van Winkle in the role of Adam was beautiful and you get to see him in just a towel. That in itself was a reason to watch this film - Swoon! If you added Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey's few good bits to the gorgeous Channing Tatum, you would get Travis. He was just lovely and very sexy.
I don't know why anyone would be so reluctant to get together with him?
Rachael Leigh Cook as Merry must have been blind not to see his brilliance, kindness and beauty right away. He really did deliver a great romantic lead. He could also act, which in some of these films has become a rarity.
I could clearly see the romance blooming in this one and it was really quite sweet, as she grew to realise that life doesn't always follow the rules.
I also liked the combination of other romances which added a bit more warmth and love for the season. It didn't lose focus on the main one for it either, which was nice, because sometimes they get lost trying to do too much.
I did find it really weird that James (Adam Hurtig) took Merry out for a date though. It didn't quite fit with the other things going on. The only way it made sense was if he was purely asking her out to give him relationship advice, which seemed to be the way that they were trying to make it go. I personally wouldn't take someone out to dinner for that though.
Joe, played by Paul Essiembre was a sexy Mofo as well for an older guy. I wouldn't usually notice him, as one of the incidental characters, but he was so charismatic and relaxed that it was hard not to fall for his charms.
I couldn't help but be beguiled by Travis, even in his clothes, so it was easy to take an interest in what happened with the film and the characters as a whole.
As I stated to begin with, this was the type of film that I trail through all of the "Made For TV" ones to find. It had heart and feeling and Christmas to spare, with actors that knew what they were doing and it seemed liked they had a budget that made it worthwhile to produce.
8/10.
