Dial S for Santa

I rarely take the time to review a Hallmark movie - they are lighthearted entertainment so my expectations are not too high but they are usually pretty reliable. However, the main character Lana (played by Sarah Dugdale) ruins what would otherwise be a decent movie. Her acting is so terrible...like really really terrible. I really hope Hallmark doesn't hire her again. It is sad to hear they are getting rid of some of the older actresses that can actually act in favor of young actresses like this one that ruin their movies. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard. I couldn't even make it to the end because of her.

7.2 stars.

Not a bad film, although the reviews are in the cellar, which doesn't totally make sense. There are a bunch of slow parts and the mystery is very mild, but it's still endearing overall. The main female is in 'Virgin River' and she does well in a lead role, however she seemed to have lost weight for the role (pounds that she does not have to spare). First of all, judging body size, there is thin, and then there's what appears to be toothpick emaciated thin. She is a few pounds above a "starving artist". For the love of food, eat something. I'm not shaming, it's just not healthy looking. Anyways, back to the film. The main guy, a policeman, he's fresh and not too shabby an actor. He seems new to this whole family Christmas sort of film industry, but he'll do just fine. The mystery caught me off guard. Great misdirection. The romance is lacking, we don't get any gratification until literally the very end. Like literally, zero romance, a very miniscule buildup and all through the film it's no tension and very little focus on attraction. With 20 seconds left in the story, they are still friends, he proceeds to say he likes her a lot, she reciprocates, they kiss and the credits roll. I suspect that's the source of the low ratings.

While the story is cute I found Lana to be annoying. I don't care if you lost your dad years ago during Christmas time, that's no reason to be a rude b*tch to your mother, interfere and insert yourself where you have been explicitly told not to, and crush the belief of an eight-year-old child.

The actress playing the role of Lana also didn't help things. She's a bit stiff or something was off in general. The had no facial expressions it was like she was emotionally detached, either reading her lines, or only rotely reciting memorized lines with no feelings... somehow her face couldn't match the emotions of the time. The one scene where she wakes up with a fully PERFECT face of make-up and lipstick is also annoying, lol. Not even realistic, not that movies that are just for "fun" have to be realistic, but something things should.

I do get "loss" having an affect on a person for longer than just a year, but her attitude just made her an unlikable character. Her mother is doing everything she can to accommodate Lana, yet Lana still behaves like a 12-year-old that doesn't get her way and has a tantrum when she doesn't like that other people have moved on.

I knew who was the culprit pretty early on as it seemed kind of obvious to me.

Overall, it was mostly a cute distraction, but one of those seen it once was enough movies.

Insurance investigator Lana Lawton (Sarah Dugdale) returns home to visit her mom who owns a Christmas store on main street. Someone broke in. There has been a spree of small robberies. Policeman Nick Fallon (Julian Haig) is on the case where few crimes are committed. The store has hired Kris Kringle to be the store Santa, but Lana tells her nephew that he's not the real Santa.

The town needs to be smaller. This needs to be one street of small stores. Otherwise, I like the premise and the mysteries. This is Hallmark's Christmas in July. The investigation stalls around the middle and so does the movie. I do like the Santa suspicion. She could do more like comically stalking Santa. On the other hand, I don't like her talking down on her mom. I really don't like her sex-shaming her mom. Writers need to stop doing that even if the character learns a lesson. She is a fine lead although the guy needs a bit more time at the beginning. Finally, I have an issue with the final act. This is mostly fine.

These movies are a particular guilty pleasure for me. There are few that I haven't seen. The stories vary only a little but I always manage to enjoy the comfort in that, while doing various Christmas tasks or just enjoying a fire.

Unfortunately I found this one painful, not due to the story but the acting of the main character. I haven't seen her in other films. She definitely needs more experience and training before taking on a leading role like this. She was very stiff and not at all like the usual calibre for this type of film. I usually at least manage to feel some connection to, or affection for the main character but this actress' monotone and flat delivery made this impossible.