This is Reel One Entertainment Christmas 2023 season TV movie. It's pretty good compared to their overall mediocre Christmas 2022 season. Actually with some proper writing (later about it) it could be easily above average, and one of the better ROE one.
Technically, it's pretty good especially compared to the technical train wrecks from the previous season. The only issue, and it's not the big one is a obvious fake location. Yes, it was shot in Hamilton, Canada pretending to be Chicago, but the used stock footage was in lower range. Music score was nice, and no loud background music when cast talk/speak, no bad cuts, lightning or makeups, it was shot in the winter and not summer or autumn like so many Hallmark Christmas TV movies. One big plus for cool wardrobes. I really liked them.
I never watched Katerina Maria, the main lead. I would say the more movie went, she was better and better. David Pinard is a regular ROE supporting actor. I think he was pretty good as he was written very well. This is exactly how I would do in his place. I'm positively shocked how he was realistic even the first half of the movie is basically comedy. Their chemistry wasn't the best, but neither was non existent - enough to be believable. The supporting cast is fine, and they fit well in the overall story.
Writing and directing are all over the place. Act I is bad which is a never good sign in ROE TV movie as it always means overall bad movie incoming. However the more time passed, it became much better and around half I would rate it as above average (7*). Even bad start was actually later explained why was like that. Unfortunately, it didn't take long, and around the 2/3 of the movie Freda and 10,000 tea happened.
That moment completely destroyed pacing and believability in the movie. I'm going to blame director as if even writer wrote that, it is simply mind blowing how it wasn't changed. It's like a bad "it's over 9000!" Vegeta DBZ meme. Just why?! I understand that something bad has to happen so the main lead can finally shine, it's natural progression of the story, but not in that absurd and unrealistic way. Sure, movie was well after that (it transitioned into drama), but still, it ruined it.
If 10,000 didn't happen, and with a bit better Act I, I would rate it as above average (7*), but subverted expectations don't fly for me.
And obligatory don't watch trailer as it's the ROE one and for some unknown reason(s) it shows almost whole movie compressed.
